Desert Companion - 2014 Family Edition

HEY, KIDS: A TO-DO LIST

THAT’S NOT CHORES!

POSH EATS FOR

LI’L FUTURE FOODIES

IS MODERN TECH CANDY-

CRUSHING OUR KIDS'

CREATIVITY?

GETTING TOGETHER CELEBRATING WHERE WE GATHER, WORK AND PLAY

2014 Special Issue

Plu

s A RESOURCE GUIDE TO FAMILY-FRIENDLY VEGAS

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4 DESERT COMPANION FAMILY DesertCompanion.Com

EDiTOR’S NOTE

I wish I had the willpower to ignore that frequently flung stale crust of a question that we Las Vegans have confronted countless times, perhaps launched from the lips of visiting relatives, out-of-town friends or parachuting journalists — How can you raise a

family here? — but, no, can’t do it. Besides, this inaugu-ral Desert Companion Family issue calls for a rallying cry, no? I won’t sugar-coat the realities facing families in Southern Nevada — we need better schools, more parks, stronger communities, maybe a dozen or so fewer bill-boards featuring strippers spilling bulbously out of lace contraptions — but, come on, we’re hardly the monstrous child-gnashing neon family death machine the perpe-trators of the stereotype seem to wish true. Unscientific and purely anecdotal Exhibit A: me. Like many natives, I was raised amid the city’s flash and clangor without turning into a chain-smoking slot zombie, the product of an applied parenting philosophy that said: Keep the kids busy — with school activities, library visits, summer rec rooms, day trips and a perhaps overgenerous comple-ment of yard work. Happily against type, Vegas produced a bookish, inquisitive kid (one who detested, and still un-apologetically detests, yard work).

In the meantime, the city has only expanded its to-do list. That’s both the philosophical thrust and practical core of our Desert Companion Family special bonus is-sue. In the following pages, you’ll find not only loads of activities to keep you and the kids productively occupied

over the spring, summer and beyond, but you’ll also find thinkier fare that addresses some of the other realities that face many modern parents, including addressing the challenges of blended families, navigating children through the digital landscape and reviving the lost art of the sofa-cushion fort. This special issue is divided into three sections. Get Out! focuses on exploring the city with your little ones, from its parks and museums to res-taurants and specialized services — check out our “Big little world” feature on p. 22 for an exhaustive tour for families in every quadrant of the valley. Home Life show-cases the places where we gather, work and play, with everything from kid-friendly kitchen projects to a handy overview of the valley’s educational options. The Balance section ties it all together with reflec-tions on the many different incarnations that family can take, with a spotlight thrown on striking young talents in arts, sports and science — and tips on how these families created the perfect Petri dishes for fostering excellence. Through-out the issue, the profiles of families from across the valley reflect not just our city’s diversity, but offer definitive proof that making a family-friendly city isn’t just a top-down initiative, but one that’s taking place every day in our backyards, kitchens and living rooms.

Group huG

Andrew Kiralyeditor

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

The Land Rover LR4 has undergone a transformation. Its new design cues are bolder and more distinguished than ever. That’s why Land Rover LR4 is always in its element, whether it’s crossing town or taking everyone way beyond the city limits for the weekend. To experience the 2014 Land Rover LR4 for yourself, visit Land Rover Las Vegas for a test drive today.

NOW GETTING THERE CAN BE AS ENJOYABLE AS BEING THERE.LAND ROVER LR4:

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DESERT COMPANION FAMILY DesertCompanion.Com6

2014 special issue

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52

HEY, KIDS: A TO-DO LIST

THAT’S NOT CHORES!

POSHEATS FOR

LI’L FUTURE FOODIES

IS MODERN TECH CANDY-

CRUSHING OUR KIDS'

CREATIVITY?

GETTING TOGETHER CELEBRATING WHERE WE GATHER, WORK AND PLAY

2014 Special Issue

Plu

s A RESOURCE GUIDE TO FAMILY-FRIENDLY VEGAS

DC_FAMILY_COVER_FNL.indd 1 4/8/14 6:03 PM

on the cover

The Whisenants grow together — literally

PhotograPhy Bill Hughes

Get oUt!11 Profile The soccer-loving Robson family is having a ball

14 Dining Eateries where you can (gently) expand your kids' palates

18 SPortS & leiSure A dozen places where special-needs kids can join the fun

22 fill the DayS 29 things to do with kids

home life29 Profile The Boone family really talks the talk

32 eDucation From charter schools to home, your education options

34 cooking Gather the family in the kitchen to make these recipies

38 together Garden, kitchen table, backyard: where we gather

Balance45 Profile The England-Goodrich family works hard to achieve a smooth blend

48 ProDigy kiDS Four children who are off to a fast start

52 re: wireD Children plus technology adds up to a strange new world for parents

the GUide59 reSource guiDe Organizations, activities and information every parent can use

www.desertcompanion.com

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Join four generations of membership at CCCU. Since 1951, we’ve been a part of wise money management in Clark County families. And the tradition continues to grow. Now 33,000 members strong and a half billion

dollars in size, we continue to be your home town family bank for a lifetime.

Bring your new CCCU member into the branch nearest you to make their first deposit and receive a courtesy gift he or she can grow with.

Start online at www.CCCULV.org, or call 702-228-2228


Publisher Melanie Cannon

AssociAte Publisher Christine Kiely

editor Andrew Kiraly

Art director Christopher Smith

dePuty editor Scott Dickensheets

stAff writer Heidi Kyser

GrAPhic desiGner Brent Holmes

Account executives Sharon Clifton, Tracey Michels, Favian Perez, Carol Skerlich, Markus Van’t Hul

MArketinG MAnAGer Lisa Kelly

subscriPtion MAnAGer Chris Bitonti

web AdMinistrAtor Danielle Branton

trAffic & sAles AssociAte Kimberly Chang

AdvertisinG coPy editor Carla J. Zvosec

contributinG writers Cybele, Chantal Corcoran, Julie Hession, Damon Hodge, Jarret Keene, Molly M. Michelman, Sarah Vernetti

contributinG Artists Bill Hughes, Chris Morris, Sabin Orr, Checko Salgado

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

Fax: (702) 258-5646

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

subscriptions: Chris Bitonti, (702) 259-7810; [email protected]

WEbsitE: www.desertcompanion.com

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.com, 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 con-tributing writers are not necessarily the views of Desert Companion or Nevada Public Radio. Contact Chris Bitonti for back issues, which are available for purchase for $7.95.

