GPS Connections Event Coordinator & Logistics

Nowadays, all schools seems to be looking for ways to make money.  I found a great event coordinator in the San Francisco bay area who I want to help me create an event to raise money for my son's school.  I went to one of the events she organized in the silicon valley and it was amazing!

Resources:

GPS  Connections
Event Coordination & Logistics
Event Resources
Business Connections

Margaret Baggerly
(415) 269-5188
MARGARET@GPS-LEADTHEWAY.COM

Norma Kropelnicki
(650) 291-4182
NORMA@GPS-LEADTHEWAY.COM

Elaine Ford, Singer, songwriter, piano teacher

Elaine Ford
Singer/Songwriter
Private voice and piano lessons
(909) 986-7832
elainefordmusic@gmail.com

Photography for school events and non profit functions

RSVP Event Photography
Bryon Malik
Photographer
bmalik@rsvphotography.com
510-472-9367

HUG by Jez Alborough, one of my 5 year old son's favorite books

During our time away from home this summer, my son always wanted to take the book, Hug by Jez Alborough.  It is really easy to read since the only words in the book are hug, Bobo, Mommy.  My son loves to read it aloud and act it out!  There are two other books from the same author that I want to get my son, Yes and Where's My Teddy.

Resources:

Hug
Jez Alborough
Candlewick Press
ISBN  978-0-7636-4510-6

donor's choice- great way for teacher's to receive supplies!

Several teachers at my school last year used donors choose.org to receive supplies for their classroom.  This is an excellent resource!

Resources:
www.donorschoose.org/

Marshmallow Sticks for roasting marshmallows

For as long as I can remember a campfire memory for me is roasting marshmallows.  When I was little and a girl scout, we used to have to use our knife and widdle a stick for roasting marshmallowa.  Another idea is buying precut marshmallow sticks.  I've seen them as certain grocery store, or at the stores at the KOA campground.

Resources:

Marshmallow Sticks
Delicious Campfire Memories
Wilcor Outdoors
Item # CMP1708
Wilcor International Inc. Frankfort, N.Y.
32" long
4 pack
(ready to use marshmallow and hot dog sticks.)
100% biodegradable

We had a "Camp NIght" in my friend's backyard!

This past weekend some friends of mine who I've known for years all got together with our families and had a "Camp" night at my friend's house.  Originally, we were going to go to Petaluma or KOA campground and camp out.  Last year by this time we'd already camped twice.  This year, for some reason, it is coming up to the end of August and we'd not even camped out once.  In fact, until yesterday afternoon, I couldn't even find our double family sleeping bag.  So, my friend offered her backyard for our campout.  I brought my tent I had purchased last summer from REI, that even has a "garage" and the children love it as it is so big!  I also brought wine and a cheese platter with fruit and crackers and soft baguette for the adults.  For the children, I brought s'mores supplies.   Another friend provided burger ingredients and yet another friend brought chicken and BBQ sauce. We even had salad!

We ended up not spending the night in the backyard.  When it got dark, we took down the tent, and put it in the car, drove home, and slipped into our own bed.  Yet, it was fun to get friends together and have a campout.

giant puppet shows- great for birthday parties! San Francisco Bay Area

Who doesn't love puppet shows using giant puppets?  I met Toni because she was my son's teacher at "Build it Camp" at Habitot Museum in Berkeley, CA this summer.  She was an amazing teacher and  when I found out she does giant puppet shows at parties and school events, I wanted to make sure and share about her shows!  

Resources:  ToniMariemikulka@gmail.com

www.tonimikulka-com

www.giantpuppetssavetheworld.com

(209) 542-8664

Urban Adamah Camp, Berkeley, CA

Urban Adamah Camp is a six week long summer farm camp in Berkeley, CA that has camp sessions for 5-10 year olds.  When I found out about the camp, all the sessions were already full, otherwise I would have enrolled my five year old son.  When I talked to a friend whose daughter was in the program, she just glowed when talking about her daughter's experience!

These were the sessions for the 2013 summer season:

June 17-21:  A taste of farm life

July 22-26:  Garden Chefs

July 29-August 2:  Farm Detectives

August 5- August 9:  Garden Chefs

August 12-August 16:  Earth Builders

August 19-August 23:  Global Village

After camp extended day option (3-5) PM is also available for the programs.

The Urban Adamah is a one acre farm  on Parker street, off San Pablo Avenue in the city of Berkeley, CA.  They produce approximately 10,000 pounds of organic produce a year.

Resources:

Urban Adamah Camp
http:  //urbanadamah.org
1050 Parker Street
Berkeley, CA

Amazon Pool- Eugene, Oregon- An amazing place for families to swim!

A week ago on Tuesday I was at the Amazon Pool in Eugene, Oregon.  This is a wonderful place for families to go and enjoy the water.  My son loved the sand play area, which was like a small beach.  There was even a hose there for children to use water in their play!  My friend and I had lunch at the Ume Restourant which is on site.  They had a BBQ grill going and were cooking teriyaki BBQ food for their Bento boxes, it was unbelievably yummy for pool food.  It was so good I would even buy it and take it home for dinner, which I saw people doing at the end of the day.  I wish there was a pool like Amazon Pool where I live.

