Desert Companion - Family 2016

Full house!Four generations under one roof KIDS

ATPLAY

2016 Special Bonus Issue

Summer fun indoors! Outdoors!

Everywhere in between!

The bucks stop hereTen-year-olds saving ... for a house?!

Summer yummin'Cool recipes for little foodies

Month 2015 DesertCompanion.Com

Month 2015 DesertCompanion.Com 32

(702) 949-3600 www.alexanderdawsonschool.org

10845 W. Desert Inn Road | Las Vegas, Nevada | 89135

Whether its delivering a presentation or taking a test, there isnt a single identifiable thing that has been more beneficial to me than my educational experience at Dawson. I was encouraged to be an independent thinker and I still use the tools I was given at Dawson to put forth 110 percent effort into whatever I am trying to accomplish. I was taught to question what was questionable, and to discover what was undiscovered. Dawson has not only made me the person I am today, but has made me the person I will be for the rest of my life.

Jonathan WaltonDawson Class of 2012National Merit Scholarship Finalist 2016

Dawson gave me the room to be creative. For example, I wrote my first play in the eighth grade. It was a western melodrama we performed for the entire School. People thought it was funny and I loved that reaction. Dawsons performing arts teacher told me to take that feeling and try applying it to screenwriting. That must have stuck with me because I chose to major in screenwriting and directing at Boston University. I believe a lot of my confidence came from the creative opportunities I was given early on at Dawson, and from the people there that helped me realize my strengths.

Lida NasseriDawson Class of 2007Boston University

At The Alexander Dawson School, we cant predict the future, but we can teach children how to shape it.

The Dawson Difference

As a Dawson student I developed a solid foundation in writing, study skills, and problem solving. While it has been over 15 years since I first attended Dawson, I still rely on those basic foundational skills to guide me through the challenges of my Ph.D. program at Wake Forest University Medical School. I know my experience at Dawson prepared me for success in high school and beyond. Now, I am in my third year of graduate school studying the molecular mechanisms of Alzheimers disease.

Brenna BeckelmanDawson Class of 2004Wake Forest University Medical School

Stellar academic programs, an emphasis on holistic education, and adaptability to student interests make Dawson a fantastic place to learn, explore, and grow. Dawsons decision to be the first middle school in Las Vegas to offer Mandarin allowed me to establish a strong lingual foundation I continued to build through high school and college. Additionally, Dawsons ability to accommodate my desire to attend a boarding high school made a daunting process much more approachable. I believe the academic preparation and opportunity I received at Dawson has been instrumental to my academic success.

Pascal Cevaer-CoreyDawson Class of 2010Stanford University

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EDiTORS NOTE

Science education through robots, financial literacy, volunteerism scanning the topics and issues we cover in our third annual Desert Companion Fam-ily issue, Im struck by, well, what a serious, grown-up enterprise being a kid has become. (The closest

I think I ever came to entering a robotics competition was playing smash-up derby on our bikes. Not sure what I learned about science beyond an intimacy with the struc-ture and morphology of my bruised shins, though.) If such concerns represent the New Childhood, then this years Desert Companion Family Issue should serve as a more than capable users manual. In Go team science! (p. 54), Sarah Vernetti explores the latest trend in STEM educa-tion and it doesnt involve a tangled thicket of formulas scrawled on dry-erase boards. Rather, its about igniting kids imaginations for science and engineering through exciting robot battles and intense drone competitions. In Common cents (p. 45), Jason Scavone surveys courses and programs about financial literacy, a bedrock life skill thats fallen by the wayside in the traditional classroom (to the peril of several generations mired in consumer and student debt). Today, proponents of financial literacy are teaching kids about much more than merely how to bal-ance a checkbook; theyre hoping to instill money habits that will empower youth for a lifetime of wise saving and thoughtful spending. Such education is itself an invest-ment. And in Advanced degree in charity (p. 31), Heidi Kyser profiles a group of teens who, encouraged by their parents, formed a tight-knit volunteerism club called TeenMD. What began as a loose group of do-gooders be-came something much more to these teenagers (and to the organizations they served): Volunteerism became a life-style; selflessness, a character trait. And an appreciation of the bigger picture was a lesson they probably wouldnt have learned in a classroom. As TeenMD member Eve Wellish puts it, With each project, you look a little deeper and see what needs to be changed in our world. Thats a decidedly different kind of higher ed.

But our 2016 Family Issue isnt all work and no play. Theres plenty of diversion for summer, fall and beyond. While the heat reigns well through August, keep this issue handy for a plethora of indoor activities thatll occupy everyone from toddlers to teens (The great in-doors, p. 24), whether they like tumbling, trampolining or trying their puzzle-solving skills in the latest craze, escape rooms. When the mercury drops to survivable hu-man levels, our Wild in the streets (and trails) (p. 18) guide is a great tool for peeling the little ones away from the iPad and introducing them to the flora and fauna of the Southwest. But who says you even have to leave the house to leap into adventure? In Hot outside, way cool inside (p. 34) Scott Dickensheets has put together a crunchy snack bowl of creative games, books and crafts that are perfect for constructive indoor sum-mer fun. And, in whats become a sort of culinary tradition, Oksana Marafioti is back with more kid-friendly recipes for budding chefs and foodies (Flight of fla-vor, p. 40). And dont forget our resource guide (p. 59), our expanded compendium of events, amusements and organizations that offer services and in many cases, just pure fun to families like yours.

HigHer ed

Andrew Kiralyeditor

Follow desert Companionwww.facebook.com/DesertCompanionwww.twitter.com/DesertCompanion

Its one thing to learn. ITS QUITE ANOTHER TO LOVE LEARNING. Thats the spirit we instill at Henderson International School the premier private preschool through 8th grade education in the Las Vegas Valley.

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CONFIDENT.INSPIR ED.

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DESERT COMPANION FAMILY DesertCompanion.Com6

2016 special issue

18

45

31

54

on the cover

IllustratIon Scott Lien

Get oUt!18 resources Give your kids a taste of the outdoors!

24 activities Now give them a taste of the indoors!

home life31 charity case The generous youth of TeenMD

34 fun & Games Books, games and crafts to while away those magma months

36 Generations It's a crowded house, filled with love and placenta

40 cookinG Summer yumz for hungry tumz

Balance45 money Going beyond balancing the checkbook

48 issues It takes a village to stop a bully

54 science Teaching science with robot bat-tles and drone contests

the GUide59 resource Guide Events organizations, activities and informa-tion every parent can use

www.desertcompanion.com

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aIr

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8Mission stateMentDesert Companion is the premier city magazine that celebrates the pursuits, passions and aspirations of Southern Nevadans. With award-winning lifestyle journalism and design, Desert Companion does more than inform and entertain. We spark dialogue, engage people and define the spirit of the Las Vegas Valley.

publ isheD by nevaDa publ ic raDio

issn 2157-8389 (print)issn 2157-8397 (online)

DESERT COMPANION FAMILY DesertCompanion.Com

PublisherMelanie Cannon

AssociAtePublisher Christine Kiely

editorAndrew Kiraly

Artdirector Christopher Smith

dePutyeditor Scott Dickensheets

seniordesigner Scott Lien

stAffwriterHeidi Kyser

grAPhicdesigner Brent Holmes

Accountexecutives Sharon Clifton, Parker McCoy, Favian Perez, Noelle Tokar, Markus Vant Hul

sAlesAssistAntAshley Smith

nAtionAlAdvertisingrePresentAtiveCouture Marketing 145 E 17th Street, Suite B4 New York, NY 10003 (917) 821-4429 advertising@couturemarketing

MArketingMAnAger Lisa Kelly

PrinttrAfficMAnAgerKaren Wong

subscriPtionMAnAger Tammy Willis

webAdMinistrAtorDanielle Branton

AdvertisingcoPyeditor Carla J. Zvosec

contributingwriters Cybele, JoAnna Haugen, Oksana Marafioti, Eric Roberts, Jason Scavone, Sarah Vernetti, Misti Yang, Carla J. Zvosec

contributingArtists Anthony Mair, Rick Sealock, Hernan Valencia

Editorial: Andrew Kiraly, (702) 259-7856; [email protected]

Fax: (702) 258-5646

advErtising: Christine Kiely (702) 259-7813; [email protected]

subscriptions: (702) 258-9895; [email protected]

WEbsitE: www.desertcompanion.vegas

Desert Companion is published 12 times a year by Nevada Public Radio, 1289 S. Torrey Pines Dr., Las Vegas, NV 89146. It is available by subscription at desertcompanion.vegas, or as part of Nevada Public Radio membership. It is also distributed free at select locations in the Las Vegas Valley. All photos, artwork and ad designs printed are the sole property of Desert Companion and may not be duplicated or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The views of Desert Companion contributing writers are not necessarily the views of Desert Companion or Nevada Public Radio. Contact Tammy Willis for back issues, which are available for purchase for $7.95.