Mission 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 IShE D BY N E VA DA PuBL IC RADIO

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

Board of directorsoffiCers

susAn MAlick brennAn chair Brennan Consulting Group, LLC

cynthiA AlexAnder, esQ. vice chair

Snell & Wilmer

tiM wonG treasurer

Arcata Associates

florence M.e. roGers secretary Nevada Public Radio

DireCtors

shAMoon AhMAd, M.d., MbA, fAcP

kevin M. buckley First Real Estate Companies

louis cAstle director emeritus

PAtrick n. chAPin, esQ. director emeritus

richArd i. dreitzer, esQ. Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, LLP

elizAbeth fretwell chair emeritus City of Las Vegas

JAn Jones blAckhurst Caesars Entertainment Corporation

John r. klAi iiKlai Juba Wald Architects

GAvin isAAcs

lAMAr MArchese president emeritus

williAM MAson Taylor International Corporation

chris MurrAy director emeritus

Avissa Corporation

Jerry nAdAl Cirque du Soleil

williAM J. “bill” noonAn director emeritus Boyd Gaming Corporation

kAthe nylen PBTK Consulting

Anthony J. PeArl, esQ. The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

MArk ricciArdi, esQ. director emeritus Fisher & Phillips, LLP

Mickey roeMer director emeritus Roemer Gaming

follow desert coMpanionwww.facebook.com/DesertCompanionwww.twitter.com/DesertCompanion

We’re on a journeyto redefine the

experience of school.Now enrolling students6 weeks old - 2nd Grade

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DESERT COMPANION FAMILY DesertCompanion.Com 11

Kickin' it: From

left, Jessie, Tony,

Lori, Kieran,

Joey and Annie

Robson live and

breathe soccer.


fam 14

Photogr aPhy CheCko salgado

e x p l oring the c i t y to g ethe r to in sp ire ac ti ve b odie s an d min d s

profile

Goal-orientedWhether on or off the field, the Robson family finds that soccer gives them real kicks b y c h an tal c o rc o r an

ten-year-old Kieran Robson says his family owns at least 40 soccer balls.

Forty? “More like 100,” says his 13-year-old sister, Joey. Her twin, Jessie, agrees — although nobody’s really counted. Speak-ing over each other, the four Robson kids talk about all the balls in bags throughout the house, the balls in the garage, the balls stuffed in the soccer closet. (Yes, they have a closet reserved strictly for soccer gear.) With four kids playing in clubs, dad coaching all three teams, and mom in the role of team manager, the Robsons live and breathe for the field — so, naturally, the equipment piles up.

This passion for the sport began a gen-eration earlier, in Phoenix, Ariz., where mom and dad, Tony and Lori, grew up. Tony was eight when he joined club soc-cer. His dribbles, kicks and passes served him well: He traveled throughout much of Europe with the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program before soccer scholarships earned him a degree from Yavapai College in Arizona, and an education in communications from San-gamon State University (now the Uni-versity of Illinois Springfield). Today Tony is a salesman for a resin manufac-turer. Oh, and he also coaches soccer for Henderson’s Heat FC (Football Club).

“The ultimate goal is to help (our kids) challenge themselves, physically, mentally,

READY.SET. CLICK!

For Full guidelines, contest rules and prizes, visit desertcompanion.com/photocontest

missed the deadline this year? start collecting your favorite photos for entry into the 2015 ‘Focus on nevada’ photo contest.

Accepting submissions until MAY 5, 2014

Shred your old paperwork, recycle glass, aluminum and plastic – even appliances, computers and cell phones. We will also be taking clothes, jewelry and accessories, housewares, home décor and furniture. All for free!

Bi-annual event held in April and November more information at www.knpr.org

Nevada Public radio

RECYCLING DAY

PREsENtING sPoNsoR:

PARtICIPAtING sPoNsoRs:

May 1 at 6PM Desert Companion on Tour: Pub Crawl at Town Square Las Vegas

May 29 at 6PM Photo Contest Showcase Issue Party

august 7 at 6PM Best Doctors Issue Party at TPC Summerlin

sePteMber 2014 Desert Companion on Tour: Norm Schilling

october 2014 Top Lawyers Issue Party

NoveMber 18 at 8aM Bi-Annual Recycle Event

deceMber 2014 Desert Companion Restaurant Awards Issue Party

Upcoming EVEnTS SAVE THE DATES

For event advertising and sponsorship opportunities contact Christine Kiely at 702.259.7813 or [email protected]

to find all upcoming events, please visit desertcompanion.com/events


GET OUT

and to learn the game,” says Tony. “Then, preferably go to college, or at least let that (soccer) help them get where they want to go.”

Eleven-year-old Annie has a differ-ent ambition: “It would be cool to do a header in the goal,” she says, like Abby Wambach.

“Just keeping them involved in some-thing positive, and watching the group that they’re with, and having them ac-tive is important,” adds Lori.

Active is an understatement. Each of the three teams has two or three two-hour practices a week, plus weekend games, totaling four coaching hours a night for Tony — except Fridays, which the family has off. (Phew!) During tournaments, the Robsons can play as many as 10 games in a weekend. Plus, Tony plays recreationally in two adult leagues.

“We have to, as a family, constantly ask, ‘Are we making the right decisions?’ Because it’s a huge, huge commitment,” says Tony. Time and again, the answer is yes.

When the Robsons aren’t playing soc-cer or preparing to play soccer — Tony has game plans to configure, Lori has player fees to collect and team sched-ules to update — the Robsons like to gather in their living room to root for their favorite team: Barcelona. At their feet lie the family dogs: Messi (for Bar-celona’s Lionel Messi) and Mia (as in Mia Hamm).

So, yes, the Robsons have a lot of soc-cer balls, but, as with many large fami-lies, socks are a problem.

“There are never enough soccer socks!” says Lori.

profile

Just keeping them involved in something positive, and watching the group that they’re with, and having them active is important.

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PhotograPhy SABIN ORRDESERT COMPANION FAMILY DesertCompanion.Com14

GET OUT

While at a business dinner abroad, you order in your worst foreign tongue. The

server delivers an ugly, scaly whole fish that locks its gooey eyeballs with yours. Do you eat it or bolt?

Whether you have the coping chops for this kind of situation depends a lot on your childhood food experience. A kid neither exposed to nor expected to eat anything more than good ol’ burg-ers, chicken nuggets, French fries and PB & J is at a clear disadvantage. Ellyn

Satter, a registered dietitian nutrition-ist, family therapist and guru of child feeding, suggests pairing previously unexplored foods with those that are familiar — a platter of Brussels Sprouts Surprise seems far less frightening when some nice, safe bread and milk are also within reach.

So why not start stretching the kids’ palates right now? Below are some fa-miliar culinary conduits to help chal-lenge (and expand) your youngster’s taste buds. The restaurants and new

flavors are relatively realistic for chil-dren, and a handful designed for the daredevil diner.

A thought: Consider your own plate, too. When was the last time you tried a new flavor or texture? Try something differ-ent yourself — that might help your son or daughter take a few chances, too.

Familiar dish: Baked goodsRestaurant: Crumbles (2525 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway)New tastes: Currants (in the Eccles Cake) or apricot (in the Apricot Ginger tray bake)Kid perk: Fragrant and not fancy or intimidatingParent perk: Well-priced, from scratch, few ingredients, fresh madeNote: Charming (complete with lovely accent) baker-owner Moira Agardi goes for a run each morning before heading to the kitchen.

BaBy needs new chews!Eleven restaurants where you can broaden your kid's palate and inspire a future foodie B y M o l ly M . Mi c he l M an

Currant event:

A berry fresh

Eccles Cake

from Crumbles

bakery

dining


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Familiar dish: Scrambled eggsRestaurant: Sunrise Café (8975 S. Eastern Ave.)New taste: Cheese omelet (“TKO” — Tiny Kid Omelet — served with bananas, wheat toast, drink). Pass up the cheddar or American for feta, Swiss or pepper jack cheese. Pay 50 cents each for addi-tional ingredients such as green pepper or olives to further push the palate.Kid perk: Prize from the Treasure Chest with kids’ meals; also, spotted at last visit: kids eating in pajamasParent perk: Diner-like, friendly, warm mom ’n’ pop feelNote: For an extra $2, adults may have the TKO (or other kids’ meals), too.

