July 2018 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

We Asked, You Answered July 2018

growingupsc — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 22:30:44 +0000

We Asked, You Answered July 2018 What Does Your Family Get Up to Do Now That School is Out for Summer? By Ann Carin Niland Mike Hance, 37, of the West Side, two girls, 5 and 2. Interviewed atAnna Jean Cummings Park “Both girls will be in preschool this summer,“ said Mike. “that will be for most of the day. I’m a teacher at the University, so I have a relaxed summer schedule and so I spend some time with them in the afternoon. Will go to Tahoe for a week. Will go to visit family for a week. And then they start back at school in August.” Coryn Gardiner, 42, a boy 7, of Live Oak. Interviewed at Live Oak Elementary School “My mom will be coming down, so he will be hanging out withgrandma a lot, and also at the Boys and Girls Club. There might be a trip to Idaho to visit grandma. The beach… A lot of beach. We are doing Tahoe for a little bit. I am actually going to meet my mom there for my birthday. She’s going to meet me there and then come back with us. This is the first time we are doing that. It’s kind of halfway between both of us” Cameron McCracken, 33, of the West Side, two boys, 2 and 10. Interviewed at Anna Jean Cummings Park “I’m busy with them when I’m not working. I’m a firefighter so I’m busy with the wildfires a lot during the summertime. But my days off I usually spend with them, we hang out at the house, go to parks, go to movies. things like that. Every once in a while we will take a little road trip. Their mom‘s sister lives in Minnesota, so sometimes we will road trip across the country, and camp. Steffanie Martinez Oranika, 35, of Live Oak, three boys 16, 16 and 15. Interviewed at Live Oak Elementary School “Every year they’ll visit family on the East Coast,” said Steffanie. “Ihave family there too, so they will go visit their side of the family and I go visit my family, and we meet in the middle. We are out there for at least three weeks. While we’re out there I’m going on a cruise. We’ll leave from Florida. We are going to be going to Bermuda, and some of the islands near the Bahamas. We kind of spin around for five days.” Ian Dixon, 40, of Live Oak, two boys 10 and 7. Interviewed at Live Oak Elementary School “Last year we took a lot of trips to the grandparents,” said Ian. “They live in pretty fun areas in Colorado and Oregon. It was a lot of travel last summer, so this summer we’re not going anywhere we’re staying home. So we’re getting heavy into park and rec camps, Gymnastics camp, Beach, baseball camp stuff like that. And that’ll be maybe half the summer, and the other half were just leaving open so we can veg out on video games or have people come to town and just be spontaneous. We try to have a mix.” Jennifer and Jack Eskenazi, have a boy, 7 and a girl, 5.Interviewed at The Farm “She’s doing little guards, and he is doing Junior Guards at Simpkins,” said Jennifer. “They’re doing a couple of camps. She’s doing a ballet camp and he is doing a camp at Cabrillo.” The little boy was sitting nearby, and said that he wanted to keep his camp a secret. “We’re going down to LA for about a week. And we’re going to Yosemite for a few days, so it’s a mixture of camps and trips for our family.” Ann Carin Niland is a parent, student, and intersectional feminist. She hasn’t quite adjusted to writing about herself in the third person.

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Special Needs Families Hidden Among Us

growingupsc — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 21:30:21 +0000