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DESERT COMPANION FAMILY DesertCompanion.Com 13

travel

You be trippingThese family-friendly road trips offer fun for all ages not just in the summer, but all year long B y JoAn nA H Aug e n

FloAt-tAstic Fun on lAke MeAd

Las Vegas families dont have to travel far to dip their toes into a lakefront va-cation, but with water levels dropping at a drastic pace, take advantage of Lake Mead National Recreation Area before it disappears for good. Many daytrippers rent canoes or kayaks to slip in and out of the many coves tucked around the edges of the lake, but shake things up and spend the night on the water with a houseboat rental. A number of compa-

nies offer houseboats starting at 50 feet and increasing in size to larger, more lux-urious models that sleep up to 14 people.

For the kids: Once youre out on the water, theres nowhere else to turn for entertainment, so rent a houseboat with a waterslide and make sure youre fully stocked up on kid-friendly food and fun before you set out.

For the adults: After the boat is anchored

for the night and the kids have slipped off to sleep, sneak outside and take in the new-to-you view of Las Vegas from the sun deck.

Tip: Renting a houseboat can be pricey, but just about every rental company of-fers specials to sweeten the deal. Check out seasonal discounts noted online or by phone.

Book it: callvillebay.com, nps.gov/lake/index.htm

cAnyons And critters in kAnAB, utAH

With a population of 5,400 people, Kanab, Utah, would be easy to overlook, ex-cept that this quaint little town has snagged the perfect location from which to explore all things awesome in Southern Utah. Fam-

fam 16

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Cottonwood Cove

at Lake Mead

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14

History lessons:

Clockwise from

left, Kanab, Utah;

Ancestral Pueblo

dwellings in

Colorado; historic

Virginia City


kanab: courtesy c

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ilies can get their outside on with easy day-drives to Zion National Park (40 miles), Bryce Canyon National Park (70 miles) and the greatly underrated Grand Canyon North Rim (80 miles). Kanab is also home to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and vol-unteers of all ages and experience levels are invited to interact with the 1,700 cats, dogs, horses, pigs and other animals that call Best Friends home.

For the kids: Cash in on the fresh air and pack a picnic lunch to eat in Jacob Hamblin Park. This large, open park with plentiful shade has a fantastic play-ground, complete with tandem slides, climbing walls and more. For the adults: Well-known Western artist Maynard Dixon lived in Mount Carmel, less than 20 miles from Kanab. Today, the property is a living histo-ry museum with several of the artists pieces located throughout the buildings. Self-guided walking tours ($10) and do-cent-led tours ($20) are available.

Tip: Some of Southern Utahs national parks and monuments have restricted access during the fall and winter.

Book it: visitsouthernutah.com, bestfriends.org

urBAn escApe in lAugHlin

Laughlin is often overlooked when it comes to vacation spots, but recent up-grades and changes have made the city an ideal destination for a quick vacay with the family. A mini-Las Vegas in some ways, Laughlin has nine hotel-ca-sino resorts, more than 50 restaurants

and a riverfront with boating, river pad-dling, fishing, jet skiing and other ample opportunities to cool off from the desert heat. Visit during the River Regatta (Au-gust 12-14) and float down the Colorado River with hundreds of other partici-pants. Bring your own rafts, inner tubes and other float devices and dont for-get your life vests!

For the kids: Find all the standard kid-friendly fare around town, including 15 movie screens and a bowling alley. All the casinos have video arcades, though Harrahs, with more than 60 video game options, is arguably the best one to keep the young ones entertained.

For the adults: Tap your toes late into the night at the Laughlin Event Center, which has attracted an impressive roster of entertainers as of late, including Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum and Carrie Un-

derwood. On the docket for the coming months: Hank Williams Jr., (September 24) and Dolly Parton (September 30).

Tip: Like most casino-resorts, Laugh-lins properties offer promotional pack-ages that include extras like meal vouch-ers, drink specials and discounts on other local activities.

Book it: visitlaughlin.com

MountAintop retreAt on Mt. cHArleston

Most Las Vegas locals head up to Mount Charleston for day hiking in the summer and skiing or snowboarding in the winter, but stay for a few days to escape the valleys oppressive heat. Doz-ens of trails in this part of the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area welcome hikers of all ages and abilities. At night, check into one of the cabins at

14

travel


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Mt. Charleston Lodge. Double log cabins are larger studio rooms that come with two king-sized beds and fold-out sofa sleepers.

For the kids: Consider signing the kids up for a Junior Ranger Program, which is best suited for kids ages five to 10. And if youre trying to narrow down the trekking options, look into taking a guided night hike (offered on Friday nights) with a trained naturalist who offers information about nocturnal animals, astron-omy and other (appropriate) after-dark topics.

For the adults: A three-course wine-pairing menu served at the Mt. Charleston Lodge from 5 p.m. to close makes it easy to tip back a drink (or two) after a satisfying day in the mountains.

Tip: Cell phone reception in the area is sketchy at best, so plan in advance and com-pletely unplug during your family trip.

Book it: gomtcharleston.com, mtcharlestonlodge.com

A trip to tHe Wild West in VirginiA city

Pull on your spurs, grab your cowboy hat and mosey on up to Virginia City, Nevada. Once a thriving mining town, Virginia City has kept its Wild West charm intact. Towns like this have the potential to feel tacky, but well-maintained museums and histor-ic buildings such as the opera house and courthouse balance out trolley tours and gold-panning activities. A self-guided walk-ing tour, available through a mobile app, hits the highlights while also giving your family room to explore at its leisure.

For the kids: Virginia City is known for its weird and wacky festivals including the Inter-national Camel Races and the World Champi-onship Outhouse Races. Yes, these events are as goofy as they sound, and yes, you and your kids will get a kick out of watching them.

For the adults: Once home to as many as 115 bars and saloons, it would be a shame to visit the city and not enjoy a drink in one, many of which have been maintained to look as they did in the 19th century. The city hosts several saloon crawls throughout the year. Check in with the tourism office when you visit and find out if one is taking place while youre there.

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Opening Fall 2016!

16

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Tip: Because of its elevation, Virginia City receives an average of 56 inches of snow a year. Check the road conditions before you go.

Book it: visitvirginiacitynv.com

cool getAWAy in A Hot plAce

While the summer temperature soars throughout most of Arizona, Flagstaff keeps its cool, with the average high hit-ting 81F in July. Unsurprisingly, families are drawn to outdoor activities and the city delivers. The Arizona Snowbowl, known for skiing and snowboarding in the winter, is also open in the summer for disc golf and hiking. Additionally, a hand-ful of outfitters in the area offer guided horseback-trail rides, which last about one-and-a-half to two hours on average.

For the kids: At Flagstaff Extreme Ad-venture, kid-friendly (ages seven and older) and adult-friendly ropes courses with suspended bridges, nets and slides promise to get the adrenaline pumping. Advance reservations are strongly recom-mended.