Familiar dish: PizzaRestaurant: Dom Demarco’s Pizzeria & Bar (9785 W. Charleston Blvd.)New Tastes: Such toppings as eggplant, artichoke, vegan cheese, caramelized onionsKid perk: Outdoor patio, next door to pet store, across from frozen yogurt shopParent perk: Full bar, still feels classy, plenty of parking, sports on the many TV screensNote: After a lifetime of plain or pep-peroni only, my 12 year-old requested a slice of our spinach, basil and mush-room at our last visit.

Familiar dish: Something fried New taste: Sweet potato (fries)Restaurant: Rachel’s Kitchen (multiple locations)Kid perk: Most locations are near a park or play areaParent Perk: Plenty of tasty salads, smoothies, “light” options such as a 143-calorie breakfast sandwichAlso try: zucchini fries at LBS: A Burg-er Joint at Red Rock Casino (11011 W. Charleston Blvd.). Remember to walk in the side entrance near Hachi and avoid leaving smelling like an ashtray.Note: While fried foods are not ideal, the familiar texture could start the ball rolling to gain acceptance of shrimp and cooked vegetables.

Sushi and sweetness:

Above, American

caterpillar roll from

Miko's Izakaya Sushi;

right, MTO's brie

sandwich with local

honey and toasted

walnuts on brioche


Familiar dish: NoodlesRestaurant: Kaba Curry (5115 Spring Mountain Road)New tastes: Udon, curryKid perk: Fun approach to ordering — select base dish, spice level, limitless sides and toppings Parent perk: Chance to expose the kids to a variety of flavors and textures to go in the udonNote: Go beyond the main dish; consider a melon soda float with green tea ice cream.

Familiar dish: TortillasRestaurant: Leticia’s Mexican Cocina (7585 Norman Rockwell Lane)New tastes: Carne asada, carnitas or birria (made with goat)Kid perk: Festive décor, outdoor seatingParent perk: The real deal, authentic and homemade; the owner/chef is right in the kitchenNote: The tortilla can be a gateway to the land of crepes. Try Tasty Crepes (4845 S. Fort Apache Road) and encour-age your child to order one filled with kiwi, mango and blueberry.

Familiar dish: Grilled cheese sandwichNew taste: “Adult” grilled-cheese sandwichRestaurants: MTO Café (500 S. Main St.) for the brie, local honey and toasted walnuts on brioche. Todd English PUB (3720 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) for brie, dou-ble-smoked bacon, tomato. MelTeez Food Truck (usmenuguide.com/melteez/index.html) for the No. 7, with avocado, grilled onions and tomato on multigrain.Kid perk: Hip lunch downtown (MTO). Taking the tram (park at Bellagio, tram runs to Crystals Mall, where you’ll find PUB). Finding the food truck location on Twitter (MelTeez).Parent perk: All of the options are heavy hitters, so you will likely get to share.Note: If you have a ketchup or marinara fan, the next step is to get her to dip the grilled cheese in tomato soup. Nordstrom Café at the Fashion Show Mall has this classic combo on the kids’ menu.

diningGET OUT

NEXTCHECK OUT WHAT’S COMING UP

Call Now! 702-259-7813

or email [email protected]

TO REACH OVER 177,500 EDUCATED, AFFLUENT AND

INFLUENTIAL READERS

JULY 2014DEALicious MealsSimply great dining deals in a whole range of prices at some unlikely locations.

AUGUST 2014Health & MedicineListing of the valley’s best physicians and specialists

NOVEMBER 2014Holiday Guide: Things to Do & Gifts to GiveFeaturing gifts for everyone on your list, with recommendations for men, women, kids and even pets.

DECEMBER 2014The Restaurant AwardsOur dining critics pick their chefs & restaurants of the year


Familiar dish: Non-threatening vegetables (carrots and cucumber)Restaurant: Miko’s Izakaya Sushi (500 E. Windmill Lane)New tastes: Vegetable sushi rolls (Rabbit Roll, American Caterpillar Roll, Veggie California Roll)Kid perk: Creative-looking food and no fishy smellParent perk: No-frills approach to high-quality sushiNote: Miko’s is known not only for the wonderful food but also for the long wait. Come early, come late or bring the iPad.

Familiar dish: Messy foodRestaurant: Road Kill Grill (3730 Thom Blvd.)New taste: BBQ ribs Kid perk: No manners requiredParent perk: Ask for a tiny sample to help make a decision about what to orderNote: The GPS is telling the truth — it’s located in the middle of a residential area (and it may be a bit of a wait).

Familiar dish: Novelty and kitsch Restaurant: Huntridge Pharmacy Soda Fountain (1144 E. Charleston Blvd.) New taste: Tuna meltKid perk: A blast to sit, order and eat at the counter on a red-cushioned barstoolParent perk: Excuse for you to sip a milkshake or floatNote: Certified kosher (only open until 3 p.m. on Fridays and closed Saturday)Also try: Cooking steak on a hot rock at Stack at The Mirage (3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) to help bring out the hidden carnivore.

Familiar dish: Hot cocoaRestaurant: Serenade Coffee Bar & Desserts (7920 S. Rainbow Blvd.)New taste: Pistachio latteKid perk: Creamy, sweet and cute designs sometimes show up in the latte foamParent perk: This latte is caffeine-free.Note: Honey bread or green tea shaved ice are a perfect accompaniment to the latte.

sports & leisureGET OUT


parenting a child with a disability can be very isolating, and the search for activities that cater

to these children is often fruitless. But there are some fantastic local spots that welcome and serve children with special needs. Take a look at the list and give something a try.

Sport-SocialFounder Andrew Devitt combined his gift for skateboarding with his expe-rience working with autistic children by teaching the basics in local skate

parks. Fast-forward four years: Andrew and his young, talented crew now work with more than 200 kids with autism and other disabilities each week in the one-of-a-kind, 10,000-square-foot warehouse. The team at Sport-Social teaches social and behavioral skills through sports and the arts. All staff members have training in Applied Be-havioral Analysis (ABA), a clinical sys-tem of interventions to reduce problem behaviors and build skills.

7055 Windy St. Suite B, 702-485-5515, lvsportsocial.com

Heather’s Dance LifeAt the request of a parent who wanted her child and his friends to learn some group dances for his upcoming bar mitzvah, owner Heather Gordon started a class for pre-teens with special needs. The for-mer Broadway and EFX dancer holds the weekly class for the children, ages 10-14 years, taking care to schedule the class at a time when the rest of the studio is emp-ty. This helps the students feel comfort-able. Parents are able to watch the entire class on a video monitor.

