On the Go with NW Kid Chaser

Salem Sunday Streets...

8/26/2014

Salem Sunday Streets is coming to
downtown Salem in September!

Open to all ages.... Salem Sunday Streets is a fun, free, community event designed to promote healthy and active living by opening up city streets for people to play and explore together. This year’s event will feature: food carts, farmer’s market, music on a pedal-powered stage, interactive art projects, hula hooping, disc golf, yoga, and more...

Bonus: You can join a neighborhood bike caravan and get to Salem Sunday Streets in a healthy, fun, sustainable way!
Bike caravan routes lead from four Salem locations.
Routes can be found at http://goo.gl/0QIvXT.

Join your neighbors and enjoy the ride, Salem!

Volunteer Start...

7/17/2014

I imagine this may be the last summer that my youngest son is happy to hang-out with Mom ALL day.
I'm enjoying it while I can.

We've been bowling, riding bikes, playing tennis & enjoying lots of board games. We've also started volunteering at the Marion-Polk Food Share.

My husband and I have long been active volunteers in the community. We want to 'do our part' - whether that's through trail maintenance, organizing projects, serving at school & church, or sitting on advisory boards. The Food Share Warehouse is the perfect place to start upper-elementary school aged youth in this same spirit.

Working two hours a week this summer, my son and I have sorted canned-goods and packaged peas, cabbage, grapefruit, and onions. Doing the math, my son believes he's moved almost 3000 lbs of food.

Working at the warehouse has been a great 'moving around' activity that has required my boy to read labels, sort categories, measure boxes, calculate weights, and interact with other volunteers in a helpful manner. Our time at the Food Share has also sparked some great discussions about volunteerism, hunger, jobs, gardening, and food choices. That's great summer learning - for boy and Mom.

If you're interested in signing up to help - it can be done completely online. Work every week, once a month, or on just one occasion in order to gain experience. The help is always welcome and the opportunity always available.

Terrific Track Meets...

7/10/2014

Awards for July 9th Track Meet Participation

Attention Salem Kids (Age 1-13):
Don't miss the summer All-Comer Track & Field Meets!

These annual Wednesday nights in July are a fun evening outing. Plan on bringing water, hats, sunscreen, and a blanket to sit on (between races). Many families also bring a cooler with picnic dinners - to enjoy as the evening goes on.

First Day of Summer Vacation...

6/9/2014

Today was my youngest son's first day of summer vacation.
I promised him a day of mom-and-son-time
dedicated to his every wish! So...
we slept in,
watched old home movies,
had pancakes for LUNCH,
rode bikes,
played tennis,
AND
went bowling!
It was truly a fabulous kick-off to Summer 2014.

BONUS: While at our favorite bowling alley,
we also learned that bowling is free for kids this summer!

This is a national program, so check for a location near you.
It promises to be a perfect air-conditioned activity for hot days.

Chess K-12...

2/12/2014

If you have young chess players in the house, you might want to check out one of the many chess tournaments held here in Oregon. Our experience with these tournaments has been very positive. There is a range of players welcomed, with particular attention to encouraging the youngest of players. Events are typically inexpensive (less than $20 to enter), offer the chance to play 4 or 5 similiar-aged opponents, and are a great way to pass a rainy, cold Saturday.

Little Free Library...

1/26/2014

This past fall, my youngest son and I discovered another
little free library in Salem.
Just east of the intersection of Belmont and Winter -
the joy of reading awaits you.

To the community librarian we say:
"Thank you for sharing your love of books!
We borrowed a few, added a few, and will return again soon."

School Project Jackpot!

12/18/2013

When my oldest son needed to create a diorama for a school science project, we explored the back of every closet and drawer in the house for suitable materials. Once armed with a sizable cardboard box, we found popsicle sticks, scraps of colored construction paper and a handful of cotton balls. Clearly this would not get the job done. So, I asked my son to make a 'wish list' for an afternoon shopping trip. We then headed directly to downtown Salem to visited the #1 place in town for creative kids: DIY Studio.