For the adults: The Flagstaff-Grand Can-yon Ale Trail spotlights the best in craft

beer, with 10 stops in downtown Flagstaff and nearby Sedona and Williams.

Tip: Avoid visiting during special events taking place at Northern Arizona Uni-versity because hotel prices and restau-rant wait times sharply increase.

Book it: flagstaff.com, flagstaffextreme.com, flagstaffaletrail.com

sunny Fun in sAntA Fe

A colorful collision of Southwest art, dining and culture, Santa Fe, New Mex-ico, has a personality found nowhere else. With several museums (including the countrys only museum devoted to artist Georgia OKeeffe), dozens of gal-leries and lots of historic sites, it leans toward the parent-oriented side of family travel. However, outdoor recreation and accessible attractions such as the Harrell House of Natural Oddities and Bug Mu-seum mean theres a little something for everyone in Santa Fe.

For the kids: Though most restau-rants have menus that satisfy everyone, if all else fails, head to the Santa Fe Farmers Market (Saturday and Tues-day from 7 a.m.-1 p.m.) or the Railyard Artisan Market (Sundays 10 a.m.-4 p.m.) to mix and match the perfect meal. Look for local specialties like ta-males and burritos.

For the adults: Embrace your creativi-ty with a class or workshop while youre in town. Options are plentiful, ranging from painting and metal working to yoga and cooking.

Tip: Youth 16 and younger are always free at the Museum of International Folk Art, which has some activities and exhibits designed specifically with kids in mind.

Book it: santafe.org, internationalfolkart.org

colorAdo tiMe WArp

Its easy to feel like youve been sucked back into the past in Southwest Colorado. Cliff dwellings tell a story of Ancestral Pueblos who lived here centuries ago, and ghost towns dotting the landscape paint a picture of an even more recent departure. Hop on a guided tour at Mesa Verde National Park, home to nearly 5,000 known archeological sites some of the best-preserved in the country and sign up for an ATV trip to the historic ghost town of Animas Forks, located near Silverton.

For the kids: Take a trip on the Duran-go & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which has been in operation since 1882. Winding its way through the canyons in San Juan National Forest, the train pass-es over bridges and up steep grades.

Culture and

leisure: Left,

the Museum of

International Folk

Art in Santa Fe;

right, the Laughlin

waterfront

For more information or to reserve your seats, please visit www.npr.vegas

FRIDAY

JUL. 22 YOU WILL SEE FOUR PLAYS: Cocoanuts, Three Musketeers, Henry V, Mary Poppins

SATURDAY

JUL. 23

DATE DESTINATIONTHRU UTAH

SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

R S V P T O D AY ! S U MM E R 2 0 1 6

FRIDAY

SEP. 30 YOU WILL SEE THREE PLAYS: Julius Caesar, Murder for Two, The Odd Couple

UTAH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

SATURDAY

OCT. 01

DATE DESTINATION

THRU


For the adults: Lots of rivers means lots of river rafting. Some rafting excursions are appropriate for most members of the family (even as young as four years old) but others are intense and high adven-ture, requiring participants to be at least 16 years of age.

Tip: High altitude plus lots of sunshine equals a high possibility for sunburn. Wear sunscreen year-round.

Book it: swcolotravel.org, colorado.com/southwest, durangotrain.com, nps.gov/meve/index.htm

sloW doWn in A stAte pArk next door

Skip Californias coastline, world-fa-mous amusement attractions and crowded national parks on your next family vaca-tion, and head for an underrated (and, un-fortunately, underfunded) state park for a breath of fresh air. Located east of San Diego, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park has two family campgrounds and more than 100 miles of trails for hiking, cycling and horseback riding. Green Valley, located at 4,000 feet in elevation, has shallow pools and a creek for splashing around during the day, while many of the parks trails leave from Paso Picacho, five miles north at 5,000 feet.

For the kids: Campground areas are crowded with kids on bicycles, but take note that helmets are required for peo-ple younger than 18. Remain cautious when driving through these areas to avoid accidents.

For the adults: Kick back and relax around the campfire even after the little ones are tucked in for the night. Purchase firewood at the park entrance or camp host sites, and use established fire rings Southern California is a beacon for wild-fires in the summer.

Tip: Reserve a campsite in advance at 1-800-444-PARK, especially if you plan to visit on the weekend.

Book it: parks.ca.gov


In a world of tablets, smartphones and video games, its easy to forget theres a wild world of outdoor ad-venture just beyond your doorstep. Not ready to haul the family on an

epic backcountry hike of the North Rim? Understandable! Here are some newbie-friendly resources that are sure to stoke your kids budding appetites for the great outdoors.

LAS VEGAS

Bonnie SpringS ranch

The site originally served as a stop-ping point for travelers heading to Cal-ifornia. Today, the ranch features an old-fashioned town, petting zoo, pony rides, and horse stables. Pony rides are available for kids who are at least 5 years old and weigh less than 50 pounds. Horseback riding is available for kids

age 6 and older. 16395 Bonnie Springs Road, 702-875-4191, bonniesprings.com

Boy ScoutS of america LaS VegaS area counciL

The Boy Scouts organization empha-sizes self-reliance, resourcefulness, and leadership skills. Participants learn about the outdoors and nature through excursions to a variety of camps through-

GET OUT resources

Wild in the streets (and trails)Introduce your little ones to the great big world outside with these resources B y Sar ah Ve rn e t ti

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Springs Preserve


out the region. Donald Reynolds Scouting Resource Center, 7220 S. Paradise Road, 702-736-4366, lvacbsa.org

cowBoy traiL rideS

Explore Red Rock Canyon on horse-back during one of Cowboy Trail Rides guided excursions. The 60-minute Coy-ote Canyon ride is a good place to start for beginners. Children ages 7 and older are welcome, and helmets are provided. 4053 Fossil Ridge Road, 702-387-2457, cowboytrailrides.com

fLoyd LamB park at tuLe SpringS

This 680-acre park features walking trails, picnic areas, fishing ponds, and the historic Tule Springs Ranch. Daily en-trance fee is $6 per car. 9200 Tule Springs Road, lasvegasnevada.gov

friendS of neVada wiLderneSS

This organization is dedicated to pro-tecting Nevadas public lands. Check their website for volunteer opportunities, a list of wilderness areas by region, and the kids corner section, which provides a helpful list of online resources for kids. 702-515-5417, nevadawilderness.org

giLcreaSe orchard

Seasonal fruits and vegetables are available for picking three days per week from 7 a.m. until noon. In fall, pick pumpkins and enjoy a hayride. 7800 N. Tenaya Way, 702-409-0655, thegil-creaseorchard.org

girL ScoutS of Southern neVada

The Girl Scouts organization encourag-es girls to have courage, confidence, and character by emphasizing leadership skills and community service. Girls learn about the outdoors through camping trips and nature-themed outings. The main of-fice is located at 2941 E. Harris Ave., 702-385-3677, girlscoutsnv.org

huaLapai canyon Loop traiL

This trail, located in Summerlin, might not seem like the best place to

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experience nature. However, a stroll at dusk will reveal a host of desert crea-tures who come out of hiding once the heat of the day has subsided. Kids can look for rabbits, lizards, and other ani-mals during this 1-mile walk. The trail-head can be accessed from a parking lot along Hualapai Way, north of Alta.

