Sometimes I feel like hibernating during the northwest’s long, cold, wet winter months, but spending time outdoors is important year round, especially for kids. If you find your family avoiding the great outdoors these days, check out these links for tips on getting kids outdoors -– and spending quality family time outdoors -– even when it’s cold and wet out! The Impossibly-Busy Parents’ Guide To Getting Kids Outdoors : The National Wildlife Federation knows it can be difficult for busy families to make time for outdoor play, especially when the sun sets before dinner time! Here they offer some quick and easy ways to encourage your kids to spend time outdoors. Be Out There : Also from the National Wildlife Federation, this entire site is dedicated to encouraging families to explore the great outdoors year round. If you’re looking for new places to explore nature with your kids, try the Forest Finder at Finding My Forest. The site also includes ideas for outdoor activities to help kids learn about nature. And if you need some incentive to pry your family away from the fireplace this winter, here are a few studies to remind you how important it is for kids to spend time outdoors: Kids sleep better when they spend time outdoors. Read the report if you don’t believe us! Health Benefits of Outdoor Time . Fast Facts About Outdoor Time . Now go outside and play!

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It’s Not Too Cold to Play Outside!

In our annual Your Baby and You issue, which is on the stands now, we reviewed some of the best new gear for babies and new parents, recommended by local retailers. Now we’re offering one lucky reader a spectacular prize package overflowing with the products we showcased! Enter by November 30 for your chance to win the prize package, valued at over $400 The basket includes: • SwaddleKeeper Baby Sleep Kit • Hygeia “Breastfeeding Bundle” (includes a tote bag with milk storage cooler,hand pump, nursing pads, Hygeia gel pads and hand expression cup) • Second Skin Sling Wrap • ChewBeads • Sweet Dreams Bubble Bath & Sunny Sunscreen • Rileyroos Shoes • Kool Kid Legs • Earnest Efforts Wood Baby Rattle • “Said What” • Knicker Nappies Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces • Boobie Blankies • Knitting from Nature Hand-knit Baby Booties • Earharts Hat • Wheel of Responsibility Enter today for your chance to win!

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Win a Fabulous New Parent Basket!

Looking for something fun to do with the family next weekend? Want to learn more about eco-friendly, community-oriented, healthy and natural options for raising your family? Check out the ReDirect Guide’s Green Sprouts Festival on Sunday, Sept. 25! Admission to the festival is free, with a variety of workshops, activities and exhibitors for the whole family. The Alma Midwifery Education & Movement Seminar Series will include seminars on lead poisoning prevention; energy reduction in your home; options on where to give birth; natural solutions for colic and ear infections; diaper options; age appropriate dental care; an introduction to baby sign language and more. Special family fun features include setting the world record for the most baby carrier wearers; a cotton babies diaper derby; a baby and children’s clothing swap; Portland Parks & Recreation’s Ladybug Nature Walks; and Zenana Spa’s family lactation station, providing a comfy, cozy space to breastfeed and specialists to answer your breastfeeding questions. Exhibitors will be on hand with information on a number of topics, from pregnancy and childbirth options, health and fitness, and healthy homes to clothing and style, education and child care. The festival runs from 10 am to 5 pm on Sept. 25 at Peninsula Park, 700 N Rosa Parks Way. For more information, including a schedule of events, visit redirectguide.com/greensprouts .

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Celebrate Green Parenting at Green Sprouts Festival!

So far this summer, my son and I have been perfect slackers! We’ve been to the neighborhood pool several times and even made it to the coast for a few nights with friends, but other than that we’ve pretty much just been lazing around the neighborhood, playing with friends and generally slacking off. Now, with only a few weeks left of our precious unscheduled summer –- and with the weather doing its part to make it feel like summer, finally! –- I’m determined to venture a little farther from home for some once-a-year summer fun. My list of potential activities includes berry picking and swimming on Sauvie Island; hikes in Forest Park, Tryon Creek and other nearby nature areas; possibly a day trip to Mt. St. Helens (although that seems awfully ambitious); and the Oregon State Fair. I’d like to add a few more items to the list -– while still leaving us plenty of time for summer slacking. Can you help? What are your family’s “must do” summer activities? Please share your recommendations in the comments below. But hurry -– the back-to-school clock is ticking!

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Still Time for Summer Fun!

Earth Day falls on April 22 each year, but we know most of our readers strive to raise children who are responsible stewards of the Earth every day. Still, it never hurts to focus on our environmental responsibilities –- and the joys of the great outdoors -– when Earth Day does roll around. To help you find ways to celebrate our wonderful planet, we’ve listed a number of Earth Day events happening all month in our Family Favorites roundup, plus you’ll find additional nature-inspired events in our online Family Calendar . For more inspiration, check out the National Wildlife Foundation’s “Get Outside” website with tons of ideas for outdoor family fun year-round. (You’ll find a roundup of Easter Egg Hunts in our Family Favorites this month, too!) What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day?