Special Needs Families Hidden Among Us By Susan H. Shane There are families in Santa Cruz with special needs kids who do not fit the usual categories. These families are deeply traumatized, but few outside the home know about them and the reality they live. The children, initially, present within the norm at school, but have severe emotional and behavioral problems at home. In fact, their behavior poses a genuine danger to the health and safety of the child and family. There are, literally, no resources in town sufficient to help these families. Jane, already a mother of three girls, knew that her two year old, Natalie’s, long, intense crying fits were very different from those of her other kids. Her instincts were right, as things only escalated from there. By age 7, Natalie was a “Tasmanian devil”, creating “constant turmoil” in the home with her incessant oppositional, angry behavior. Jane reluctantly took Natalie to a psychiatrist who prescribed the child an antipsychotic medication, the first of about 15 drugs Natalie would be given over the next few years. While Natalie, generally, held herself together at school, she had constant problems with peers and “was black-balled by the parents”. Maintaining her equilibrium at school resulted in Natalie having “huge meltdowns” each day, when Jane picked her up. No one knew the hell the family was living through at home. When academics became more challenging in sixth grade, Natalie began three years of school refusal, attending school only about 30 days in all that time. Jane and her husband sent Natalie to several different schools during that period in hopes that a change of approach might help. Natalie refused to start 9th grade and was hitting her parents so often that they called the cops weekly for awhile. Three times over six weeks the police took Natalie to the emergency room or hospital behavioral health program. From there, Natalie was briefly place in pediatric psychiatric hospitals outside Santa Cruz County (there are none here). Jane’s family was struggling economically, as this was during the Great Recession. Jane had had to quit her job three years earlier to care for Natalie who was always home, and Jane’s husband was “barely working”. Utterly desperate, Jane sought out a pro-bono attorney who spent nine months suing her school district in order to get them to pay for the family’s last hope: therapeutic residential treatment for Natalie. The business of therapeutic residential treatment is a massive industry composed of at least 187 programs which are members of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP) and, possibly, as many more which are not. Monthly costs for the various types of programs range from $8000 to $12,000/month or more according to families who have used them. Jane is a member of a group of 11 mothers formed, with support from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), in 2014. Some moms had already sent their young children to treatment programs in other states, while others were living with trauma and dreading that might be the route they would have to take. Although each child’s story is unique, there are familiar elements in most: very young emotional volatility, relationship problems with peers, intelligence and ability to cope with elementary school, depression, anxiety, anger often leading to violence, oppositionality, and, in their teens, cutting, suicide threats and attempts, and eating disorders. All of the parents, driven by intense love for their kids, tried everything possible at home: psychologists, therapists, occupational therapy, psychiatrists, medications galore, parenting programs, hiring in-home aides, consulting specialists across the country, researching on the Internet for hundreds of hours, and more. Each mom acknowledges that the decision to send their child to live away from home was the most heart-breaking decision of their lives, yet, as responsible parents, it was the only option that would keep everyone safe. One of the most striking facts about this group of 11 is that six of the children are adopted. The parents report that, in the treatment programs their kids attended, 50 to 75% of the kids also were adopted. Clearly, this is a dark side of adoption that needs to be faced. While three moms see high-functioning autism with anxiety and depression as the most salient diagnoses for their kids, most other moms became disillusioned with the current concept of diagnosis. These kids range such a wide gamut as to be impossible to pigeon-hole with any particular diagnosis. Even the former head of the National Institutes for Mental Health (NIMH), Dr. Steven Hyman, says that mental disorders are not really categories but “spectra with fuzzy boundaries”. While unbearable trauma goes on inside these families’ homes, you couldn’t identify these children out in the world. Most come across as typical or slightly quirky at most. Many of them also have gifts out of the ordinary, gifts that have let them shine in the world on occasion. One boy played competitive soccer for years and won awards for his art at the Santa Cruz County Fair. A girl’s poem, written in third grade, won best elementary school poem at the Fair. That same young woman, expelled from high school in mid-11th grade, completed her high school diploma through Santa Cruz Adult School in just six weeks. Natalie, home for a summer between therapeutic placements created her own online business and made thousands of dollars! She went to flea markets and thrift stores, bought damaged American Girl dolls, repaired them and sold them online for $85 apiece. Secure and thriving in a residential treatment program with a 2:1 kid:staff ratio, Natalie completed four years of high school in just two years. Each mom in the group sees her child’s exquisite gifts and fervently hopes that those will prevail one day. With enormous gratitude to Jane, a powerful, tireless, loving mom who bravely shared her story with me. Names are pseudonyms, because the stigma on these children and parents is pervasive. The author has a blog: http://sciencetoliveby.blogspot.com NAMI Help Line 831-427-8020 NAMI Support for Family Members of Youth and Young Adults (16-26) 1st and 3rd Thursday at 6:30 – 8:00 PM NAMI SCC Office: 542 Ocean Street, Suite F (upstairs), Santa Cruz Parking in back or on street. Contact Emily at ebc73@comcast.net or (831) 476-1020

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July 2018 Letter from the Editors

growingupsc — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:55:37 +0000

July 2018 Letter from the Editors By Brad Kava and Jennifer Ford The day after our 14-year-old got out of school, she overheard us talking about summertime blues. “That’s not a thing,” she said. “How can you have the blues in the summer? School’s out and you can do whatever you want.” A week later, she had a change of heart. She missed her friends, her theater group, her water polo team and a schedule filled with activities. That inspired one of the themes of this issue: how to find the most unusual and interesting things to do in Santa Cruz for the summer. And, man, did we find them. There are people doing yoga with goats and bringing their kids. They are also bringing kids to goat and animal-themed birthday parties. More than a thousand kids this summer are hitting the beach together and training for the best summer job ever, lifeguarding. There are expert ‘fantastic’ bubble blowers traveling the world putting on shows for kids, some of whom began blowing soap bubbles right here on Pacific Avenue. We caught one of them at the Live Oak Library. You can see them scheduled for free on our summer calendar. We see amazing maker’s classes with openings at Cabrillo, some that focus on learning tech for girls and another that teaches kids to create comic books with a professional artist. There are sports and art classes, even a circus camp for aspiring aerialists. For the family, there’s a chilling new ride at Great America, a new waterpark at Gilroy Gardens, Boardwalk cheap entry nights with free music and movies there, as well as in outdoor movie nights in Soquel and Aptos parks. There are amazing free day and nightly events at the local state parks, including daytime nature hikes and nighttime ones that teach about the stars and nocturnal animals. Tourists come from all over the country to appreciate the things we have in our backyard. You can see them listed in our print calendar and online, where we have events separated by the day at www.growingupsc.com. If you can’t fill your schedule with great local events, you really aren’t trying hard enough. Please share your ideas and suggestions on our Growing Up in Santa Cruz Facebook page and with editor@growingupsc.com