LaS VegaS naturaL hiStory muSeum

From sea life to rocks and minerals, the exhibits at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum cover a broad range of natural sciences. Plus, visitors will also find a dose of human history, thanks to the museums Treasures of Egypt exhib-it. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 3-11. 900 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-384-DINO, lvnhm.org

neVada State muSeum

Located adjacent to Springs Preserve, the Nevada State Museum showcases the history of Southern Nevada. Learn about local creatures, past and pres-ent. Kids will especially enjoy the enor-mous mammoth that greets them at the

entrance to the gallery. 309 S. Valley View Blvd., 702-486-5205, museums.ne-vadaculture.org/nsmlv-home

red rock auduBon Society

The Jr. Audubon Club strives to help kids develop an interest in birds and ex-plore the outdoors. Membership is $10 per year for children in grades 2-5. The Red Rock Audubon Societys website is a helpful resource, providing a list of bird festivals in neighboring states for those looking for feather-filled road trip ideas. 702-390-9890, redrockaudubon.com

red rock canyon nationaL conSerVation area

Red Rock Canyon offers many op-portunities for outdoor exploration, in-cluding hiking trails, picnic spots, and a visitor center with nature-themed outdoor exhibits. Visitors can also drive the parks 13-mile scenic loop. Admis-sion is $7 per vehicle. Annual passes are available for $30 per person. Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association, 1000 Scenic Loop Drive, 702-515-5367, redrockcanyonlv.org

Shark reef aquarium

Learn about sharks, sting rays, and other water-loving creatures at Manda-lay Bays Shark Reef. In addition to visit-ing the aquariums permanent residents, guests can also check out the special exhibit Sea Monsters Revealed, which runs through October 2016. Located in-side Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-632-4555, sharkreef.com

Spring mountain ranch State park

This state park, which is located with-in Red Rock Canyon National Conserva-tion Area, offers a quiet retreat for visi-tors. Hike the relatively short Overlook Trail to enjoy beautiful views, or take a tour of the historic ranch house. Admis-sion is $9 per vehicle, but Nevada resi-dents receive a $2 discount. 6375 NV 159, 702-875-4141, parks.nv.gov

SpringS preSerVe

The quintessential family destination in Las Vegas, Springs Preserve greets guests with a unique, desert-themed playground, botanical garden, plenty

GET OUT resources


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of desert animals, and indoor museum space. Admission is $9.95 for Nevada residents and $4.95 for Nevada children ages 5-17. Admission is free for children age 4 and younger. Senior, student, and military discounts are available. 333 S. Valley View Blvd., 702-822-7700, spring-spreserve.org

VegaS rootS community garden

Vegas Roots is a four-acre urban farm that offers nutrition classes, gardening instruction, and school field trips. Kids can sign up for the Lil Roots Gardening Club, which meets once per month and includes gardening and cooking lessons. 715 N. Tonopah Drive, 702-636-4152, vegasroots.org

wetLandS park

Wetlands Park, and the accompanying Nature Center and Exhibit Hall, high-light the unique ecology of the wetland landscape. Take a stroll along one of the parks many pathways, while keeping an eye out for local wildlife. Inside the mu-seum, visitors will find family-friend-ly, interactive exhibits. 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, 702-455-7522, clarkcountynv.gov/parks

BOULDER CITY

hemenway park

This small community park includes playground equipment, a grassy lawn, basketball courts, pretty views of Lake Mead, and perhaps most importantly a resident herd of big horn sheep that

likes to congregate in the shade. 401 Ville Drive, bcnv.org

Lake mead nationaL recreation area

From hiking to boating and water sports, Lake Mead offers a wide array of nature-based activities for families. Take a hike along the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail or enjoy water sports like kayaking and canoeing. 10 Lakeshore Road, 702-293-8990, nps.gov/lake

HENDERSON

diVe LaS VegaS

Believe it or not, you can learn to scu-ba dive or snorkel right here in Southern Nevada. Dive Las Vegas offers a variety of classes, some for kids as young as 6 years old. Classes for beginners are held at pools throughout the City of Hen-derson. Open water, PADI certification dives at Lake Mead are also available for participants older than age 10. Dive Las Vegas, 702-897-5111, divelasvegas.com/classdescriptions.htm

etheL m. cactuS garden

The cactus garden features 300 different species of desert plants, including cacti, suc-culents, and desert-loving trees and shrubs. This is an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll with youngsters who arent quite ready for a more intense hike. After exploring

parks and recreation:

Clockwise from

left, Hemenway

Park, Nevada State

Museum, Wetlands

Park, Bonnie Springs,

Shark Reef


resourcesGET OUT

the garden, visitors can take a tour of the chocolate factory. 2 Cactus Garden Drive, 1-800-438-4356, ethelm.com

henderSon Bird Viewing preSerVe

The park is home to numerous species of birds, including migrating water fowl that gravitate to the preserves ponds. The best time for bird viewing is early in the morning. Binoculars are available to borrow. 350 E. Galleria Drive, 702-267-4180, cityofhenderson.com

DAY TRIPS

death VaLLey nationaL park (ca)

Hike to the top of a sand dune, stand hundreds of feet below sea level at the lowest point in North America, or en-joy stargazing at Death Valley National Park. Families can try camping or stay at one of the parks four hotels, although Death Valley makes a reasonable day trip from Las Vegas for those who prefer the comfort of home. Always bring plen-ty of water. 760-786-3200, nps.gov/deva

Lee canyon (nV)

Formerly known as the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort, Lee Canyon of-fers summer activities like scenic chair-lift rides and disc golf in a picturesque, wooded locale. In winter, families can take skiing or snowboarding lessons.

6725 Lee Canyon Road, 702-385-2754, leecanyonlv.com

Snow canyon State park (ut)

This state park, located just north of St. George, Utah, features plenty of pic-nic areas, trails, and rock formations. Families with young children can try the relatively easy trek along the Pioneer Names Trail. Park admission is $6 per vehicle for up to eight people. 1002 Snow Canyon Drive, Ivins, UT, 435-628-2255, stateparks.utah.gov

Star Journey (nV)

Escape the light pollution of the city, and travel to Goodsprings, NV for star-gazing near the historic Pioneer Saloon. Star Journey at Pioneer Saloon, 310 NV 161, Goodsprings, NV, 801-382-7827, starjourney.net

VaLLey of fire State park (nV)

In addition to being quite picturesque, this park, famous for its red rock for-mations, is ideal for hiking, picnicking, and rock scrambling. The Mouses Tank Trail is a good place for families to start, thanks to its reasonable half-mile length and soft, sandy pathway. If you look closely, youll find petroglyphs along the way. Admission is $10 per vehicle. Neva-da residents receive a $2 discount. 29450 Valley of Fire Road, Overton, NV, 702-397-2088, parks.nv.gov/parks

From tyke to trekkerTiPS oN iNTRoduCiNg youR faMily To THe ouTdooRS

n Start small, stay local. Starting with local parks and wilderness hikes is a great way to spend a few hours in na-ture without a huge time commitment. Develop a real love for certain wild places or adventures, with short, local trips before you whip out the credit card at REI or plan the week-long stay in the back-country.

n Let curiosity lead you. Have you ever wondered whats on the other side of that mountain, or where that path leads? Ask your kids to pick an outdoor adventure and then go learn some-thing new together.

n Be prepared. The desert is a beautiful place, but the outdoors is also full of situations that can turn a fun trip into a headache in a few short moments. Be sure to always bring plenty of water, sunscreen, a first-aid kit, and let folks at home know where you are headed and when you plan on being home. Even just a quick jaunt can take an unexpect-ed turn.

n take pictures, leave footprints. The desert looks pretty rough and tough, but in reality, it is a very fragile envi-ronment that can be easily damaged if we are not careful. Take the time on each trip to teach good stewardship so your kids can have these same experi-ences with their kids.

n Solitude, together. There is no better place to grow closer together as a family than in the quiet solitude of nature. Something magic happens when the television is out of reach and cell service is out of range and families have noth-ing but each other and the natural world before them. Come and see! Eric Roberts

Eric Roberts is a father and outdoors enthusiast. He is a board member of Friends of Nevada Wilderness.