6135 S. Fort Apache Road, 702-534-6448, heathersdancelife.com

Miracle League“Every child deserves the chance to play baseball.” That’s the motto of Mira-cle League of Las Vegas, which serves children ages 3-18 who have cognitive and physical challenges. Every player’s name is announced as he or she emerg-es from the dugout. All players bat once per inning, everyone is safe on base and each player scores a run. Peers and vol-unteers serve as “buddies” for the play-

Let them pLayTwelve places where kids with special needs can join sports, learn to dance and just have fun B y M o l ly M . Mi c he l M an

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Field for all: left,

Challenger Little

League; below,

Step Up Academy


ers throughout the game. At a minimum, it is worth checking out the state-of-the art Miracle League Field.

101 S. Rancho Drive, 970-275-0465, miracleleaguelasvegas.com

Challenger Little League This organization also provides the op-portunity for children 5-18 with physi-cal and mental disabilities to enjoy base-ball. Challenger Field hosts this “games only” (no practices) league.

Myron Leavitt Family Park, St. Louis and Eastern avenues, 702-388-8899, challenger-little-league-of-south ern-nevada.org

Step Up Academy Here a young girl can learn to move and dance from Miss Clark County 2009, who also has a degree in social work from UNLV. Miss Christina received ABA training spe-cifically for this “creative movement” class to help her work with children with autism, though the class welcomes children with other special needs as well. The group is included in Step Up Academy’s recitals, and has even performed at a gala at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

2558 Wigwam Parkway, 702-577-1832, stepupacademy.com

City Lights Music TogetherYour Music Together class will be led by one of the staff of teachers, who have graced the stages of Las Vegas, Broad-way and Japan in shows such as Mam-ma Mia!, Jubilee, Le Rêve and KA. Music Together is a research-based music and movement experience for children up to 7 years old (and the grown-ups who love them). Owner Melanie Ron provides a friendly, familiar environment where all participants are accepted.

Various locations, 702-838-4751, citylightsmusictogether.com

Cross Fit Henderson Run, use the medicine ball, do some squats and so much more. Coach Danny Wilkinson’s kid-friendly skills mesh per-fectly with his kinesiology degree and

Give Your Child Every AdvantageWe’ll challenge and inspire your child in a caring environment with programs that have successfully educated thousands of children in Las Vegas for more than fifty years.

3275 Red Rock St. • 702-362-1180 • LVDS.com

Kinderschool,Elementary &Middle School

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Computer TechnologySpanishMusic

Competitive SportsEExtra Curricular Activities

State LicensedAdvancED National Accreditation

Call for Admissions

Information & Campus Tour


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previous experience working with chil-dren with disabilities. Held in the Cross Fit gym right along with the rest of the participants, classes for children with autism are held nearly every day. Danny’s big smile (and muscles) will immediately make you and your child feel comfortable and inspired.

2510 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway #100, 702-998-2355 (ask for Danny), crossfithenderson.com

Hollywood Kids Every Thursday night, boys and girls with special needs, ages 8 and up, enjoy 30 minutes of Glee singing followed by 30 minutes of Glee dance. The “Celebra-tion Glee” final performances take place in a real theater, complete with wireless headsets, stage lighting, sound and cos-tumes. Founder Margie Seastrand says it brings her tears of happiness.

10870 S. Eastern #101, 702-633-5500, hollywoodkidsacademy.com

School of Rock For those about to rock, this place pro-vides guitar, bass, vocals, keyboard and drum lessons. It’s also opened its pro-grams to include differently abled kids. Everyone, regardless of ability, starts in

“Rock 101” to learn the basics of playing in a band. When and if the time comes, stu-dents move into “performance group,” re-hearsing weekly, culminating with a live concert. Instructors are real, working mu-sicians, though not all are trained to work with special needs. Imagine your son or daughter covering Zeppelin, Metallica, The Beatles or Springsteen at a gig at the Hard Rock, the South Point Showroom or the House of Blues. (Note: SOR rehearsals are for kids only — something to keep in mind if you and your child aren’t ready for that separation.)

9340 W. Flamingo Road, 702-778-9382, lasvegaswest.schoolofrock.com

City of Las Vegas Wheelchair basketball, swim, adaptive bike club, camping — these are among the long list of opportunities for children and adults with disabilities through the City of Las Vegas’ Adaptive Recreation Programs.

Cindy Moyes, the program’s supervisor, explains that this is the “longest running program locally for those with physical or developmental challenges.” Creative programming such as “Vegas Vision,” for those who are blind or visually im-paired, includes tandem-bike riding, rock climbing and fishing. Low cost ($3 for a one-hour golf lesson!) plus staff members experienced at working with people with disabilities make this a win-win.

Activity locations vary, 702-229-4902, lasvegasnevada.gov/information/5168.htm

Dream Therapies The term “hippotherapy” means therapy with the help of a horse. It uses the horse’s movement as a treatment tool. At Dream Therapies, a staff of licensed occupational therapists, a speech pathologist and phys-ical therapist bring expertise to this ther-apeutic riding. Horses are carefully se-lected and trained to work safely with the special needs population. (Note: There are a few restrictions, such as age or particu-lar conditions that may prevent riding.)

366 E. Mesa Verde Lane,702-227-4477, dreamtherapies.com

eHoops The “e” in eHoops stands for “exception-al” and “education.” eHoops’ mission is to allow special-needs kids to “partici-pate in a safe, non-judgmental organized sporting environment.” Each team com-prises half “typical” peers and half with special needs. Coaches receive special training to help them to be as effective as possible. While providing a wonder-ful time for those with disabilities and their families, eHoops is a unique and especially meaningful experience for the typical peers.

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Full-court fun:

above, wheelchair

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city court; right,

School of Rock

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featureGET OUT

Summerlin area: Let’s get active

Downtown’s art scene is growing, Henderson has history, and Boulder City is famous for the dam, but Sum-

merlin is the neighborhood to explore if getting active is on the agenda.

It isn’t difficult to find a park, play-ground or walking path in Summerlin. However, the most popular spots are those that offer a way to help take the edge off the desert heat. At Paseos Park (12122 Desert Moon Road), run through the enormous splash pad or play on the nearby covered playground. This park also has picnic tables in the shade. Don’t forget to bring along the beach toys; the Paseos Park sandbox is a favorite with

toddlers. With its ample shade and wide variety of activities, this is the perfect stay-all-day playground.

For air-conditioned fun, strap on some bowling shoes and try to score a turkey at Red Rock Lanes (11011 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-797-7467). Un-like the typical smoke-filled, dimly lit bowling allies, Red Rock Lanes is bright, clean and family-friendly. To add a twist to your usual pin-dismantling routine, opt for cosmic bowling. Just try not to embarrass the kids too much with your sweet dance moves.

Families who are ready to refuel on carbohydrates can grab lunch at Mac Shack (8975 W. Charleston Blvd., 702-243-1722), where guests can have

BigThis city-savvy survey of 29 family activities from Summerlin to Boulder City will keep your kids’ minds and bodies plenty busy

little worlD out there


their meal custom-built to their spec-ifications. Picky eaters will rejoice at the chance to choose their pasta, sauce and optional extra ingredients. Vegetar-ian and gluten-free dishes are available, making this a good option when you’re trying to satisfy a group. But be warned: Kids who clean their plates are offered a Tootsie Roll pop on their way out the door, so you know your family will be asking to come back again soon.