The post July 2018 Letter from the Editors first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Reinvigorate Summer with Youth Camps at Cabrillo

growingupsc — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:43:03 +0000

Reinvigorate Summer with Cabrillo Youth Camps By Suki Wessling It’s the middle of the summer and the realization has hit: your child needs something more to do. If your kids are like mine, they’ll need their brains as well as their bodies engaged. It’s been a while since my child took a Cabrillo Extension Summer Youth Program camp, so I decided to check out their current offerings. The most important aspect of this camp is that Cabrillo partners with local organizations and teachers to provide a wide variety of offerings. This summer, Cabrillo Extension has partnered with Seafloor Science Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), Mini Mermaid Running Club, Code Naturally, Kuumbwa Jazz, and El Pajaro CDC Kitchen Incubator, among others. The arts camps are largely taught by working artists in our community, which is an exciting experience for kids. Some of the camps that start this month include: Creating Comic Books (ages 10-14) Taught by working illustrator Brian Bowes, kids will spend a week creating their own comic books, learning storytelling and art techniques in the process. Old School Fun and Games (ages 6-8 & 9-12) Instructor Annie Barrett not only has a degree in Physical Education & Kinesiology, but she also has a three-year-old, so you know she’s ready to play with your kids. This camp stresses active, cooperative games. Girls Code! Generative Art and Game Design in JavaScript (ages 8-13) Research shows that even when teachers are attentive to the girls in their tech classes, girls participate more and learn more deeply through all-female tech outreach like this camp. A week-long camp can set a girl on the path of feeling more confident in her general ed classes. Printmaking! (ages 13-17) Artist Dana Peters’ performance art skills could come in handy while working with teens. Again, I love that our local artists are able to share their skills with our teens. Mentoring, when an adult in a community helps teens find their passions and supports them, is a lost art in our culture, and programs like this are helping to revive it. As one mom said in a camp survey, “My son enjoyed both being around kids his age who had a similarly deep interest in dinosaurs and being around adults who had similar passions.” Many of the camps are offered in consecutive years and have devoted followings. There are also some new camps that Cabrillo Extension would love parents to know about: Mini Mermaids Running Club Camp (ages 7-12) This camp combines physical education with emotional education techniques like mindfulness. It also offers the opportunity for Middle and HIgh School girls to mentor the younger girls. Aerial Arts and Circus Camp (AGES 9-12 & 13-17) If you have a Cirque du Soleil wanna-be in your house, this sounds like the camp for them! Youth Leadership Academy (grades 6-8 and 9-12) LeAnn Copriviza, Coordinator for Where Everybody Belongs, a middle school orientation and transition program, leads this program that emphasizes leadership as well as social and emotional skills. 3D Printing Inventors Camp – (ages 8-10) 3D printers are being used for everything from car parts to artificial organs. What will your student do with it? Instructor Steve Seffinger loves teaching coding, LEGO robotics and 3D Printing, so he’ll help them figure it out. So if you’re in the midst of summer doldrums, check out the rest of the schedule here: http://www.cabrillo.edu/services/extension/youthcalendar.htm Suki Wessling is a writer and teacher and the mother of two teens. Her most recent book is Homeschool with Confidence, a goal-setting guide for teens. Read more at www. SukiWessling.com.

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Have Fun, Save Lives at Junior Guards Since 1966, Local Teens Have Learned to be Lifeguards