Snow Canyon

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The Great Indoors

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Dont let the heat spoil your kids summer fun. Get active at these high-energy hot spots thatll still keep them cool

B y m i s t i y a n g


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Kid rock: Origin

Climbing and

Fitness


pools are the classic ref-uge for summertime frolic. Marco? Polo! has echoed across back-yards for generations, but reapplying sun-

screen in triple-digit weather every half-hour doesnt always make for the perfect summer day. With excessive heat out-doors and vacation-hyped children afoot, its nice to have options that dont require a sun-protection factor. Seeking water may be your first instinct when the heat hits, but this guide will remind you that the air-conditioned great in-doors offers just as many worthwhile adventures.Museum may not evoke the same

fun as wave pool, but how about Water World? For those of you too young to immediately imagine Kevin

Costner adorned in drenched leather, Discovery Childrens Museum (360 Promenade Place, discoverykidslv.org) capitalizes on H2Os appeal with the aptly named exhibit that includes hands-on experiences such as air blowers and boats. Its a compromise that still allows for splashing a little brother or sister. Plus, this summer the museum hosts the Clifford The Big Red Dog traveling exhibit. If cartoon canines are not quite your idea of mu-seum material, peruse the achieve-ments of Ancient Rome with your brood through September 11 at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum (900 Las Vegas Blvd. N., lvnhm.org). Maxi-mize your investment by visiting on Tuesday or Thursday at 2:30 p.m. or Saturday at 2 p.m. to catch a live shark feeding. Do not fear. Its more Dory

than Jaws, which means little hands are safe. For the kiddo who aspires to an exhibition of their own, Henderson is home to Create (1570 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway #170, createhenderson.com), an arts and crafts studio that of-fers Craft & Play, a featured craft proj-ect, plus unlimited play in their indoor playground for younger than 7, as well as open crafting for all ages. This sum-mer theyre hosting several camps, in-cluding an entire week dedicated to Star Wars. Sew-bi-Wan Kenobi may or may not make an appearance.

Romp n Roll

While galaxies of glitter make note-worthy playgrounds, the local roundup of indoor romper rooms deliver surpris-es of their own. Its not every day you see an octopus carousel, but the oc-

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topedal-go-round is front and center along with plenty of slides and ball pits at Adventure Indoor Playground (5693 S. Jones Blvd. #114, adventurein-doorplayground.com). For the smallest of tykes, Fidgets Indoor Playground (7835 S. Rainbow Blvd. #15, fidgetslv.com) has a dedicated pre-walkers area, and recently started providing some-thing special for adults with children at play: adult yoga on Thursdays from 9-10 a.m. If downward dog is not your forte, just bring your laptop and tap into the free Wi-Fi. Three levels of mega-jungle gym are the centerpiece of Kangamoo Indoor Playground (1525 E. Sunset Road #7, kangamooplay.com), and the indoor track ensures that parents can make laps, keep cool, and observe the little ones at play. Or you can leave hy-peractivity to the young at heart and

kick back in one of the shiatsu massage chairs instead. If your offspring has graduated from

bounce houses, the valley has several trampoline parks for more sophisticated aerials. In addition to wall-to-wall can-vas, FLIPnOUT Xtreme (4245 S. Grand Canyon Drive #111, flipnoutxtreme.com) houses the only indoor zipline in town and Laser Tag Warehouse Wars four words that are long overdue as a com-pound phrase. As implied by its name, Rockin Jump (7200 Montessouri St. #160, lasvegas.rockinjump.com) pro-vides both rocks and hops, which may

play lands:

Clockwise from

left, Kangamoo,

HKPK, Pinball Hall

of Fame, Discovery

Childrens Museum,

Meepleville

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olmes; dis

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With vacation-hyped children afoot, its nice to have options that dont require a sun-protection factor.

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sound dangerous, but theres no need for concern. The rocks appear in a rock-climbing obstacle that allows com-petitive spirits to race to the top. Rockin Tots jump time ensures smaller folk (children younger than 6) will not be trampled Monday through Thursday from 9-11 a.m. and Saturdays from 8-10 a.m. For a true family affair, Gravady (7350 Prairie Falcon Road #120, gravady.com) has a flat rate for the entire family on Monday nights 6-9 p.m. Be sure to take a swing on their trapeze to get the full experience. Bouncing off the walls is really a thing

in North Las Vegas at HKPK Las Vegas (3680 N. Fifth St. #130, hkpklv.com), the largest parkour facility in the United States, with 20,000 square feet of park-our structures, trampolines, a spring floor, a 60-foot tumble track, plus doz-ens of modular obstacles. In case youre not familiar with parkour, its a sport that involves moving through a city by jumping, leaping, and running off of and through buildings and structures; prob-ably easiest if you Google it to see what your kids are getting into. Or, you can sign up for one of their summer camps (for ages 7 and older) or training classes in parkour, trampoline, tricking (a com-bination of kicks, flips and twists), or ae-rial silks. Sign your 3- to 6-year-old up for the Little Ninja Class.

Balls and BoaRds

Virtual aerials greatly reduce the risk of bumps and bruises and increase the rate of pizza consumption. This law of physics is appreciated by Press Start Gaming Center (1550 E. Tropicana Ave. #7, psglv.com), as demonstrated by their monthly lock-ins that allow all ages to game all night and consume bottomless boxes of Italian pies. Or, you can just stop in to play their consoles and library of games on one of their 40-plus stations. You can make a day of it and wander across the parking lot to the Pinball Hall of Fame (1610 E. Tropicana Ave., pinballmuseum.org) where a fist full of quarters buys access to 10,000 square-feet of flippin old-school fun. Speaking of old school, even electric-

ity is not required to partake in the board game wonderland that is Mee-pleville Board Game Cafe (4704 W. Sahara Ave. #2, meepleville.com). The self-proclaimed second happiest place on earth has a library of more than 1,000 board games, and you dont have to worry about deciphering long in-struction manuals, as the staff is happy to help you learn and master any game. Also on the west side, Game Nest (4545 W. Spring Mountain Road #104, game-nestlv.com) is a pay-by-the-hour arcade which earns you unlimited access to free-play arcade games. In addition to DanceEvolution, Fighter, Puzzle and more arcade games, they have six con-sole stations with the choice of XBox One, Playstation 4, or Wii-U. If youre wondering, Why battle imaginary foes?, Battle Blast Laser Tag (8125 W. Sahara Ave. #200, battleblastlv.com) answers with a multi-level arena, phaser packs and an unfolding drama of hide-and-seek, tag, and capture-the-flag. For the summer, Battle Blast is of-fering all-you-can-play specials and special theme weeks. You may get psyched for I love the 80s week, but you will probably end up at Potter-tas-tic defending Hogwarts with at least two of your favorite kids.

the gReat escapes

Being locked in a room with your fam-ily may not be magical, but the escape rooms in town give you an opportunity to try it out. The idea is simple: you are locked in a room with a group and you have a set time to solve a series of puz-zles to escape. Each location has spe-cific age restrictions and several rooms to choose from, so do your research be-fore rounding up the family. Here are some of our favorite themes: At Lock-down (3271 S. Highland Drive, lock-downrooms.com) you can engage in a simulated hostage negotiation for the release of your best friend. Perhaps a bit less stressful is the Sherlock Room in-spired by Holmes himself at Count-down Live Escape Games (2959 West-wood Drive, countdownescape.com/lv). At Live Escape Adventure (6376 W. Sa-

hara Ave., liveescapeadventure.com) ev-eryone can live out their Indiana Jones fantasies with a visit to the room of Pha-raohs Curse. Finally, the name may be a tad extreme, but the family that escapes a zombie virus together stays together at Escape or Die (3064 W. Post Road, 34escapeordielv.com).