Resources:

Amazon Pool
(541) 682-5350
The pool is open from June 17th to August 18th,  2013
Pool Prices:
Youth (under 18) $4.25
Adult (over 18)
Family (3 to 5 people) $10.00

Ume Grill
(located at the Amazon Pool Site)
(541) 844-2351
There are some tables outside of the restaurant, and it was a great place to watch our children play in the sand!

Guidestar- a way to look at nonprofits!

Today, I did a review for Habitot children's museum on guidestar.org!  I love Habitot, and I found out recently that they only have 3 more years in their current space in Berkeley, CA.  My son has been going there for at least 3 years, and it has been a wonderful place for him to learn and play!  He is doing the "Construction Zone" camp this week and he loves it!  They even have hard hats and other construction zone equipment for the children to do dramatic play!  I hope Habitot is around years to come for children to enjoy as much as my son has.

Resources:

Guidestar
Guidestar.com
(A way to review and research nonprofits)

Habitot
children's museum
Gina Moreland, Executive Director

Mailing Address:
PMB 326
1563 Solano Ave.
Berkeley, CA  94707

Museum Location:
2065 Kittredge St.
Berkeley, CA  94704
Phone:  (510) 647-1111 Ex. 11
www.habitot.org

Elaine Ford, private voice and piano lessons

I saw the show "Motown" in Claremont with my son this afternoon.  One of the boys in the show, CJ, is only 7 years old and he is amazingly talented!  I met his voice and piano teacher and she was so proud of him!  I would have my son take classes with her if we lived closer!

Resources:

Elaine Ford
Singer/ Song Writer
Private Voice and Piano Lessons
Phone: (909) 986-7832
E-mail:  elainefordmusic@gmail.com

Froebel blocks for children

When I was recently in Oak Park, Illinois, I visited the Frank Lloyd Wright home.  During the tour, the docent was telling me about how Wright was introduced to the Froebel gifts (includes the blocks) after his mother discovered them at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial.  Throughout his life, Wright attested to the Froebel blocks influence  on his life.  The blocks were developed by Friedrich Froebel in the 1830's, for children to learn the elements of geometric form, mathematics, and creative design.  When using the blocks, I recommend the Froebel booklet, which is $10.00 on the shipwright website.   It gives directions for using the blocks.  I purchased one set of the blocks plus the Froebel booklet while at the museum bookstore, I was amazed at what my son was able to build even after a short time working with him!

"The maple wood blocks........are in my fingers to this day."
-Frank Lloyd Wright

Resources:

Purchasing Froebel Gifts and blocks:
http://shopwright.org/blocks.html

Learning about the influence Froebel Gifts had on Frank Lloyd Wright:
http://www.froebelweb.org/web2000.html

Camp Harlow, Eugene, Oregon

Walt Disney,  when asked what was the most influential thing in his life was, said summer camp as a kid.

My son went to family camp and it his best memory so far this summer.  My friends, who live in Eugene, Oregon, sent their five year olds to day camp at Camp Harlow in Eugene, Oregon.  Though it is close to the campus it feels worlds away.  They have day camps for children ages 5 to 9 and overnight camps for grades 1 through 12.  The children loved it!

Resources:

Camp Harlow
www.campharlow.com
3850 County Farm
Eugene, Oregon
97408
541-683-5416
office@campharlow.com

Teachers paying teachers- great site for teachers!

Several teachers I worked with last year used this site to either buy or sell teaching materials.  This beats holding a garage sale outside, hoping people will show up!

Resources:

teacherspayingteachers.com

Hip Hop Dance Classes for boys - Fusion Dance Project, Hayward, CA

I've been looking for a hip hop dance class for boys for quite awhile.  I met a family today whose son is going to the Fusion Dance Project in Hayward this Saturday for the boys hip hop and tap class.  I called tonight to see if my son could try out a class and they are offering me a free class tomorrow at 12:15.  The teachers of the classes at this studio are highly regarded!

Resources:

Fusion Dance Project
22461 Foothill Blvd.
Hayward, CA  94541
(510) 581-4780
www.fusiondanceproject.com

16th Annual Pooch Parade - proceeds benefit the Tri Valley Guide Dog Puppy Raisers

Last week we went to the 16th annual pooch parade in Pleasanton, CA at a park downtown.  I have never seen so many cute dogs in one spot!  They sold dog treats, proceeds going to "Guide dogs for the blind."  My dog was so proud as he pranced down the street, his first parade ever.  It was also my five year old son's first parade.  They had shut down main street in Pleasanton, and it seemed like the whole town showed up for the parade!    We will be back next year!

My son's favorite bakery in Bay Area - Sweet Bar Bakery

My son's favorite bakery in the San Francisco bay area is Sweet Bar Bakery!  He absolutely loves the chocolate chip cookies.  I like them because they are made with organic flour on site.  We also love the gluten free pizza and gluten free frittata!  I enjoy the oatmeal sour cherry chocolate chip gluten free cookies.  They have long, wood, communal space work tables which are long enough for my son to spread out his art supplies and work on his journal along with other somewhat older entrepreneurs!

Resources:

Sweet Bar Bakery
2355 Broadway
Oakland, CA  94612
(510) 788-4997
sweetbarbakery.com


"Something sweet from uptown Oakland, at the former home of the historic MacFarlanes Candy and Ice Cream"