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Make Every Day Earth Day

Our April issue is hitting the stands beginning this week! Inside, you’ll find an Ages & Stages feature on Media Matters , packed with useful information about how you can teach your kids to use media wisely at every age, and how you can keep up with the ever-changing media landscape that often seems second nature to your kids. There’s also an article on local Radical Homemakers , parents who are returning to the home as an act of personal, social and political empowerment. And with summer right around the corner, we’ve included a feature on local nature camps , too. You’ll also find your favorite regular features, including Going Places with Ramona, in which Ramona and friends enjoy a Tears of Joy Theatre production; a Family Fare featuring everyone’s favorite local and sustainable fast food joint, Burgerville ; and an Angels Among Us column spotlighting the Oregon Lions Hearing and Sight Foundation . Of course, our jam packed Family Calendar is once again filled to the brim with family-friendly events and activities. Pick up a copy at your favorite distribution point, or read it online beginning April 1.

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Our April Issue

Your furnace might still be screaming winter chill, but we’re here to remind you it’s time to start thinking summer — Summer Camp, that is! Many local camps are accepting applications for Summer 2011, and some of the most popular ones are already filling up. But don’t panic! Our 2011 Summer Camps and Learning Guide is hitting the stands this week, with loads of information about local camps and other summer learning opportunities. In addition to a comprehensive list of local camp options, you’ll find features on nature camps and camps for kids with special needs , as well as a Summer Camp Survival Guide with articles to help you choose the right camp(s) for your kids, keep your kids healthy at camp, and understand how camps foster independence — and how you can help. Pick up a copy today, or check it out online beginning March 1 for all the information you need to make this summer a success!

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Our Annual Summer Camps Issue

Once again we’re happy to provide a list of all the great deals and coupons in our current issue : Learning Palace: Take 15 percent off any regular priced item. (Page 6) Little Smiles: Free initial exam for children under 3. (Page 7) Pizza.com: Get 10 percent off your first order. (Page 22) North Clackamas Aquatic Park: Free rock wall climb when you celebrate your birthday there. (Page 27) Music for All: Classical music performance tickets for $5 for families on food stamps. (Page 37) Eco-Maids: Take 20 percent off any service! (Page 41) Tidee Didee: Get 1 free week of diaper service when you prepay for 4 weeks. (Page 46) Santosha Yoga: Your first class is free, including kids yoga, teen yoga and family yoga! (Page 47) NW Family and Kids Festival: Get $2 off admission. (Page 49) Milagros, Babyworks and Mother Nature’s: Get $5 off any purchase at these local independent boutiques. (Back Cover) Happy saving!

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February Coupons and Deals

For our December issue , we spoke with Craig Kielburger, a passionate and compassionate young man who founded the international nonprofit Free the Children when he was 12 years old. If you want to raise kids who care and contribute, Kielburger — who recently co-authored the book The World Needs Your Kid: Raising Children Who Care and Contribute (Me to We Books, 2010) — recommends you seek out volunteer activities that are appropriate for your children’s ages, youth-friendly, meaningful and fun. Most importantly, he adds, “If you want to raise compassionate children, you have to carve out the time. It’s critical that you get the whole family involved. Where you put your intention is where you end up.” In researching the story, we found plenty of local parents who are putting Kielburger’s advice into practice, finding significant and engaging ways to get their kids involved in good works from an early age. Read on for some ideas to get your family started -– then tell us how you and your kids are giving back this holiday season and all year long. Hands on Greater Portland: Hands on Greater Portland connects thousands of people with local volunteer projects every year, including at least five Kids Volunteer! activities each month. Most of the kid-friendly activities are intended for families with children 6 and older, although some welcome kids as young as 3. Activities range from caring for abandoned pets to maintaining nature trails to making cards for the elderly and beyond. Below are a few activities happening later this month. To register for a project or find out about others, visit handsonportland.org . Oregon Food Bank – Stock the Pantry (Sat., Dec. 18; ages 6 and up): Unpack and sort donated food destined for agencies that serve low income people in Oregon. Please wear close-toed, close-heeled shoes and clothes that you won’t mind getting a little dirty. Spruce up the Tualatin Library (Sun., Dec. 19; ages 6 and up): Tasks include preparing projects, cleaning books, shelving books and beautifying the library. Families are encouraged to participate together. Natural Area Restoration in Outer Southwest Portland (Sat., Dec. 18; ages 6 and up): Join Portland Parks and Recreation Department for a morning of urban forest renewal. Dress for the weather and bring work gloves if you have them. MORE VOLUNTEER OPPS FOR FAMILIES: Children’s Book Bank: The Children’s Book Bank collects books, cleans and sorts them, and distributes them to low income families through local Head Start programs. 503-616-3981. childrensbookbank.org . Good Neighbor Center: Create a menu, pick up ingredients and prepare a meal for hungry families. 503-443-6084. goodneighborcenter.org . Loaves and Fishes: Prepare and deliver food to seniors. (Drivers must be 18 or older, but all ages are welcome to help.) 503-953-8137. loavesandfishesonline.org . Neighborhood House Emergency Food Box Program: Families stock shelves, repackage donated items, and/or work in the community garden every third Tuesday of the month from 6 pm to 8 pm. 503-246-1663, x117. nhpdx.org . (Read Angels Among Us in our December issue for more information about Neighborhood House programs.) Northwest Children’s Outreach: Sort and deliver clothes, diapers and infant care products at this faith-based nonprofit with several locations in the metro area. 503-828-1472; 360-576-8024. northwestchildrensoutreach.org . OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS: Check with organizations for age requirements. Habitat for Humanity: Get a group together to help build houses. 503-287-9529. habitatportlandmetro.org . Oregon Humane Society: Participate in basic animal care and other shelter activities. At press time, all weekend and evening slots for teens were full, but anyone interested can fill out an application for future openings. 503-285-7722. oregonhumane.org . Potluck in the Park: Help prepare food and serve meals to those in need at O’Bryant Square in downtown Portland, Sundays at 3 pm. 503-255-7611, potluckinthepark.org . SCRAP (School and Community Reuse Action Project): Keep stuff out of landfills and help turn it into art. 503-294-0769. scrapaction.org . What charitable activities have and your kids participated in and enjoyed together?