growingupsc — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:38:38 +0000

Have Fun, Save Lives at Junior Guards Since 1966, Local Teens Have Learned to be Lifeguards By Bryce Stoepfel If you haven’t noticed kids in the house, or if Alice Cooper hasn’t reminded you yet, schools out for summer. For parents that can mean expensive day care bills or dread over the evils of idle hands. Or, send them to the beach to be part of the Santa Cruz Junior Guards. For some parents, it’s the best day care out there. “Parents can drop their kids off and know that they have great instruction and that they’re in a safe environment,” Junior Guards Lieutenant Colin Herric said. “They get in phenomenal shape. There are tons of workouts, and the older kids get certified in CPR and first aid.” Currently, 1,000 kids, ranging from 6 to 17, are enrolled in Junior Guards. The goal, especially for the youngest kids, is to make them feel safe and comfortable in a beach environment. For the older kids, starting at 12 or 13, learn lifesaving and first aid skills. “We try to get them in the water every day, and we practice lifesaving skills through games,” Herric said. “They do traditional lifeguard games, like running, swimming, and paddleboard races. We mix fun games in there too.” Herric, 44, who is also a full-time lifeguard, grew up in the Junior Guards. At four-years-old, he followed his sister Kalia in to the program. It’s now come full circle. Two of his children, Hannah, 8, and Hayden, 7, are in the Junior Guards. “A lot of my best friends I met in the Junior Guards, and now we have kids the same ages who are in the guards,” Herric said. “It’s been a full circle experience. It’s pretty rad.” The day begins as the guards, wearing red shorts with a Junior Guards patch, lined up for roll call. After stretching and calisthenics, there’s a workout, which includes distance running, swimming, and paddling on paddleboards. There are plenty of games, like obstacle courses, dodgeball, and can ball, a variation of baseball, where instead of a bat, they use lifeguard cans, which are rubber tubes formally used for lifesaving operations. In one game, surf ball a variation of musical chairs, the guards are lined up on the beach, and instructors throw tennis balls into the ocean. The guards race for the tennis balls and the ones who come up empty are out. It’s a fun game, but essential lifesaving skills are learned. The cream of the crop is the Captain Corps, made up of the older guards, between 15 and 17 years old. During the morning and afternoon, they assist with the younger Junior Guards, and later in the day, they spend their time shadowing full-time lifeguards, or they ride along with members of the fire department. The 25 volunteer Captain Corp volunteers all have CPR training and have gone through lifeguard instruction. In all, they spend 20 hours a day between their time with the Junior Guards, and their job shadowing. Job shadowing is appropriate. According to Herric, 90 percent of Santa Cruz’s lifeguards, started in the Junior Guards. Many Santa Cruz lifeguards, since they became part of the fire department, have been integrated into firefighting, EMT, or paramedic duties. Given the experiences gained in the Junior Guards, career pathways can are opened early. The Junior Guards have 17 staff members, including several administrative personnel in the Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. The Junior Guards is run and administered by the Parks and Recreation Department, but the Santa Cruz Fire Department employs Santa Cruz lifeguards. Becoming a Santa Cruz lifeguard is no easy feat, and new hires must be in fantastic shape. One of the tests is a 200-yard run, followed by a 1000-meter swim, finished with another 200-yard run, under 20 minutes. Monday through Friday from June 18 to August 17, there are two sessions a day, 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm. Some of the most dedicated guards attend both sessions. The Santa Cruz Junior Guards started in 1964 when Santa Cruz County Lifeguard Supervisor Al Mitchell was at Huntington Beach. There he noticed youth on the beach wearing red shorts doing military-like exercises. From there, Santa Cruz joined the United States Lifesaving Association, and in 1966 the Santa Cruz Junior Lifeguard program was born. The program brings in significant money for the Parks and Recreation Department, approximately $200,000 according to Recreation Supervisor Jill Bates. For residents of Santa Cruz, there is a $250 per kid to be enrolled, and for out-of-towners, it’s $325. Aside from the Santa Cruz Junior Guards, Capitola, and the State of California also run Junior Guards programs. There’s a friendly rivalry between the programs. “There are tons of kids who go to school together who are in different programs, so they like to compete against each other,” Herric said. The guards are literally surrounded by lifeguards. The Junior Guards double the typical ratio of one lifeguard for every 15 kids aged six to 11-years-old. The Captains Corp, who are not included in the ratio, also serve as additional eyes and ears. The program is centered on Cowell Beach downtown, but Capitola and Aptos have their own programs. Search Junior Guards in each city to register or call (831) 420-6248 for Santa Cruz information.

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Kids with Kids at Goat Yoga A Different Kind of Flexibility in Your Yoga Practice