End a high-energy day with the kids by visiting the Summerlin branch of the Clark County Library District (1771 Inner Circle, 702-507-3860). With plenty of children’s books to peruse, this is a qui-et way to shift into low gear before head-ing home. Parents of hesitant readers can seek out expert advice from librarians, finding the perfect page-turner to in-spire their youngsters. Before you leave, visit the library’s art gallery for rotating exhibits from local artists. This small space is a manageable way to introduce toddlers to fine art. — Sarah Vernetti

Centennial Hills: Learning naturally

Despite rapid growth, this suburban community in northwest Las Vegas has managed to maintain its rural fla-

vor. There are historic parks, orchards and more modern amenities, such as librar-ies and community centers. Indeed, the Centennial Hills Community Center

(6601 N. Buffalo Drive, 702-478-9622) is a 98,000-square-foot ode to fitness and fun, and has something for everyone. Adults can run, swim, lift, bicycle and stretch their way to better health while young people can exercise, create (paint and craft room), do homework (computers) and enjoy two outdoor pools with water slides during the summer. Add classroom space, locker rooms, a kitchen, child watch area, free kids’ gym for members and you never have to leave.

If you get a hankering for the outdoors, consider a jaunt up the street, where na-ture and history collide (in a good way) at Floyd Lamb Park (9200 Tule Springs

Road, 702-229-8100) at Tule Springs. You can ogle some nature (ample vegetation, fish-stocked lake and lots of wildlife — ducks, jack-rabbits, wild geese, a peacock or two) or explore history (nearly two dozen build-ings, some built as early as 1900, includ-ing a water tower that supplied H2O to ranch guests) all in a bucolic setting that is so, well, un-Vegas. Nearby Centennial Hills Library (6711 N. Buffalo, 702-507-6100): a well-rounded collection of books, magazines, newspapers? Check! DVDs, CDs, audio books and computers aplenty — 22-seat adult computer lab, 12

Clockwise from left,

Red Rock Lanes, nosh

attack at Mac Shack,

Floyd Lamb Park at

Tule Springs,

Centennial Hills

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family resource computers, eight chil-dren’s computers and a Homework Help Center with 20 laptops? Check! Free Wi-Fi and wireless printing? Check! Ad-ditional accoutrements that make going to the library fun – weekly story times for kids, special programs events, used bookstore and café area? Check.

Meantime, you can practically make it a day doing all things fruity at the Gil-crease Nature Sanctuary/Gilcrease Orchard (sanctuary, 8103 Racel St. 702-645-4224; orchard, 7800 N. Tenaya Way, 702 409-0655). Start at the sanctuary, a safe haven for all kinds of animals — birds, pigs and goats, llamas, donkeys and reptiles — since 1970. Then end the day at the 60-acre orchard, stocking up on the some of the valley’s fresh-est fruits and vegetables. Still hungry?

“Home grown family fun” is the theme of the Las Vegas Farmers Market (702-562-2676, lasvegasfarmersmarket.com). Held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month, the Tule Springs event (one of four held throughout the valley) features farmers and food vendors offering a variety of often locally sourced vittles, and artists and artisans showcase everything from paintings to crafts. — Damon Hodge

Downtown: Culture crawl

Bringing your family to the urban core of Las Vegas isn’t quite the grit-ty ordeal it was a mere handful of

years ago. Today downtown teems with museums, parks and other kid-friendly spots. You can make a whole and very wholesome day out of hanging in the

’hood — just avoid over-explaining the term “gentlemen’s club” when driving near or around Industrial Road, okay?

Consider heading straight for the heart of the Cultural Corridor, a six-block stretch of businesses and creative landmarks along the Strip between Bonanza Road and Washington Ave-nue. There you’ll find the beloved Nat-ural History Museum (900 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-384-3466), which houses upcoming exhibits like the dinosaur egg-tastic Hatching the Past (starting May 24). Kids’ faces will light up at the Neon Museum (770 Las Vegas Blvd. N., 702-387-6366), where a guide leads you through a tour of the outdoor Boneyard. Retro-cool vintage signs — Caesars Pal-ace, Binion’s Horseshoe — can be viewed up close and personal. The nearby (and still-new) Discovery Children’s Muse-um in Symphony Park (360 Promenade Place, 702-382-3445) is another must-see, offering three levels of imaginative exhibits for wee ones (Toddler Town) and aspiring scientists (Patents Pending) alike. Oh, and don’t forget Springs Pre-

serve (333 S. Valley View Blvd., 702-822-7700), a 180-acre eco-themed attraction with exhibits, bike trails, animal shows and botanicals. And if you crave local history, Nevada State Museum shares the same campus.

Ever feel the need to shop, eat, enjoy a drink and watch your kids play in a tree-house loaded with slides? Go ahead and indulge that desire at Downtown Con-tainer Park (719 Fremont St.), where you’ll also encounter a giant, steel-plat-ed praying mantis that shoots fireballs

featureGET OUT


Clockwise from

opposite page:

Gilcrease Nature

Sanctuary, Discovery

Children's Museum,

Springs Preserve,

Natural History Museum,

Container Park

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at night. (Don’t worry; you won’t need a flame-resistant suit.) Boutique candy, vibrant artworks, live music — this place offers many compelling reason to be your new home away from home.

Some kids don’t seem to suffer ver-tigo, which is why you might think about leading yours up to the top of The Stratosphere (2000 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-380-7777). The tower and observa-tion deck are 1,100 feet in the air, with a 360-degree view of the valley, plus four thrill rides — Big Shot, Insanity, X Scream and the bungee-blasting SkyJump. The view is breathtaking. Another option for rambunctious little dudes and dudettes is SlotZilla (425 Fremont St.), a slot ma-chine-themed zip-line ride that takes you

anywhere between 70 to 110 feet above the en-tire length (1,700 feet) of Fremont Street Experi-ence. Doing crazy stuff? It’s not just for tourists anymore.

Lunchtime is always the right time to hit Rock ‘N’ Noodles (1108 S. Third St., 702-522-9953), a quick, convenient place to treat the tykes to plates prepared for their palates — Just Like Paradise (fettuc-cine with creamy alfredo and diced pan-cetta), 99 Red Balloons (spaghetti with marinara and mini-meatballs), Return of the Mac (elbow macaroni with ched-dar sauce, ground beef and bacon). The walls, adorned with classic rock album covers, allow for great conversation and games, too. For dessert, head over to Art of Flavors gelato shop (1616 Las Vegas Blvd. S., #130, 702-676-1027) for unique tastes like Strawberry Pepper Bal-samic. (There are simpler, kid-friendly flavors, too.) — Jarret Keene

Henderson: Take flight

Henderson, it’s A Place to Call Home — so boasts the city’s logo — and, cer-tainly, it’s a popular spot to raise

the kids, but after racing from the soc-cer field to the dance studio, to the pool, and the PTA meeting, what is there really for a family to do within the 103 square miles that make up Nevada’s sec-ond-largest city?