DIY offers a wide variety of recycled products for every project under the sun. While I knew that my son's finished list (of greenery, yarn, clay, and beads) could be fulfilled at a local big-box craft store, I also knew that DIY's amazing offers would allow him to hand-pick exactly the items he wanted without the need to weigh item-cost against creative-desire.

Pricing at DIY is by the bag. At other stores - I would have paid $5 for just one skein of yarn, but at DIY my son was able to buy three handfuls of yarn - all in different colors - for just a fraction of the $5! Bonus: instead of a predetermined number of buttons, he was able to drop just the four buttons he needed into his bag: Saving us from storing the extra items we don't need in the back of those drawers and closets at home!

While browsing the shelves, my son found treasures that were not on his list, but "vital" to to his project. I thought the act of collecting materials at DIY Studio was a great process of brainstorming and imaging the possibilities which (in the end) led to greater engagement in the school project. In less than 15 minutes, we were back in the car with a happy mom and a happy kid.

Thanks DIY - it wouldn't have been so easy without you!

Me? A Football Fan?

11/5/2013

I've never been a fan of football. All the bumping into each other; the intentionally trying to knock each other down; the padding/helmet/gear that keeps me from easily reading the player's facial expressions; the screaming crowds and the (usually rainy weather): In the past, I have always said, "No thank you!"

But then.... I had this boy. This funny, smart, charming eight year-old that adores football. So, that means we now subscribe to Sports Illustrated (for Kids), and we watch Sunday football on TV, and I've learned the names of several teams - just so that I can follow some of the dinner conversation on the subject. It's as if my whole world has turned upside down.

Although I never, ever, in-a-million years, thought it would come to be -- my son plays on a football team and I LOVE watching his games! This is proof that nothing is as powerful as a mother's love. (Granted- we are talking about flag football... with a mouth guard... in a non-competitive league.. with a coach who strives to let each kid play each position - regardless of skill level). Amazingly, I have found harmony with football!

The season has now ended, but I want to give a shout-out to the Boys and Girls Club of Salem. Our family has participated for two years and we've been consistently impressed by this kid-centered athletic program. My boy is the shortest child in 3rd grade yet, on any given weekend, he has played quarterback, center, and running back (and all with a smile). Hooray for Coach! Hooray for Boone! Hooray for kids of Salem! I want to say thank you to the 'Boys and Girls Club' for letting kids be kids.. and..for giving this mom a chance to find the fun in football.

Salem Weekend Fun...

9/6/2013

Attention Salem!
Two family fun activities are happening this weekend.

#1: Couch Racing at Bush Pasture Park
Cheer on your favorite local team as they hurl themselves (and their former living room furniture) down the soap box derby hill on Saturday, Sept. 7th. The fun begins at “high noon.” Food and drink for sale. Bring your friends. Stay 10 feet back from the track. Enjoy the show!

#2: Sunday Streets Open for Bikes
A two-mile route (closed to motor vehicles) between Wallace Marine Park, Riverfront Park, and the Capitol Mall is the perfect spot for a family bike ride this Sunday, Sept. 8th. Activities and vendors available along the route. This is Salem’s bite-sized version of Portland Parkways. Grab your helmet and support active transportation here in the state capital.

Minto Island Growers...

7/7/2013

All the neighbors met at Minto-Brown Island Park this weekend for a long bike ride and plans for lunch. Fourteen of us in all, we snaked through the twists and turns of the trails, enjoying the beautiful weather.

We began at the first parking lot (to the right) just inside the park entrance. Then followed the outside path along the river. After a brief stop at the playground, we continued on to where the trails meets the road. There, we had to ride on Fargate Avenue and then Brown Island Road (for about 1 mile) to reach Minto Island Growers.

Minto Island Growers has a produce stand, u-pick berries, and a food cart. We had an amazing lunch (and dessert) before riding back to our starting point.

This will be an even lovelier trip once the Minto Bridge is built. Come on Salem, go by bike!

Here's our general route:
Approx. 10 miles RT