growingupsc — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:35:36 +0000

Kids with Kids at Goat Yoga A Different Kinda of Flexibility in Your Yoga Practice By Ann Carin Niland Photo Credit: Kevin Painchaud I don’t know how I goat here. Kids playing with kids. Whatever floats your goat. Totes ma goats. Okay, now that that is out of my system… Goat Yoga is the most ridiculous bit of fun your summer is lacking. When I think about yoga, tranquility, focus, and stylish yoga gear come to mind. But add goats to the mix and all the seriousness leaves the atmosphere. There are goat snuggles, goat kisses, laughter, and more than a few goat farts. “It’s opening your heart to new experiences,” said Kara O’Loughlin, 37. O’Loughlin leads the goat yoga class and has been teaching yoga off and on for nine years. She explained that goat yoga is different from a more serious and austere yoga practice because it’s a form of animal therapy. In this class people let go of their preconceived notions of yoga, and are able to find release in the adorably unexpected. “I love them so much mommy,” said Myra Niland, age five and tree quarters. She spent most of her time oblivious to the flow of the class, opting instead to feed grass to the baby goats. And who could blame her? I stood, laughing, in Warrior with a goat between my legs and forgot all about the difficulty of the pose. Out in the garden, next to the chicken coop, surrounded by sunshine and fresh air my daughter cackled when a baby goat name Sobotta nuzzled her cheek while she did her childhood version of downward dog. These docile goats with their long eyelashes and soft nibbles were delightfully refreshing and created long lasting memories for my daughter and I. “It’s fun to see how much joy the goats bring to people’s lives with their cute and silly tendencies,” said Lauren Linkemyer, 31. One of Linkemyer’s many passions has been to reconnect people to animals, and she is able to do that, in part, by bringing her goats to different events such as block parties, birthday parties, and after demand from the grange community a Linkemyer decided to bring all of her baby goats to yoga. She was inspired by the personality of her most beloved goat Greta Garbo, who like all of Linkemyer’s kinder goats, is bottle fed. This practice makes them behave more like pets then livestock. But in a world that loves puppies and kitties, why bring goats to yoga? “Goats are something that people don’t get to interact with, because society is so disconnected from so many different animals,” said Linkemyer. At their farm, she and her husband Macdonald (yes that’s really his name) who goes by Mack, once found forever homes for nine litters of puppies. After getting their feet wet caring for so many animals they decided to take a chicken keeping class. That opened their eyes to what it’s like to care for agriculture. “Instead of micromanaging and controlling the animal and it’s health, you make sure it has room to roam…” said Linkemyer. “Having room to roam is probably the most important thing for keeping the animals healthy.” Linkemyer has filled her Aptos home, Kinderwood Farms, with dogs, chickens, cows, turkeys, ducks, and goats. Their animals roam freely over their steep hillside land that’s blanketed with ivy and sprinkled with redwoods. One of those redwoods has a tree house wrapped around it, but not just any treehouse, a whimsical, turkey-filled tree house. They give tours of there farm and they have begun to hold cheese making classes. And they live a life connected, loving, and respecting the food they consume in hopes that the trend will catch on. They heard about Goat Yoga being done in Portland and decided to try it here. It’s working. And they aren’t the only goat show in town. Heart Farm in Soquel has Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Silkie Chickens, bunnies, baby doll sheep and therapy dogs. They offer tours, physical yoga (asana) with the goats, who have learned to give adjustments. They also offer birthday parties, team building exercises and small weddings with a wonderful menagerie and yoga with a farm-to-table meal at a beautiful farm. “Yoga can be defined as how you choose to engage with the world,” says co-owner Samantha Matthews, who has been a physiotherapist and teacher for 26 years. “We choose happiness through practicing with animals that make us smile.” You can reach them at heartfarmsantacruz.org You can find Kinderwood Farms on Facebook, or on their farm’s Instagram @kinderwood_farms. It’s so much fun you’ve goat to try it. Sorry, last one I promise.

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Fly and Get Wet in Two New Area Amusements: Always Amused

growingupsc — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:31:36 +0000

Fly and Get Wet in Two New Area Amusements: Always Amused By Erik Chalhoub For those of us who live in Santa Cruz County, we are lucky when it comes to finding thrills the whole family can enjoy. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, named the best seaside amusement park for 10 years by Amusement Today, is right in our backyard. But we are also fortunate that two stellar parks, Gilroy Gardens and California’s Great America, are both within an hour’s drive from us. And 2018 is shaping up to be a major year for both of them. Gilroy Gardens, nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains on 3050 Hecker Pass Highway, expanded its Water Oasis area this year. The expansion added four new water slides for older children, as well as a new water play area complete with a tipping bucket that splashes more than 300 gallons of water. Rounding out the area is more than 90 spray jets, family cabanas and other water play features. “We are so excited to welcome guests to the bigger, better Water Oasis,” said Gilroy Gardens General Manager Barb Granter. “We know that many families have been eagerly watching the construction going on.” The expansion was constructed next to the park’s original Water Oasis area, which opened in 2014. The new area, however, meant the demise of Gilroy Garden’s rock maze attraction, which opened with the park in 2001. Gilroy Gardens is gearing up for new attractions that aim to increase attendance. The Water Oasis expansion is part of Gilroy Gardens’ master plan over the next five years, which Granter presented to the Gilroy City Council in March 2017. The plan includes further expansion of the water park to appeal to older kids, as well as a ropes course, learning centers, expanded picnic areas and more. No new roller coasters are planned in the future, Granter told the city council. Gilroy Gardens has a number of events lined up for the summer and the rest of the year. For information, visit www.gilroygardens.org. About 30 minutes north of Gilroy Gardens on Highway 101, California’s Great America in Santa Clara recently opened RailBlazer, a new type of roller coaster that is turning the industry on its head, literally. Designed by Idaho-based Rocky Mountain Construction, eight riders traverse in a single file train on a single rail, giving them a unique perspective as they plunge down a 90-degree first drop. After a 45-degree lift hill that reaches a height of 106 feet, RailBlazer travels at a top speed of 52 mph through three inversions and a zero gravity roll. But most importantly, it features an abundance of what roller coaster enthusiasts such as myself live for and what has been missing from Northern California coasters for far too long: airtime. With fast leaps, dips and twists, you won’t be in your seat very long as you zip past water, mountains and bystanders who eagerly await their turn to ride. RailBlazer is themed to the Bay Area and Central Coast’s scenery that is connected by Highway 1. Theming elements include a natural waterway and rocky surroundings, and at the bottom of the first drop, the train flies through a rocky tunnel at top speed. “For those of you who have ridden it, I can tell you and you can tell me: one minute of pure adrenaline,” Raul Rehnborg, vice president and general manager of California’s Great America, told a crowd gathered during the ride’s opening ceremony on June 14. Just like Gilroy Gardens, Great America is in the midst of a multi-year master plan that will, among other things, add new rides and attractions as well as a marketplace outside its main gates. The park is already full steam ahead with its next attraction, as it removed its classic Logger’s Run flume ride and other attractions, opening up prime real estate for something big. We will have to stay tuned to see what is coming. For ticket information, upcoming special events and more at the park, visit www.cagreatamerica.com. Looking to go on a family road trip this summer? There are many new rides making their debut this year at parks throughout California. About an hour north of Great America, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo recently opened Harley Quinn Crazy Coaster, a first-of-its-kind attraction that sends dueling trains through a figure-eight track. In the Los Angeles area, Six Flags Magic Mountain is getting ready to open CraZanity, billed as the largest swinging pendulum ride in the world at 172 feet. Knott’s Berry Farm has also opened Hangtime, which is the first dive coaster on the West Coast.