Bulls-eyes, home Runs and Rock walls

Your inner grandpa may be asking, What happened to good old fun? The kind without zombies? Fair question, and although arrows could be handy during the apocalypse, Pacific Ar-chery Sales (4084 Schiff Drive, pacifi-carcherylv.com) does not require the undead for a grand old time. You can take a shot on one of their indoor ar-chery lanes, take a lesson, or go all Robin Hood and sign up for a summer league. Speaking of summer: Baseball. You may have thought it was impossi-ble to swing, batter, batter in sub-100 degrees here in town, but behold Ex-tra Innings (7200 Montessouri St. #190, extrainnings-lasvegas.com), an indoor batting cage facility where you can walk right in and use token-operat-ed baseball and softball batting cages and tunnels. Bows and bats are not re-quired at Nevada Climbing Centers (3065 E. Patrick Lane #4, nvclimbing.com). With just two firm grips, you and the crew can navigate 27 top rope walls, a 30-foot, 45-degree inverted climb, and a bouldering cave. In Henderson, Origin Climbing and Fitness (7585 Commercial Way, originclimb.com) provides similar adventures but in technicolor. The 23,000-square-foot climbing, yoga and fitness center offers kids climb time Saturdays and Sun-days; it includes rental equipment and an Origin Instructor to guide and belay your child while you run out for a frap-puccino. As you sip that refreshing beverage, remember that frozen treats and water features are not your only respite this summer. Stuff this handy guide in your glove box for easy refer-ence, and stay cool by seeking out the great indoors.

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fam 16

p ortr ai t s of the p l ac e s whe re we l i ve , work an d p l ay

A little after 6 a.m. one October morning, half a dozen Green Val-ley High School sophomores and

their moms stood shivering in a parking lot near West Washington Avenue and G Street. Julia Occhiogrosso, of the Las Vegas Catholic Worker, pulled up with a trailer full of coffee and tea, food and industrial kitchenware. Following Oc-chiogrossos directions, the sleepy-eyed kids helped set up a soup line and then manned serving stations. Homeless men and women wandered into the lot and lined up for the free food that the commu-nity charity doles out four days a week. Charlie Newman, a tall baseball

player with shaggy hair and hazel eyes, flipped pancakes and watched as people took washcloths to clean up before eat-

ing. Later, hed tell his mother, Deborah Newman, that he was struck by their gratitude and good manners, and sad-dened to see how many military veter-ans were among the citys homeless. Be-fore heading home around noon that day in 2013, the Newmans and their friends served more than 150 people. But the remarkable part of this story

isnt just the volume of need met the Catholic Worker soup line routinely at-tracts as many as 200 its the fact that the Green Valley group was neither put-ting in mandatory community service hours for school, nor volunteering for an official nonprofit organization. Yet, despite the casual nature of their efforts, they got together nearly every month for six years and lent a hand to someone

community

Advanced degree in charityA group of local teens proves that community service can be fun, fulfilling and high-impact B y He id i K yse r

PhotograPhy anthony mair

32 DESERT COMPANION FAMILY DesertCompAnion.Com

who needed it. Called TeenMD, short for teens making a difference, the kids re-cently finished high school and will soon head off to college. But the impact of what they did will last for years to come.

A History of giving

In 2007, during lunch with some female friends, Henderson resident Leslie DeBore floated an idea for an activity

that shed heard about a similar group of Orange County friends doing: What if, in-stead of spending $50 on lunch, they pooled their money once a month for a charitable cause? DeBores friends loved the idea, and their informal give group was born.There were a few ground rules: They

decided to avoid overtly political and religious activities, but otherwise could give the money to whomever they col-lectively decided on, from a neighbor whod fallen on hard times to a formal 501(c)3. There would be no strings at-tached, and the low amount would keep them under the tax limit. The give group has succeeded beyond

what the friends expected when they started it nine years ago. This fall, theyll hit the $50,000 mark in total donations. I think the reason it worked for me is

because it was so easy and a good way to give, says Deborah Newman. Then after a few years I realized, you know what? I want that for my kids. I can see the way our society moves. Sometimes people are not so charitable, and I think its important.In 2010, a few of the women in the give

group had kids who were seventh-grad-ers. A mix of boys and girls, theyd grown up together and were good friends. Their moms wanted to encourage them to do something like the give group, but recognized that the teens would have to offer something other than money, since they had little of their own. How about their time?The moms got everyone together for

a pizza party and like DeBore had done with them three years earlier proposed the idea of a volunteer project. The girls were receptive and the boys didnt object, which, at their age, was tantamount to approval, their mothers

say. After a meeting or two more, they had full buy-in from the kids, a mission statement and a name: Teens Making a Difference, TeenMD. There were 12 of us, so the idea was,

each of us would take a month, says Cyndy Mahoney, who fills the role of unofficial den mother. So, you and your child would decide, OK, were going to do Three Square, and then (that fami-ly) would take care of setting it up and letting everyone else know when and where were going.

How each parent-child team oper-ated was up to them. In some cases, Mom took charge; in others, Junior was more involved. In general, they gravitated toward causes that resonat-ed with the kids. A sporty boy named Noah Whitehead usually picked the Tour de Fire, a long-distance bike ride that benefitted the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. A pet lover, Haley Kaminsky tended to choose animal rescues and shelters, such as Heaven Can Wait. One mom, Janet Wellish, kept a folder of ideas for anyone who was short on inspiration.One thing we took from our give

group was to have the kids learn about the different needs and opportunities within our local community, Mahoney says. When youre at Three Square, they give you a tour and talk about the food bank and where the food goes, so it kind of opens your eyes.Once those eyes are open, they tend

to stay open, according to Bob Morgan, president and CEO of United Way of Southern Nevada. This is a great way to ingrain in the next generation the core value of giving back, he says. Its a great way to make that world view stick with the next generation. It stays with them forever.

give And give AgAin

Pausing to reflect on all the places she went with TeenMD, Eve Wel-lish, Janes daughter, lowers her

dark brown eyes and leans forward on one elbow. Toys for Smiles is one that stands out,

she finally says. They make toy cars out

of wood, and they had us come in and oil the cars and make sure they didnt have any splinters or anything that could hurt the kids they were going to give them to. I remember it being kind of lightheart-ed. We were playing with the cars, and the boys were being very silly. I think we were sophomores in high school then, but we became like little kids again.After they finished polishing what

seemed like hundreds of little cars to Wellish, Toys for Smiles founder Rex Doty gave each teen two cars to take home. He told them to keep an eye out for kids who needed toys and give them the cars. That really made a huge impact, Wel-

lish says. So often, wed go to a place and do a job and that would be it. But there, we took something with us. It taught me a lesson: Your service projects should never end. Physically, we might have been done with it, but mentally, we were thinking about the happiness and well-being of children.

Over the years, Wellish and her friends volunteered for dozens of organizations: Boys and Girls Club of Henderson, Cath-olic Charities, Goodie Two Shoes, Ronald McDonald House, Tonopah Community Garden the list is long. What kept them going, when so

many kids parents have trouble get-ting them off the couch and away from their video screens? We loved being there so much that

showing up was never really a problem, Wellish says. It was never a Shame on you! thing. It was more, Oh, we missed you. We just happened to be friends with this nice, down-to-Earth group of people. Its definitely rare. Im lucky to have them.She alludes to two factors that seem to

be at the heart of TeenMDs longevity: good group chemistry and a low-pres-sure attitude toward participation. Al-though the parents say they expected their kids to commit long-term, they also made it clear from the beginning that conflicting activities, from soccer to church, would take precedent. With guilt-trips out of the equation, the kids went to events, many of which theyd

