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Friends of Rock Bridge State Park: Nature Detectives

2012 Nature Detectives is a FREE class offered by the Friends of Rock Bridge State Park for PRESCHOOLERS ages 3 to 6 years and a caregiver.

*REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED*

mjdonlsn@gmail.com

Please include the following information:

Your name
First name and age of child
E-mail
Phone
Where you heard about program: CoMo Kids!

Each group is led by a naturalist with experience in early childhood education and features hands-on activities for the children on the trail and an art activity related to the theme.

We have five programs scheduled at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park. All meet at the Devil's Icebox Parking Lot. We hold the class rain or shine, unless the weather poses a danger. Each program lasts about an hour and 15 minutes. Enrollment limited to 20 for each session.

Why: Children enjoy exploring nature with a caring adult. And, children’s early experiences in nature helps foster a lifelong appreciation of the plants and animals that live around us and can make children better future stewards of our precious natural resources. And, it is fun for families to explore our state parks together!

Where: Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
When: Classes 9:30 or 10:30 am on June 7th & 9th | July 11th & 14th | August 1st
Cost: FREE (registration is required)
Ages: 3-6 year olds
Register: mjdonlsn@gmail.com
Website: Friends of Rock Bridge State Park
News Article: Columbia Tribune | July 2011
Themes: Critters under a Log, Bats in Cave & Stream Explore

The Little Gym Olympic Party | June 2nd

The Little Gym is hosting a party to build excietment for the upcoming 2012 London Olympics. Kids will participate in Olympic style games for ages 6 months to 8 years. Along with familiar sports, there might be some fun whacky sports that have never been done before! All children will get to do a Grand Awards Presentation and recieve a blue ribbon of achievement. Dress in comfortable clothes, with no socks or shoes. Parent must be present when child is at The Little Gym!

When: Saturday, June 2nd
Time: Show up during these time slots | 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, & 4-5
Ages: 6 months -8 years
Where: The Little Gym | 1400 Forum Blvd Forum Shopping Center Ste 7-A
Cost: FREE & Open to the public
No RSVP
Website: The Little Gym Columbia

Art in the Park | June 2-3rd

No chance for the kids to get bored! Stop by the Kid's Art Spot kindly supported by the Boone Electric Community Trust, where they can take part in a variety of art-making projects.

At the Young Collectors Tent, kids aged 5-14 can start their own art collections. We'll have a tent full of small, hand-made artworks created and donated by the Art in the Park exhibiting artists and also Columbia Art League artists. Entrance costs $5 and includes the work of art chosen by the young collector. The Young Collectors Tent is a children-only tent so parents should meet their child at the exit.

Tie-dye a Tee - have fun creating your own unique Art in the Park t-shirt at the tie-dye tent, next to the Kid's Art Spot. Tie-dye tee's cost $10.

Meet CAL the Calico Cat, CAL Kids' new masCAT! She'll be paw-shaking at the Kid's Art Spot and giving out pins featuring her mew-tiful face.

When: June 2-3rd, 2012
Time: Saturday | 10am-5pm Sunday | 10am-4pm
Where: Stephens Lake Park
Cost: FREE
Website: Art in the Park
Parking: Free parking at the Boone Hospital Center. Free shuttles provided by Parks & Recreation and run from the Boone Hospital parking lot to the park entrance throughout the festival.

Lowe's Build & Grow | Monkey Powered Plane

DreamWorks is flying into Lowe’s this Summer! Your child will love building this Monkey Powered Plane straight from the Madagascar movies! Saturday clinics begin at 10:00am & Sunday clinics begin at 2:00pm.

* Register soon, as spots fill up very fast*

When: Saturday, June 9th AND 10th
Time: Saturday 10am | Sunday 2pm
Cost: FREE
Where: Lowe's Columbia, MO
Register: Lowe's Build & Grow

Next in line:

Open Recreation | Game Room

When: Every Saturday
Time: 9:30am-1:30pm
Where: Armory Sports Center | Map
Ages: 6 & Up
Cost: Free
Website: Columbia Parks & Recreation

Summer Reading | 2012

This year’s themes are all about the night and realizing your dreams. Settle into a good book at the level that suits you and your family! The library’s summer reading program is a fun way to stay engaged in reading and learning over the summer.

I have been participating in the Summer Reading Program with my son since he was 6 months old. We look forward to it every summer!

Starts: June 1, 2012
Ends: August 4, 2012
Where: Daniel Boone Regional Library
Cost: FREE
Ages: All ages are welcome to participate
Website: Summer Reading Program

2012 Summer ReadingThemes:

Little Stars | Birth-5 years old

Parents will get a calendar and stickers to use as you read with your children and do simple activities like singing a lullaby. Complete the program, and beginning July 6, you’ll receive a free book.

Dream Big, Read! | Ages 5-12 years old

Kids who sign up to dream big through reading books will be challenged to read for 20 hours and do 10 of our suggested activities. Check back in at the library over the summer to attend programs, get more books and show us your progress.

Group Summer Reading

We’ve put together a special version of summer reading that’s easy to do with a small group of kids like a child care center or a scout troop. Do eight of the suggested activities together, and your group will receive some free books and every participant will receive a small reward.

Teens

Teens who sign up will be challenged to read for 20 hours, share three book reviews and do seven of our suggested activities. Get your card punched as you go, and when you finish, you’ll be entered in a drawing for other rewards.