Well, certainly Henderson folks love their movies! The Green Valley Dis-trict’s outdoor picture show, On the Green, makes for free good-weather fun. Every Friday and Saturday from May to October, the District shows family-friendly classics such as Ghost-busters and Gremlins. Plastic chairs are available, but you’re welcome to bring your own blankets to cozy up on; pop-corn is free; and film listings and times are available online. (shopthedistrictgvr.com/outdoorpicshow)

If you’re looking for a more luxurious theater-going option, check out Green Valley’s Galaxy Luxury+ Theatres (4500 E. Sunset Road #10) where the ticket price is the same as most other cinemas in town, but the experience is so much better. Beyond the latest sound and projection technology, Galaxy of-fers movie-goers super-plush reclining seats; wine and beer for mom and dad to pair with their popcorn; a gourmet


featureGET OUT

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sausage bar; reserved seating; and the most current blockbusters.

Maybe your family would rather ex-perience adventure than watch it on the big screen. Las Vegas Flight Ventures (lasvegasflightventures.com) lets you experience what it’s like to captain a jet airliner in one of four modern, full-mo-tion simulators — this is the same cool technology that the commercial airlines use. Each cockpit can accommodate a family of four, including the captain; and there is no age requirement, al-though kids need to be 48 inches tall to be able to see the runway. $399 gets you a 30-minute preflight briefing, and clears you for takeoff and a full hour in the Boeing 737 simulator. Prices climb from there.

Think flying’s for the birds? The Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve (35 E. Galleria Drive, 702-267-4180) is a nature-lover’s paradise, attracting serious birders from all over the world. Overlooking nine evaporation ponds from the city’s wastewater reclamation

project, the preserve hosts thousands of migratory birds traveling the Pacific Flyway, en route from Alaska to South America, and several resident desert birds — more than 200 species in total. Birding, tours and various educational workshops are free.

For family entertainment that falls somewhere between high-flying and bird watching, King Putt (27 Stepha-nie St., 702-541-6807, kingputtlv.com) boasts on its website that it has the most advanced mini-golf course in the coun-try. Glow-in-the-dark and interactive, the Egyptian-themed course is popu-lar with kiddies, daddies and mummies (forgive me). But, don’t worry, if King Tut freaks you out, you can shoot him with a laser gun. Besides golf, King Putt has laser tag, as well as a generous ar-cade and a pizzeria. — Chantal Corcoran

Boulder City: History lives

With its Hoover Dam-building his-tory and absence of casinos, Boul-der City is an interesting contrast

to Las Vegas. Escape the city and spend a day exploring the quieter side of South-ern Nevada with the kids.

Start the day at Hemenway Park (401 Ville Drive), where families will find a playground, basketball courts, picnic ar-eas, and a rather conspicuous family of bighorn sheep. Although they sometimes wander up towards the parking lot, you’ll most likely find them sitting on the east side of the park in the shade. The bighorn sheep is the state animal of Nevada, so finding a few to observe in real life should be on every Las Vegas kid’s to-do list.

Next, head to Lake Mead and hike the Historical Railroad Tunnel trail. Enjoy

Clockwise from

lower left:

Henderson Bird

Viewing Preserve,

King Putt, Historical

Railroad Tunnel

Trail, Nevada Way


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beautiful views of the lake, and enjoy the wildflowers if you visit during the spring. This hike is ideal for families since the trail is wide and relatively flat. Not far into your stroll, you’ll be treated with a dose of history: on the right-hand side of the trail, you’ll see a marker and several large con-crete plugs. These served as placeholders during the construction of Hoover Dam and were removed when the turbines were installed into the powerhouse floor.

After you’ve finished your hike, drive into historic downtown Boulder City for a stroll down Nevada Way. With plenty of quirky motels, shops and restaurants along the way, it offers a small-town experience that kids growing up in Las Vegas might not get back home. Be sure to notice the sculptures that line the downtown streets, particularly Peter Pan and Babe the Pig by Mary Zimmer-man. Stop in at Grandma Daisy’s (530 Nevada Way, 702-294-6639) for a scoop of ice cream or a chocolate turtle.

Before you hit the road, visit the Boul-der City/Hoover Dam Museum (1305 Arizona St., 702-294-1988), which focus-es on the growth of the town and its role in the construction of the dam. Interac-tive displays describe what life was like for the workers and their families, many of whom had left their hometowns to find work during the Great Depression. If you want to extend your time in Boul-der City, plan ahead and book a room at the Boulder Dam Hotel (1305 Arizona St., 702-293-3510), which is owned and operated by the museum. — S.V.

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fam 14

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

Who will win the Boone Fam-ily Child of the Week tro-phy this Sunday? Will it be

Anthony Jr. for continuing to balance his studies with his hectic volleyball sched-ule? Or maybe Laurel for working hard to make friends at her new middle school? Or maybe Logan or Nigel for keeping their rooms clean, handily passing the random inspections — heralded by the cry of “Room check!” — their mother springs on them throughout the week? Whoever does win gets more than just bragging rights and a weeklong warm fuzzy. The winning child also gets treated to some of dad’s home cooking — perhaps his mythically tasty la-sagna, his killer tacos or one of his legend-ary Boone Burgers. Of course, no matter who wins, everybody wins.

“We’re like a bootleg version of The Cosbys,” says Kasina Boone, the straight-talking matriarch of this blended family, aka The First Lady of Booneville. “We talk about everything at our meeting.

We keep it real, we keep it funky, and we don’t sugar-coat anything.” She says the word anything with the heft and brio of a hallelujah — and, indeed, this Sun-day-night huddle is as much a part of Boone family life as church. “It keeps the communication lines open between the kids and us, and ensures we’re all on the same page,” says father Anthony Sr. (Ka-sina, characteristically, is more colorful: “Anthony’s job is to keep Laurel off the pole, and my job is to keep us from being grandparents before we’re 40.”)

A family meeting sounds old-fash-ioned and maybe even a bit corny in our tech-addled age, but perhaps the old-fashionedness of it is exactly what works so well for the Boones. They real-ize that, as rapidly as the world is chang-ing, we’re still the flawed, confused, love-hungry humans we’ve always been. (And if you think a family meeting is old-school, consider the Boone’s Satur-day-night activities: giggling games of Uno and tie-dyeing T-shirts at the din-ing room table.)

profile

Eyes on the prizeA weekly meeting keeps this family strong (and the trophy motivates the kids) B y An d rew K ir Aly


Golden rules: From left, Nigel, Kasina,

Laurel, Anthony Sr., Logan and Anthony

Boone Jr.

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The Sunday meeting whose abiding di-rective is “speak freely” has a few ground rules: No cussing and no piggybacking or “co-signing” on siblings’ issues or com-plaints, so as to encourage each child to own and articulate his or her own con-cerns. The meetings grew out of the pro-cess of blending their families when An-thony Sr. and Kasina married nearly 10 years ago, after meeting at Legacy High School, where they both work.

“She did things her way, and I did things my way, and we had to learn to do it our way. That’s where the meetings come in,” says Anthony Sr. At the weekly huddles, they’ve discussed 13-year-old Logan’s request to get a Facebook ac-count. They’ve discussed Laurel’s re-luctance to go to a new school. They’ve even brought up for review Anthony Jr.’s prospective girlfriends — one of whom Kasina warned him away from, to no avail. Anthony dated her until he discov-ered the girl was two-timing him. (“Do I know my stuff?” Kasina asks Anthony Jr. over a fist-bump.)