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Electric Mountain Bike Ride Shifts One Rider’s Perspective

growingupsc — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:25:49 +0000

Electric Mountain Bike Ride Shifts One Rider’s Perspective By Karen Kefauver Photo Credit: Mark Woodhead. Karen Kefauver gives the electric mountain bike another try a week later in down- town Santa Cruz at current e-Bikes. I finally tried an electric mountain bike after years of dismissing the beefed up bikes as “cheating.” to zip uphill on a trail on a battery-powered bike, passing fellow cyclists huffing and puffing up the same climb on traditional mountain bikes just seemed wrong, like doping in the Tour de France. Plus, safety issues seemed more urgent: No one wants to be startled — or possibly hit — by a rider barreling towards them uphill or downhill on a hefty e- bike that can reach up to 20 miles per hour. I had also resisted electric road bikes, that is, until I rented one in Big Sur last summer, and had a change of heart. Not only was it super fun but it was clearly a great way to get people out of their cars and commuting by bike. But should e-mountain bikes be allowed on multi-use trails alongside hikers, bikers and even horses? It’s a controversial question. Last year, the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), the sport’s largest advocacy group, updated its stance on e-bikes and indicated it now supports e-bike access on certain trails. To some extent resistance is futile: the e-bike industry is growing rapidly in the U.S., following the trend of skyrocketing sales in China and Europe. Not surprisingly, Baby Boomers, ages 50-69, drive national sales, according to a 2015 survey by Bosch eBike systems. In Santa Cruz, more friends have been buying e-bikes for both commuting and trail rides and giving them rave reviews. All over town, people are renting and riding the 250 bright red, electric bikes that rolled out with the City of Santa Cruz’s Jump Bike Share program in May. I decided to stop being an armchair critic and instead strap on my helmet and try an e-mountain bike. I stumbled upon the perfect opportunity when Current eBikes, a shop in downtown Santa Cruz, hosted a free, guided group ride to test its focus brand electric mountain bikes. on a rainy Saturday morning in June, nearly two dozen of us gathered in the store parking lot to get fitted on the full suspension bikes. To start my test ride, I powered the bike on and off with a button (which was a novelty in and of itself ), studied the small screen that displays the battery power and other data and practiced switching between the three different levels of battery power. Changing gears on the e-bike was the same as on a traditional bike. Our gang rolled out to the San Lorenzo River levee path, an ideal flat stretch to experiment with our newfound battery power. My bike was “pedal-assist,” meaning that I had to pedal in order to engage the battery. It is thrilling to feel that power surge and makes an e-bike fun and easier to ride. My bike didn’t have a throttle which would have provided instant power, with or without pedaling. We launched our e-bikes at the base of the Mmma McCrary trail (EMT), a 2.2-mile, multi-use trail typically used by hundreds of riders during a spring weekend. It’s embarrassing to ride with more than a dozen fellow riders (on any type of bike) on a singletrack trail. It’s not cool, not uncommon and is legal. However, it disrupts other riders to have so many people try to squeeze by on a narrow trail. I sheepishly apologized as we passed cyclists. More than one of said something along the lines of, “Having fun on that motorbike?” The biggest surprises of my hour-long ride up winding EMT and the steeper climb up U Conn trail, were: 1. You still need technical riding skills and 2. Yes, you still get exercise. I had imagined I would just plow over pesky roots and rocks and not need to negotiate them because I would have so much power. Not true. I needed my bike handling skills to stay upright. One time I wobbled because I didn’t take a turn smoothly and imagined how unpleasant it would be to tip over on my 45-pound bike, more than double the weight of my mountain bike. Breathless, at one point, due to being on a lower battery power mode, I dis- covered you can certainly work up a sweat. However, I also noticed I could chat easily on hilly sections where I was usually winded. As always, I felt peaceful in the beautiful woods and felt the light rain washing my worries away. At one point, a man weighing an extra 30 or 40 pounds was breathing hard as he caught up to me. As he chugged past me, he smiled, explaining he was trying to catch up to his son. He wouldn’t have been out there with his kid on a regular mountain bike; the added battery power was what made it possible. Unfortunately, I had to skip the fun singletrack descent and instead ride down the road back to the shop because the bike saddle was not designed for the female anatomy. (ouch! Bring your own saddle if you test ride!) Ultimately, I did have a change of heart after riding the e-mountain bike. I feel that giving people who are injured, overweight or otherwise unable to ride traditional mountain bikes access to trails is a gift of technology. I don’t condone speed demons using them to set trail speed records (that happens already with traditional mountain bikers). Cyclists can be courteous or rude regardless of what type of bikes they are riding. I do think it’s fair to have some trails that ban e-bikes. Most importantly, given the greater speed and power of e-bikes, there needs to be extra training and education provided by bike shops selling and renting the bikes and as well as from manufacturers. There’s room for improvement. Mountain biking is largely a self-regulating sport, so it’s up to us to do the best we can for each other. Top 3 Tips for Mountain Bike Trail Safety When parents and kids learn and follow basic rules of mountain bike etiquette, the trails are more fun and safer for everyone regardless of what kind of bike they ride. Pick the Right Equipment 1. Put a bell on your bike to ring before blind corners and to alert other cyclists. Wear bright colored clothing and helmet to increase visibility. Make sure your bike fits you correctly. Your Attitude Matters 2. Be friendly. As you approach a rider, say hello, give a smile, ask how their ride is. If you to want to pass them, never assume they know you’re there. Call out, from several feet away, “On your left” or “On your right” indicating which side you want to pass on. A common mistake is getting an inch behind someone and then saying something. That can surprise them and they may steer unpredictably if not given sufficient warning. Brush Up Your Skills 3. It’s your responsibility to know your basic steering and technical skills for managing switchbacks, roots, rocks and steep descents and climbs. Just like on a ski slope, don’t go on a black diamond trail if you are a bunny slope skier. If you find yourself over your head, walk your bike. Talk to local bike shops and learn what trails are a good match for you. And most of all, enjoy!