TRYPS | Columbia Mall Kidz Court

TRYPS, a children's theater at the Columbia Mall, is hosting FREE workshops for parents & their children:

LIVE AT ELEVEN & Tiny TRYPSters

LIVE at ELEVEN

When: Second Saturday of each Month
Time: 11am-11:30am
Where: Columbia Mall | Kidz Court
Cost: FREE and open to the public! No reservations are necessary.
What: The workshops are interactive movement and games.

Tiny TRYPSters

When: Second Wednesday of each Month
Time: 10:15am-10:30am
Where: Columbia Mall | Kidz Court
Cost: FREE and open to the public! No reservations are necessary.
What: The workshops are interactive movement and games. These are a short Sneak Peek of our Tiny TRYPSters classes.
Website: Tiny TRYPSters

TRYPS • Columbia Mall • 2300 Bernadette #918 • Columbia, MO

Call (573) 449-4536 with questions

Email: trypskids@gmail.com

Child Safety Seat Inspections

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Be sure to always have your car seats inspected whether it be a brand-new seat, or newly installed seat in a different vehicle. Having your car seat inspected properly, could help save a child's life in an auto accident.

While installing and using child safety seats may appear to be easy enough, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that close to 3 out of 4 parents do not properly use child restraints and if you are one of them, that child safety seat may not protect your child the way it should.

For your loved one's sake, there is no room for compromise!

It is estimated that about 80% of car seats are misused, either because a child is in the wrong seat, the seat is installed wrong, or the child is not placed in the seat correctly. (about.com)

Are you using your car seat correctly?

Call the number provided below to set up a time to stop by the Fire Department.

It only takes a few minutes. You will be glad you did!

Where: Columbia Fire Department: 201 Orr Street
Phone: 573-874-7556
Contact: Atkins Darla Counties Served: Boone, Audrain, Howard, & Cooper
Website: Car Seat Safety
Cost: FREE

Columbia Spray Grounds | Opening May 1st

It's finally here: Opening Day of Columbia Spray Parks!

The Spray Parks open May 1, 2012

Stephens Park Spray Ground | 2001 East Broadway

Photos of swimming beach and spraygrounds at Stephens Lake Park

Flat Branch Park Spray Ground | 400 Loucst

Douglas Park Spray Ground | 400 N. Providence Road

Cost: Free Admission | Open to the public
Time: 9am-8:30pm
Play at your own risk | No lifeguards
Chlorinated recycled water | Activated by push button
End of Season: September 30, 2012
Website: Columbia Aquatics

Kindermusik | Down on the Ground

Kindermusik with Brenda has added a new class on the schedule starting on May 4th!

This class will be held every Friday for 5 weeks & is great for all ages.

Materials include a family guide, CD and instrument. Curriculum is called Down on the Ground and is all about bugs, bunnies, squirrels, bears and anything else you might find on the ground.

When: Friday | May 4th-June 1st | 5 weeks
Time: 10am
Cost: $75 (includes materials)
All ages welcome
Where: Unity Center of Columbia
Instructor: Brenda Hayes
Website: Kindermusik with Brenda
Register: Down on the Ground Class or call (573) 881-1574

Yoga to Grow | Mommy and Baby Yoga

Yoga to Grow is excited to offer a new class: Mommy & Baby Yoga!

Mommy and Baby Yoga Class focuses on the needs of new mamas and babies while strengthening the mother-baby bond through yoga. Mothers benefit from strong core work, simple energizing yoga, rejuvenating poses, and interaction with a community of other new mamas. Babies benefit from shared mama/baby poses, baby yoga to aid digestion and sleep, and infant massage. Mommy and Baby Yoga is done in a nurturing environment where mothers are encouraged to meet their babies needs as they arise and bond with their new little one. Mommy/Baby Yoga Class is designed for newborns (6 weeks old) through approximately one-year-old (pre-walkers). No prior experience in yoga needed for Mamas (or babies).

Dates | June 12th-July 24th (6 week class) | Every Tuesday
Time: 11am-12pm
Class Details
Cost: $72
Website: Yoga to Grow
Enroll for this class HERE!

Summer Camps | 2012

Click the "Summer Camp 2012" icon above the calendar for a list of local summer camps, giveaways and special discounts for CoMo Kid fans!

Current promotions are:

1 FREE day of Summer Camp from Yoga to Grow
5 FREE days of Summer Camp from The Little Gym
FREE Summer Session from Kindermusik
Yoga to Grow: 10% off when registering for camp by June 1st (mention "CoMo Kids")
Kindermusk: Save $5 when you enroll for camp by May 1st!

Check back often as the Summer Camp list & promotions will grow!

Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics

Bring your child to Lowe's on Saturdays to build something they get to bring home and call their own.
View the CoMo Kids Activities Calendar for dates and times.
They ask that you pre-register for each workshop so they have have the amount of materials needed for each child. After registering on their site, only the first 50 kids that have registered and present at the store at 10am will receive a kit, aprons and goggles.

I suggest to register early, as spots fill up fast!
To see upcoming Build & Grow dates & to register, click HERE!

JUNE:

My 3 year old looks forward to building a wooden toy twice a month. He is always proud of what he created with daddy's help. Along with a wooden toy kit, kids receive a completion patch to iron on their apron.

Past Projects:

AMF | Free Bowling for Kids

At AMF, kids 15 and under can bowl for free all summer. To qualify, simply register your children HERE and you'll receive weekly vouchers via email for two free games per child per day through September 3. Shoe rental is not included.

Where: AMF Town & Country Lanes | 1508 North Providence Rd.
When: Summer 2012
Cost: Free + the cost of shoe rental
Event Contact: 573-442-4729
Event Website: Free Summer Bowling for Kids