The result of these meetings is one very cohesive, communicative, loving family, but the side effects are interest-ing, too, one of which is the porousness of that very concept of family. “Our mot-to is if you come over here more than once, you’re family,” says Kasina. Ex-hibit A: the neighborhood kids floating through the house, hanging around the table, ready to tie-dye some shirts.

Perhaps the only downside of the Sun-day meeting? It can be more tiring than an Uno marathon.

“I like the family meeting. Everybody gets to say what they want to say,” says Laurel. “After that, though, I usually have to take a nap.”

She did things her way, and I did things my way, and we had to learn to do it our way. That’s where the meetings come in.

PhotograPhy NameGoes Here

AffiliAtion /AccreditAtion

Parents can buy accredited course packages; several institutions, such as Homeschool.com and the Home educators resource directory, give seals of approval.

independently operated public schools in ccSd; a sponsor (local school district or state charter school au-thority) awards the charter, monitors the school and can revoke the charter

Public schools in ccSd; programs often accredited by affiliated institutions, such as international Baccalaureate or future Business leaders of America

American Montessori Society; may also have nevada State Private School license

church or religious institu-tion, such as Assembly of God or islam; private-school organization, such as national council for Private School Accreditation; nevada State Private School license

Private-school organization, such as national Association of independent Schools; nevada State Private School license

clark county School district; nevada department of education

coSt Around $400 per year, per child for supplies, curriculum, tutors, etc.

free School is free, but individual programs, such as aviation, cosmetology and culinary, have associated costs and fees.

Varies (Montessori schools are independently operated, not franchises). A typical range is $5,000 to $12,500 per year.

Varies, typically a few thou-sand dollars per year and up

Varies, typically a few thousand dollars per year and up

free

for tHe Student wHo…

Has very dedicated, involved parents.

colors outside the lines. likes to take things apart and tinker.

Has a curiosity that goes beyond the conventional classroom.

Believes faith is part of the learning process.

Had bottom-line goals for his lemonade stand.

wants a classic public education

How it’S done Varies. typically, families acquire the curriculum and follow it on their own at home, connecting periodically with other homeschoolers through networks.

Students are held to the same academic standards as other nevada public schools, but administrators have relative autonomy in curriculum and instruction.

Blended into or layered on top of standard state education requirements are topic-specific curricula, such as architectural drafting and design, bio-medi-cal studies, computer science or performing arts.

the Montessori curriculum is sequential, accommodating all learning styles, allowing students to progress at their own pace.

typically, curriculum is provided by an institution affiliated with the church or faith in question.

nondenominational, nonsectarian, traditional rigorous college preparatory curriculum

State- and district-man-dated curriculum, designed to teach students the necessary skills and knowledge for passing standardized tests

ProMiSe/HyPe individualized attention, customized course work and pace adjusted to the student’s abilities

freedom to innovate plus accountability to sponsors is supposed to equal higher-quality instruction.

college and career preparedness, gained through high-quality, specialized instruc-tion, internships, job shadowing and capstone projects.

individualized instruction that nurtures the whole person — intellectually, philosophically, emotion-ally and spiritually

Academic excellence aligned with religious beliefs and social values

Academic excellence, geared toward college

Quality education for all, provided by the government, at no expense to students

clASS Size Based on the number of home-schooled kids in a family

Varies, from full classrooms to at-home distance education

28 students, on average Varies, typically between a half-dozen and a couple dozen

Smaller than public school; typically, around 20


30-plus

AGeS nevada law requires coverage of certain subject areas, and parent dec ides what age or grade to cover them in. child should be ready for college or the workforce by adulthood.

K-12 K-12 K-12 available, but many are K-8 or younger

K-12 available, but many are K-8 or younger

K-12 K-12

notABle GrAduAteS

Ansel Adams, louisa May Alcott, woodrow wilson

ice cube, ballet dancer david Hallberg

Matthew Gray Gubler, Kevin rose, Aaron turner, Kerwyn williams

Jeff Bezos, Sean combs, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

frank fertitta iii (Bishop Gorman)

Alexandra epstein (the Meadows School)

Brandon flowers (chaparral), Harry reid (Basic High School)

wHAt you Get certificate from accrediting institution or parent

High school diploma High school diploma, often with honors and AP credit; certification from affiliated institutions

High school diploma or certificate of completion

High school diploma High school diploma High school diploma

educationHOME lifE

Home schoolingnevadahomeschoolnetwork.com

Technically, public school is for everyone — in the sense that it’s free, open to all and provided by the state. But what if it’s not for your child — in the sense that he or she craves a nontraditional type of gray-matter stimulation? In such cases, parents can find navigating the alternatives a daunting and frustrating task. To help, we offer this guide. B y H e i d i k y s e r

charter Schools charterschools.nv.gov

32 Desert companion Family DesertCompanion.Com

33Desert companion FamilyDesertCompanion.Com

AffiliAtion /AccreditAtion

Parents can buy accredited course packages; several institutions, such as Homeschool.com and the Home educators resource directory, give seals of approval.

independently operated public schools in ccSd; a sponsor (local school district or state charter school au-thority) awards the charter, monitors the school and can revoke the charter

Public schools in ccSd; programs often accredited by affiliated institutions, such as international Baccalaureate or future Business leaders of America

American Montessori Society; may also have nevada State Private School license

church or religious institu-tion, such as Assembly of God or islam; private-school organization, such as national council for Private School Accreditation; nevada State Private School license

Private-school organization, such as national Association of independent Schools; nevada State Private School license

clark county School district; nevada department of education

coSt Around $400 per year, per child for supplies, curriculum, tutors, etc.

free School is free, but individual programs, such as aviation, cosmetology and culinary, have associated costs and fees.

Varies (Montessori schools are independently operated, not franchises). A typical range is $5,000 to $12,500 per year.

Varies, typically a few thou-sand dollars per year and up

Varies, typically a few thousand dollars per year and up

free

for tHe Student wHo…

Has very dedicated, involved parents.

colors outside the lines. likes to take things apart and tinker.

Has a curiosity that goes beyond the conventional classroom.

Believes faith is part of the learning process.

Had bottom-line goals for his lemonade stand.

wants a classic public education

How it’S done Varies. typically, families acquire the curriculum and follow it on their own at home, connecting periodically with other homeschoolers through networks.

Students are held to the same academic standards as other nevada public schools, but administrators have relative autonomy in curriculum and instruction.

Blended into or layered on top of standard state education requirements are topic-specific curricula, such as architectural drafting and design, bio-medi-cal studies, computer science or performing arts.

the Montessori curriculum is sequential, accommodating all learning styles, allowing students to progress at their own pace.

typically, curriculum is provided by an institution affiliated with the church or faith in question.

nondenominational, nonsectarian, traditional rigorous college preparatory curriculum

State- and district-man-dated curriculum, designed to teach students the necessary skills and knowledge for passing standardized tests

ProMiSe/HyPe individualized attention, customized course work and pace adjusted to the student’s abilities

freedom to innovate plus accountability to sponsors is supposed to equal higher-quality instruction.

college and career preparedness, gained through high-quality, specialized instruc-tion, internships, job shadowing and capstone projects.

individualized instruction that nurtures the whole person — intellectually, philosophically, emotion-ally and spiritually

Academic excellence aligned with religious beliefs and social values

Academic excellence, geared toward college

Quality education for all, provided by the government, at no expense to students

clASS Size Based on the number of home-schooled kids in a family

Varies, from full classrooms to at-home distance education

28 students, on average Varies, typically between a half-dozen and a couple dozen



30-plus

AGeS nevada law requires coverage of certain subject areas, and parent dec ides what age or grade to cover them in. child should be ready for college or the workforce by adulthood.