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Taking the Plunge: Birth Matters

Laura Maxson — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:24:10 +0000

Taking the Plunge: Birth Matters By Laura Maxson, LM Warm, weightless, relaxed, soothed…what better way to experience labor? Getting into warm water during labor is almost universally popular and readily available to most. All the local hospitals provide access to warm water in labor with showers. Laboring in a tub is an option at Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center, where they offer four labor rooms with tubs and one separate tub room; or at Dominican Hospital’s single available tub room. Watsonville Community hospital does not offer tubs at this time. While actually giving birth in the tub is a popular request of expectant parents, waterbirth is only an option for those planning to give birth at home or in a freestanding birth center. Our local hospitals do not offer waterbirth as an option at this time. A recent Cochrane review, “Immersion in Water During Labour and Birth,” concluded in part, “Labouring in water may reduce the number of women having an epidural. Giving birth in water did not appear to affect mode of birth, or the number of women having a serious perineal tear. This review found no evidence that labouring in water increases the risk of an adverse outcome for women or their newborns…” Whether giving birth in the tub or just laboring in water, here are some tips to remember. Not Too Hot Keep tub temperature right around 98 degrees. Higher temperatures can raise the woman’s core body temperature, which in turn can cause a rise in her baby’s heart rate (tachycardia). Tachycardia might also be a sign of a stressed baby and a reason to get out of the tub to cool off until heart rate to returns to normal. Jets If using a whirlpool tub, turning the jets on at the beginning of a contraction and off immediately as it ends, can be a very helpful distraction for some. others might like jets on between contractions and off during the contraction. People rarely want jets left on all the time. Play around with the timing to see what works, knowing that preferences may change over time. Water Spray Home showers and tubs will almost always benefit from the addition of a hand held sprayer before labor. Whether in a tub or shower, warm water can be sprayed on the back, belly or shoulders during contractions. Hold the spray still or gently move it over the body, listen for feedback and adjust. Similar results can be achieved by pouring warm water in a slow, steady stream. Each contraction may take several cups and pouring on to a washcloth left on the skin can help maximize warmth on exposed areas. Shower Sitting on a labor/exercise ball in the shower can allow for more rest than standing. Most balls can fit into a home shower or tub enclosure if it is squished a bit or put in over the top of an enclosure. Sitting on a washcloth on the ball can prevent slipping. Partners often choose to get in or near the shower to offer support or hold the shower sprayer. Support people should have extra clothes available and remember to remove shoes ahead of time. Soft Lighting Bathrooms are bright. At home a few candles or a dimmer switch can set the mood, but hospital bathrooms will need battery-operated candles to keep the lighting dim. A towel placed over the top edge of the bathroom door will allow it to be closed almost all the way, but still leave a crack of light. Towels, Towels, and more Towels Each entry or exit from tub or shower will use a towel (or two). At home toss damp towels into the drier so they are ready to use again (hospitals have lots of towels and plenty of hot water, too). It’s important to place a waterproof tarp underneath a portable tub, ensuring it extends about a foot all around. It is unlikely that the tub will leak, but each time someone leans over the side, or gets in or out, water will drip down the sides to make a puddle. A bathmat is nice to step onto when getting out of the tub and a dishpan of water to rinse the feet before getting in will help keep the tub clean. Maximize the Ahhh Factor Getting into a deep warm-water tub is very highly rated pain relief, but after about an hour and a half, the pain relieving qualities can begin to wear off. Saving the tub for the second half of dilation may maximize its pain relieving potential. Knowing the tub is waiting for use when transition hits can be a strong incentive for many to save the tub for late labor. But people get in the tub at all different times of labor and if it stops being helpful, they can get out for a half hour or so to feel that sense of relief again. Laura Maxson, LM, CPM, the mother of three grown children, has been working with pregnant and breastfeeding women for over 30 years. Currently she is the executive director of Birth Network of Santa Cruz County and has a homebirth midwifery practice. Contact her at midwife@scshop.com or postmaster@birthnet.org