HOmE LIfE community


picked themselves, on their own terms.In 2014, we did the Nevada Child-

hood Cancer Foundation Toy Run, Ma-honey says, recalling a favorite activity

of her son Zach Mahoney, whos usually pretty stoic. Some people who air-brush cars for a reality TV show came out and airbrushed stockings with kids names and pictures in the parking lot at Sunrise Hospital. Zach and a few of the kids took names and passed out stock-ings. Afterward, he was just like, That was so awesome! He had a Santa Claus hat and a big grin on.TeenMD became so much fun that, by

the time kids were in high school, driv-ing and carrying their own cell phones, they would get together and do things with no parental involvement at all. While Mahoney set up a Shutter-

fly Share site for photos, the kids used GroupMe to communicate the details of outings. The closer the kids got to gradu-ation, with social lives and SATs to wor-ry about, the fewer of them would show up each month. But their enthusiasm didnt wane, even if only two or three of them could make it. Based partly on her description of the

experience in an essay, Wellish received a $1,000 Powerful Partnership college scholarship from NV Energy. Shes plan-ning to go to George Washington Uni-versity and double major in business and Spanish. She says shell do some kind of community service in college and is hop-ing that her degree will help her run her own nonprofit someday. Its easier to say than do, but its good

to keep in mind the concept behind ser-vice, she says. If youre going to feed the homeless, for instance, you can do that every day and night, but theyre go-ing to still come back for more, so I guess what I was left with was, theres a bigger problem. Its the system thats making them homeless. So, I think about that problem. What needs to be done to help them so they can find a job and sustain themselves? With each project, you look a little deeper and see what needs to be changed in our world.

future give

With Wellish and her peers grad-uating, what will become of TeenMD? Another generation is

taking the baton. Leading the effort are

the mother and younger brother of one senior member, Kelsey Au. We thought wed keep it going with

these guys, Jennifer Au says, looking at her son Conner, whos now a freshman at Green Valley. This group actually went to the same elementary school as the older group, so theyre really following in their older brothers and sisters footsteps.It feels like Ive done something good,

Conner says, describing why he took his mom up on the offer to start TeenMD 2.0 three years ago. It makes you feel better about yourself to help others.He had some experience to build on,

having participated in activities with his older sisters group. Jennifer says she also has a friend in

Summerlin whos interested in starting a similar group there. Her advice for this friend and anyone else whos think-ing about launching a TeenMD-like initiative: If you can get at least six or seven kids to commit, it will work. Take the summer off, and during the year, have each kid take one month. There are many organizations that need help, but even if you know an elderly couple who needs their lawn mowed and trees trimmed, that will work. Encourage kids to come up with their own ideas of how they can help.United Ways Bob Morgan says that

he finds his sons generation is more philanthropically inclined than his own and has the benefit of operating in the information age.With the Internet and social media,

there are so many ways of communi-cating now, he says. People are able to find causes that resonate with them at a level that maybe wouldnt have been possible for us.Good for them, he adds: I dont have

exact data, but there is a pretty robust set of data showing that there is a cor-relation between volunteering as an adult and self-identified contentedness.In other words, the kids of TeenMD

not only had fun trying to make the world a better place, but in doing so, they also prepared themselves to be hap-py grownups. And heaven knows, the world can always use more of those.

WAnt your teen to mAKe A difference? handy advice from Teenmds pioneers:

n start early. When kids are in

middle school is ideal, moms

said, because after that they get

over-extended with activities.

n enlist people who get along. I

think it worked because the kids

were good friends anyway, not

just the moms, Newman says.

n Keep it easygoing. Allow them

to put organized events first. If

somebody had a soccer game?

They couldnt go that day. Its

okay, Mahoney says.

n Keep it informal. No dues and no

agenda means no drama, New-

man says. The more demands

you make, the less fun it will be.

n that said, commit. It requires a

lot of hard work and time, and

you have to really want to do

this, Conner Au says.

n Pick a ringleader. Let families

choose causes and organize

outings in their own way, but

designate someone to keep track

of and share contact information,

and keep the trains running on

time.

n go local. TeenMD prefers

grassroots groups over national

organizations, which typically

have enough name recognition

and marketing to get plenty of

volunteers.

n dont give up. Interest in the

group will wax and wane, Ma-

honey says, but if you keep it

fun, people will keep showing up.


READ

six books that let kids of every age roam freely without leaving the safe-ty of a/C Compiled by Drew Cohen of The Writers Block bookstore

(ages 4-7)

aBZZZZ : a BeDtime al-

phaBet

(Thames & Hudson, $14.95)

This one is for the illustration

enthusiasts. Originally published

in Portugal in 2014, ABZZZZ is

a bedtime alphabet designed to

cajole children into sleep. Each

page includes a fact or question

(Did you know that even the

strongest bear purrs to sleep

?). But its Yara Konos illustra-

tions that steal the show: bright,

scintillating and modern.

(ages 58)

there is a triBe of KiDs

(Roaring Brook Press, $18.99)

Lane Smiths latest depicts a

young boys journey through

a series of collective nouns: a

colony of penguins, a smack of

jellyfish, a trail of snails. As ever,

Smiths sponge-paint illustra-

tions are beautiful and full of

gentle humor, and the language

deeply considered. There Is a

Tribe of Kids is perfect read-

aloud material.

(ages 10 and up)

lungDon

(The Overlook Press, $11.99)

The third and final book in The

Iremonger Trilogy, Lungdon

brings the Iremonger family to

London, and with them, a host

of dark goings-on and super-

natural intrigue. Edward Carey

debuted this unusual series a

pastiche of Mervyn Peakes Gor-

menghast novels, incorporating

the art style of Edward Gorey

and the sensibility of Lemony

Snicket a few years back with

the superb novel Heap House.

Essential reading for morbidly

inclined, precocious youngsters.

(ages 12 and up)

Quiet power

(Dial Books, $17.99)

You dont see this often: pop-

ular psychology adapted for

teens. This is a totally reworked

version of Susan Cains hit

book Quiet: The Power of Intro-

verts in a World that Cant Stop

Talking, and it relocates the con-

versation from the workplace

to school, extracurriculars and

friendship. The books message

will be empowering to kid and

teen readers who will recognize

themselves in Cains story.

(ages 12 and up)

saving montgomery sole

(Roaring Brook Press, $17.99)

Monty Sole is a book-smart

girl in a small town, and a

founding member of Jeffer-

son Highs Mystery Club a

group dedicated to exploring

the occult. As if this didnt

single her out enough, shes

got two moms and a gay best

friend. Mariko Tamakis second

YA novel is diverse without

being self-congratulatory and

combines two topics high on

the teenage agenda: identity

politics and astrology.

(ages 14 and up)

ameriCan girls

(Flatiron Books, $17.99)

While grownups are agog for

Emma Clines The Girls, the

teen set can check out Alison

Ummingers American Girls.

Like Cline, Umminger revisits

the Manson murders through

the prism of the present, and

through the gaze of Anna, a

15-year-old runaway navigat-

ing turbid waters of B-list Los

Angeles. This is mature stuff, but

written with an eye for the sensi-

tivities of young-adult readers.

PLAY

the family that plays (board games) togeth-er stays cool together Compiled by Timm Metivier of Meepleville Game Caf

(ages 8-up)

tiCKet to riDe

Settle in for this one youre

in for 30 minutes to an hour of

heat-avoiding fun. Bring a fresh

brain, too; the website Board

Game Geek says players make

intense strategic and tactical de-

cisions every turn as they build

railroad empires across North

America. Yet its simple enough

for the two to five players to

learn in a few minutes.

Hot ouside, way cool insideWhen the air is on fire outdoors, these books, games and projects will keep the kids happy indoors

homelife fun & games

IllustratIon bREnt hoLmEs


(ages 8-up)

King of toKyo

Oh, no, there goes Tokyo! In

this dice- and card-based

game, giant, mutated mon-

sters avatars of the two to

six players compete to de-

stroy the Japanese metropolis.

Fiercest monster wins! Bonus

detail: Theres a card that

allows your monster a second

life ... in the form of an extra

head! Godzilla and your

kids would approve.

(ages 8-up)

suspenD

The basic dynamic? Players

(up to four) take turns hanging

thin, twisty metal rods on

a central post. As the wires

accumulate into ever-more

elaborate, precarious shapes,

who will be the player to make

it fall? A quick and easy game

in which kids and parents are

evenly matched.

(ages 8-up)

tsuro

Fast and simple, just like sum-

mer, Tsuro is a path-building

game for two to eight players.

You lay down tiles, creating a

route for your dragon, while

trying to run other dragons off

the board or into each other.