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It’s Better to Give …

What are your little ones doing during the upcoming winter break? If you work outside the home — or just need a little time to yourself — there are plenty of wonderful camps and classes scheduled to help. Whether your kids love active gymnastic fun, crazy science fun, creative arts and crafts fun, wild animal fun, outdoorsy nature fun or any other type of winter break fun, there’s sure to be a camp or class to suit them. Check our Roundup of Winter Break Camps and Classes for details. If you’re looking for some winter break fun to share with the kids, be sure to check out our December calendar and Holiday Highlights roundup, and don’t forget that pools, skating rinks and other venues add sessions during school vacations.

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Winter Break Camps & Classes

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Hike the Gleneden Beach Loop near Lincoln City, Oregon

A few years ago we ran a story on family travel to Washington, D.C. It was a comprehensive article by our editor, Marie Sherlock, including information about all the major family attractions. Still, after a recent visit to D.C. with my own family, I thought it might be time to offer some updated tips and information. After all, it is one of the most popular travel destinations for families in the country. So after you read through Marie’s article (highly recommended if you’re planning a trip to D.C. with kids!), consider these additional D.C. family travel tidbits: The Growing Smithsonian: When Marie’s article ran, she noted 14 Smithsonian museums. Today there are 19, including the National Zoo, although one of the Air & Space Museums is out near Dulles airport. The most recent addition is the American Indian Museum (see Museum Food below). The African American History and Culture Museum is slated to open in 2015. For more information, visit si.edu . Become a Smithsonian Member: Although admission to all the Smithsonian museums is free, if you’re staying more than a day or two and plan to see any of the IMAX or Planetarium shows – or eat or shop in any of the museums – I recommend becoming a Smithsonian member. The $19 annual membership fee gets your family discounts on shows, food and souvenirs at all the museums, which can add up quickly. Plus, you’ll receive their magazine for a whole year. Museum Food: If you’re looking for food on the National Mall, check out the cafeteria at the American Indian Museum. Menu items are inspired by native peoples around the globe and the quality is exceptional. It’s worlds away from anything you’ll find at the other museums. It’s not inexpensive, but nothing on the Mall is. We paid the same amount for two (not great) slices of pizza, a salad, cookies and chips at the American History Museum as we did for a buffalo burger, squash and black bean tamale pie, chicken tacos on fry bread, churros and an apple tart (all delicious!) here. Don’t Overdo It: Marie mentioned this in her article but it bears repeating. Especially if you travel to D.C. in the summer months, plan for an afternoon break (in a hotel swimming pool, if possible). A twilight monument tour is a great way to see the monuments without running yourself ragged, and the mall is exceptionally beautiful after dark. Many of the museums are open into the evening hours during the summer and are usually less crowded at dusk than they are during the day. And since the museums are all free, don’t feel like you have to see everything in one swoop. You can always return on another day (or another trip) to see that exhibit or show you missed this time. Explore Nature: Most people focus on the monuments, museums and government agencies when they visit D.C., but the area is rich with natural beauty as well. Rock Creek Park is a huge expanse of nature within the city limits, and you can find numerous places to hike along the Potomac throughout the area. (See localhikes.com or trails.com to find hiking trails.) You can even ride along the historic C&O Canal in a boat pulled by mules from May through October (check the Web site for exact dates), leaving either from Georgetown or Great Falls. Park rangers in period clothing describe what life was like for the families that lived and worked on the canal in the 1870s, adding a bit of history to your outdoor adventure. (The one-hour trip is $5 for ages 4 and older; kids 3 and under ride free.) Get Out of Town: There’s much to see in D.C.’s outlying areas, too. We didn’t rent a car but made it to Mt. Vernon one morning by taking the Metro and a connecting bus (although I would recommend a taxi from the Metro station … it was a very circuitous bus ride!). Historic Alexandria is about a half hour’s drive from D.C. (again, you can take Metro and a connecting bus), and if your kids are game, Monticello – a real treat for American history buffs – is a scenic two and a half hour drive. If you’re in the area for an extended period of time, you might treat the kids to a day at Six Flags America , complete with a water park, about 15 minutes from D.C. in the car. (Guess what? You can take Metro and a bus here, too!) Have Fun: Remember, there’s more to see and do in D.C. than any family can manage in one trip – no matter how long you stay. Focus on a few of the attractions that intrigue you and take your time enjoying them.