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Hands On Chalk Art

growingupsc — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:14:45 +0000

Hands On Chalk Art By Jennifer K. Mahal What You’ll Need CHILD SAFE CHALK * 1 1/5 cups cornstarch * 1 cup water * mixing bowl * stirrers * small wax-lined paper cups * Food coloring PARIS CHALK * 1 1/2 cups plaster of paris (can be found at craft stores) * 3/4 cup warm water * 2-4 disposable containers (large yogurt containers work well) * popsicle sticks or disposable spoons * tempera paint * small wax-lined paper cups * Optional: silicon mold The lazy days of summer are a wonderful time to play hopscotch, race your friends to a finish line and draw funny faces on your walkway. What do all of these things have in common? To do them, you need chalk! While the colored chalk we use on our sidewalks is made by people, you can find chalk in nature. The White Cliffs of Dover on the coast of England are made of chalk. Chalk is actually a form of limestone, which is a rock made up of the shells and skeletons of small sea creatures. The main two minerals in it are calcium — the stuff that makes your bones hard — and aragonite, which makes the shimmery layer in pearls and shells. Together these minerals create calcium carbonate, a soft rock you can draw with. The tradition of creating art on sidewalks using chalk dates back to the 16th century. Back then, Italian artists called Madonnari would travel from festival to festival, drawing religious pictures on the sidewalk or pavement. Street painters began showing up in London, England in the mid 1800s. These artists became known as “screevers” for the writing that would appear with their works. Bert the chimney sweep in Mary Poppins is a screever, creating the fantastical fair scenes that Mary and her two charges jump into. Whether chalk drawings are simple or complex, they all need one thing. Chalk! There are two methods to make sidewalk chalk, one that works better for younger kids and one for older kids. The first method uses cornstarch, the second uses plaster of Paris, which is calcium sulfate or gypsum. Plaster of Paris is exothermic, which means that it heats up as it dries. It can get quite hot. Because of this, it’s better to use this recipe only with kids old enough to thoroughly follow instructions. Mix the cornstarch with the water thoroughly. The mixture should resemble a thick, pourable batter. Divide it between the cups. You want enough in each cup to make a good-sized piece of chalk. Add a drop or two of food coloring to each cup and mix it until you get the color you want. Let the mixture in the cup dry for 3 days. Peel away the paper cup and have fun! Note: You will want to either do this craft outside, or put down newspaper or other material to protect surfaces. Make sure to wash hands or skin if any plaster gets on them. Also, do not rinse plaster of Paris down your drains. It can cause clogs. Measure 1 1/2 cups of plaster of Paris and put it into a large disposable container. Add 3/4 cup of warm water and mix as you add it. Work fast, as the plaster of Paris hardens quickly. divide the plaster of Paris between the disposable containers and add different colors of tempura paint to each bowl. Mix it thoroughly. Scoop or pour the plaster mixture from each bowl into a paper cup or a silicone mold. Let the chalk dry for at least 24 hours before taking it out of the mold. For best results, let it dry for 2 days. Create great art or use it to make up new games. Chalk is like Harold’s purple crayon. It’s as versatile as your imagination! Discover more science and art at the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery in the Capitola Mall. Learn more at www.sccmod.org. Jennifer K Mahal is the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery’s volun- teer director of public relations and mar- keting. She lives in Santa Cruz with her husband and two children.

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