Last dragon on the board wins.

Easy to learn, too.

(ages 10-up)

Catan

A card and dice strategy

game for three or four players,

Catan is all about controlling

the island of Catan by civi-

lizing it building cities and

infrastructure. Get comfy, as

play might continue for more

than an hour. But its time

enjoyably spent, according to

Board Game Geek, which says

its one of the most popular

games in recent history.

(ages 12-up)

telestrations

In what is basically an illustrated

game of telephone, four to

eight players use small white-

boards to illustrate words, which

the next player has to interpret

and redraw, and then the next

player, until everyones had a

crack at everyone elses white-

board. Then you see just how far

afield the iterations have taken

you. Everyone wins!

mAKE

Keep your little ones busy and creative with projects from these kids-craft websitesCompiled by Desert

Companion child-having staff

filthwiZarDry.Com

Strike one: The websites name;

it sounds a little, er, dicey?

Strike two: It hasnt been up-

dated since 2014. But it turns

out that filth wizards is just

an affectionate term for ram-

bunctious/messy kids; and the

sites stasis doesnt take the

charm out of the step-by-step

instructions for making loom

bands, staging bathtub curling

matches or fighting the battle

of Hoth in an ice cream bowl.

ChilDhooD101.Com

Make a school of origami fish.

Decorate some sneakers. Learn

what tabletop monoprinting

is (hint: its messy). This site

tells you what you need and

what you need to know for

these and other projects thatll

make time fly.

Disneyfamily.Com

If you arent put off by the

ubiquitous brand awareness

(though your kid probably

wont mind), there are plenty

of fun projects here that run

from easy (Dory notecards) to

more complex (Marvel photo

frames) to cross-stitching.


Lets begin with an inventory of sorts. As I write this, there are six adults, one preteen, one tod-dler, two infants, four dogs, three cats, one rat (thankfully caged)

living in my house, for a total of 18 sig-nificant life forms in these 2,900 square feet. Which isnt as big as it sounds, es-pecially when you factor in all their stuff. Clothes. Baby furniture. Toys. Litter boxes. Lumpy bags of miscella-neous items I dont wanna know about. That its a temporary overcrowding as you read this, the house will have ex-haled four humans and several animals doesnt make it any less crazy while its happening. Or, frankly, all that un-usual for our place. Its kind of nutty here. (Have I mentioned that one of the infants was born in an upstairs bathtub? Its a tale that accounts for the pickle jar in the illustration across the page.) Pre-viously weve had seven people and four dogs; seven people spanning four gen-erations and six dogs; and there have surely been other arrangements Im for-getting. Welcome to our home! Weve always had trouble deciding if its best compared to (a) a sitcom; (b) a circus; or (c) a sitcom about a circus.As you might expect, these days

theres a lot of commotion, a fair amount of barking, plenty of baby squawking, people in one anothers way ... aw, hell, can you tell we enjoy this madhouse? That we have cultivated it? That when our oldest son, his wife and kids and

their enormous dog, two cats and pet rat needed a place to stay for a month be-fore moving to Illinois, we said yes right away?

Of course we did. (Okay, we did fret briefly about their dog; its rideably large.) Just as we invited some friends, and their dog, to stay with us for a few weeks when they moved to town. Just as we opened our doors to my mother and brother and her three dogs for six months while they were house-hunting. Theres just something about domestic cacophony that works for us.

* * * * *

In the beginning, there were just the two of us: my wife, Laura, and me. But before the beginning, there were

many more children we both grew up in large families. I had three siblings, she had four; we know our hubbub, bub. We were born in it. Molded by it. Conse-quently, once we were married, I didnt want kids. Zero. Finally, a lifetime of qui-et! That lasted until a few minutes after our first child was born. Then came the pivot: I want nine of these, I gushed to Laura, brandishing newly born Steven while she lay on the Caesarean table. We settled for three.Wherever weve lived, weve always

encouraged a casual, crossroads feel to our home. Kids, some of them ours, crashing in the living room; an extra plate or two for dinner. Sure, your friend Daniel can join us on vacation. Like that.

We had dogs adding to the chaos a pair of schnauzers so smart we had to child-proof all the lower cabinets plus a cat or two. A snake in a terrarium. You know, starter cacophony. Then the kids grew up and the grand-

kids started coming.According to Generations United, an

advocacy group, one in every six Amer-icans lives in a multigenerational home. Thats trending upward, increasing by more than 10 percent in the three-year span beginning in 2007. No doubt the recession has a lot to do with it, cash-strapped families banding together to stretch their resources. As it happens, thats about when it started for us, too, and the economy had a lot to do with it. Thats when our first grandchild, Ca-dence, was born, and to save money, Steven, Cadence and his girlfriend lived with us. The girlfriend eventually moved out, but Steven and Cadence stayed for most of the next seven years. The two schnauzers were succeeded over time by a skittish Yorkipoo, a chill shih tzu and a schnauzer-terrier mix.About 7.8 million children across the

country live in households headed by grandparents or other relatives, Gen-erations United tells us. Often its a cir-cumstance of last resort, undertaken for unhappy reasons, but that wasnt the case with us. Its an amazing thing to have daily access to your grandchild as she grows up. Did I say grandchild? I meant grandchildren. My youngest son,

homelIfe generations

The fullesT possible houseIts a very, very, very fine house, with three cats in the loft, four dogs in the yard and people stacked like firewood. Notes on a domestic blitz by SCOTT DICKENSHEETS

illustration rick sealock

38

generations

June 27 October 22

Much Ado about NothingHenry V

The Three MusketeersThe CocoanutsMary PoppinsJulius Caesar Murder for TwoThe Odd Couple

The Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival is not just a theatrical presentation any more than the Taj Mahal is just a house. Its eight of the liveliest, most professionally-produced plays this side of Broadway.Drama, comedy, Shakespeare, contemporary theatre and a few genres in between. And its conveniently set in the midst of Cedar Citys stunning new Beverley Center for the Arts.

But wait, theres more: The interactive Greenshow, backstage tours, play seminars, panel discussions with world-class cast members and artists, plus enlightening play orientations. And a nearby renowned national park or two, or three.

No wonder its called a festival. Its also quite accurately referred to as The Greater Escape.

The Greater Escape.

800-PLAYTIX bard.org #utahshakesAsk about Child Pricing.

Spencer, and his fiance, Kayla, added not only to the stockpile of grandkids bearing Liam three years ago but to the population of the house, the three of them moving in.

* * * * *

last year, after Steven and Cadence moved out, my mother and brother relocated to Southern Nevada from

Colorado, bringing three small dogs and a garageful of stuff. Stay with us!, we insisted. Added to our own fleet of yappers, that made six dogs. (Thank-fully, all six had hair instead of fur and didnt shed.) So, bark bark! the house bark bark! could get very bark bark! noisy. One dog always set off the other five. Nor were any of them inclined to distinguish between, say, a potential in-truder and the sound of a leaf blowing down the street. Bark bark! And you do not want me to describe

what six dogs can do to a backyard.Still, everyone got along pretty well

and tempers rarely flared, even when the water heater leaked and required many days of wall and floor removal, not to mention industrial dryers RUNNING VERY LOUDLY night and day, a mold scare, insurance voodoo and time-suck-ing reconstruction. We had to move my moms bed into the living room during the tear-down. Hey, at least the dryers drowned out the dogs.Through it all, I was mostly able to

keep my cool amid the racket. It felt good to help my mother and brother. And it was especially gratifying to have four generations under the roof. How many kids interact daily with a great grandparent? How many seniors enjoy (or, on some days, endure) the attentions of so much ancestry? The time-span was boggling: When my mother was the same age as the great grandson bounc-ing on her lap, the atom bomb was still a few years from changing everything; hell grow up in a world that would have seemed like science fiction to her back then. There are cultures where this kind of multigenerational home is closer to the norm, and I think theyre on to something. I have to believe that


home lIfe


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