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Touring Our Nation’s Capital – With Kids

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In Praise of Funny Fathers

Happy Father’s Day Dads! This weekend is packed with family fun in town, in the mountains and on the coast. Check out our picks below. And as always, check our online calendar for complete event listings every day. ALL WEEKEND Delta Park Powwow and Encampment. Native American dancing, arts and crafts vendors, food. Camp out. FREE Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. Delta Park, N Denver Ave. and MLK Blvd. 503-380-6595. bowandarrowcc.org . Night Walks. Explore the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge at night with a naturalist. 8:30 pm Saturday and Sunday. FREE, registration required. 19255 SW Pacific Hwy., Sherwood. 503-625-5944. oregonmetro.gov . Kruger’s Berry Jam. Hayrides, kids’ jam making (Noon and 2 pm), face painting, entertainment, U-pick and more. FREE, except berries and face painting. 11 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday. Kruger’s Farm, 17100 NW Sauvie Island Rd. 503-621-3489. krugersfarm.com . FRIDAY Zoo Father of the Year. An animal dad will be chosen as Father of the Year and get a special treat. 10:30 am. Free with zoo admission. Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road. 503-226-1561. oregonzoo.org . SATURDAY Star Parties. Rose City Astronomers and OMSI lead star gazing for all levels and ages. Free w/$5 park use fee. Dusk. Rooster Rock State Park, exit 25 off I-84, and Stub Stewart State Park, off OR 47 near Vernonia. 503-797-4610 xt. 2. rca-omsi.org . Explorando el Columbia Slough. Bilingual family environment festival will include guided canoe rides, music, storytelling, crafts and more, hosted by Columbia Slough Watershed Council. FREE. 1 to 5 pm. Whitaker Ponds, 7040 NE 47th Ave. 503-281-1132. oregonmetro.gov . Cannon Beach Sand Castle Day. Build a creation or watch the masters at work. FREE to watch; entry fees vary. 9 am building begins. Signs for parking, Hwy. 101. 503-436-2623. cannonbeach.org . Ft. Vancouver Village House Grand Opening. Ft. Vancouver’s new permanent exhibit, a reconstructed historic village, debuts today with costumed interpreters, archaeology demos and more. FREE with admission to Ft. Vancouver. 10 am. 1001 E 5th St. 360-816-6230. nps.gov/fova/planyourvisit/events.htm . Portland Children’s Museum Pet Hospital Opening. The Children’s Museum’s new permanent exhibit on pets and vets opens today. 9 am to 5 pm. Free with museum admission. 4015 SW Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org OMSI Planetarium’s 60th Anniversary. Special activities and telescopes on the plaza. FREE with museum admission. 10 am to 4 pm. 1945 SE Water Ave. 503-797-4000. omsi.edu . Nature Nightlife. Enjoy stories and learn about nightlife in the forest. First hour in classroom, second hike. FREE, but pre-registration is required. 6 to 8 pm. Tualatin Hills Nature Park Interpretive Center, 15655 SW Millikin Way. 503-629-6350. oregonmetro.gov . SUNDAY Tualatin Summer Reading Kick-Off. Victor Johnson performs groovy music. FREE. 3 pm. Tualatin Library, 18878 SW Martinazzi. 503-691-3074. tualatinlibrary.org . Fathers Free at Portland Children’s Museum. Dads get in free with paid child. 9 am to 5 pm. 4015 SW Canyon Road. 503-223-6500. portlandcm.org . Father’s Free at AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village. Free admission for papas with one paid child admission. Noon to 5pm. AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org .

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WOW! (What’s On this Weekend!)

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Gone Campin’: Made in the shade at Black Canyon Campground

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Earth Watch

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Opal Creek – Family Workshops

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