K-12 K-12 K-12 available, but many are K-8 or younger

K-12 available, but many are K-8 or younger

K-12 K-12

notABle GrAduAteS

Ansel Adams, louisa May Alcott, woodrow wilson

ice cube, ballet dancer david Hallberg

Matthew Gray Gubler, Kevin rose, Aaron turner, Kerwyn williams

Jeff Bezos, Sean combs, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

frank fertitta iii (Bishop Gorman)

Alexandra epstein (the Meadows School)

Brandon flowers (chaparral), Harry reid (Basic High School)

wHAt you Get certificate from accrediting institution or parent

High school diploma High school diploma, often with honors and AP credit; certification from affiliated institutions

High school diploma or certificate of completion

High school diploma High school diploma High school diploma

Magnet schools / career & technical academies magnet.ccsd.net

Montessori schoolsamshq.org

Parochial / Private religious schoolsdoe.nv.gov/topic/ Private_School_page/

Prep / Private independent schools doe.nv.gov/topic/ Private_School_page

Public school ccsd.net

PhotograPhy Christopher smithDESERT COMPANION FAMILY DesertCompanion.Com34

cookingHOME lifE

Spiced French Toast Sticks with Orange Maple Syrup

When you’re a kid, eating food with your hands is 10 times more fun than using proper

utensils. In this variation on French toast — perfect for a weekend breakfast treat — the typically messy dish is made into fin-ger-friendly sticks, ready for dipping into sweet maple syrup.Serves 4-6

IngredIents:L 1-1/4 cups pure maple syrup

L 1/4 cup orange juice

L zest of one small orange

L 8 thick slices (about 3/4-inch) day-old

brioche or Texas toast

L 4 large eggs

L 1 cup half-and-half

L 3 tablespoons granulated sugar

L 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

L 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

L 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

L generous pinch of salt

L 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

L 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

dIrectIons:1. Prepare the orange maple syrup: Whisk the maple syrup, orange juice and orange zest in a small saucepan set over medium-low heat. Cook until the mixture is hot, whisking occasionally; set aside and keep warm.2. Prepare the spiced French toast sticks: Cut each slice of bread into three equal strips. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, sugar, cin-namon, ginger, nutmeg, salt and vanilla. 3. Carefully dip each strip of bread into the egg custard, turning to thoroughly coat and soak up the liquid. Place dipped

bread on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to allow excess liquid to drip off. 4. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Place sticks of dipped bread in a single layer in the pan or on the griddle. Cook until the sticks are browned on one side, about 3 minutes, and then carefully turn each stick, cooking until all sides are browned and lightly crisp. Repeat the cooking process with the remaining butter and sticks.5. Serve the sticks alongside warm orange maple syrup.

Cook up some fun!Let these recipes draw the whole family into the kitchen — not just to eat, but to help prepare b y J u l ie He s si o n


IngredIents:tomato-Basil soup

L 2 tablespoons olive oil

L 2 medium sweet yellow onions, chopped

L 1 tablespoon minced garlic

L 1 (28-ounce) can stewed tomatoes,

including juices

L 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken stock

L 3 tablespoons tomato paste

L 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

L 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil

L salt and freshly ground black pepper

GrilleD Cheese Croutons

L 2 tablespoons butter, softened

L 4 (1/2-inch) slices whole wheat bread

L 4-5 ounces shredded sharp cheddar

cheese

dIrectIons:tomato-Basil soup

1. In a heavy, large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent and softened, stirring frequently, 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic; cook 2 minutes more.2. Add the tomatoes, stock and tomato paste to the pan and bring the mixture to a boil.3. Add the sugar and basil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until the mixture has thickened.4. Use an immersion blender (hand-held stick blender) to purée the soup until smooth. Alternatively, you can carefully transfer the mixture to a blender and purée until smooth, then return the soup to the saucepan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, topped with grilled cheese croutons.

GrilleD Cheese Croutons

1. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat.2. Place the slices of bread on a work surface and butter one side of each slice. 3. Place two slices on the pan or griddle, buttered sides down. Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese on top of the slices. Top the cheese with the remaining two slices, buttered sides up.4. Cook until the bottom sides of the sandwiches are golden brown, 3-4 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until the bottoms are golden brown and the cheese has melted (pressing lightly with the back of a spatula to flatten), 3-4 minutes more.5. Cut the grilled cheese sandwiches into 1 inch squares. Serve atop the tomato-basil soup.

Tomato- Basil Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons

it’s hard to beat the classic comfort food combo of grilled cheese and tomato soup … but we can certainly

try. Take it to the next level with mini grilled-cheese croutons, enabling your family to enjoy their soup and sand-wich in one delicious bite!Serves 4


HOME lifE cooking

dIrectIons:1. In a large baking dish, whisk together the buttermilk, mustard, olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt. Add the chicken strips and turn to coat. Cover and chill for 30 minutes, turning once.2. Place a wire rack over a large baking sheet and spray the rack with nonstick spray. In a large zip-top bag, combine the panko, Parmesan, flour, garlic pow-der, thyme, oregano, paprika, cayenne (if using) and remaining teaspoon salt, shaking to blend.3. Preheat the oven to 400 F.4. Remove a chicken strip from the buttermilk mixture, allowing excess

to drip off. Add the strip to the bread-crumb mixture in the bag. Zip the bag and shake to coat the chicken. Place the strip on the wire rack; repeat the pro-cess with remaining chicken strips. 5. Bake the chicken on the wire rack set over the baking sheet, turning over halfway through, until crisp, browned and firm, 15-20 minutes.6. While chicken is baking, prepare the dipping sauce: Whisk the mustard and maple syrup in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until warmed through. Transfer sauce to a bowl and serve alongside chicken fingers.

Baked Parmesan Herb Chicken Fingers with Maple Mustard Dipping Sauce

this healthier version of the pop-ular kids’ meal bakes up crispy chicken using a mixture of Japa-

nese panko bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. Kids will enjoy shaking the coat-ing onto the strips, a process that is much easier to clean up. Serves 4

IngredIents:ChiCken FinGers

L 1 cup low-fat buttermilk

L 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

L 1 tablespoon olive oil

L 2 teaspoons salt, divided

L 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken

breasts, cut into 3/4-inch strips

L 1-1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs (found

in the Asian foods section of grocery

stores)

L 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

L 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

L 1 teaspoon garlic powder

L 1 teaspoon dried thyme

L 1 teaspoon dried oregano

L 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

(optional)

maple mustarD sauCe

L 3/4 cup Dijon mustard

L 6 tablespoons pure maple syrup


Blueberry Lemon Pie Pops in Whole Wheat Crusts

IngredIents:Whole Wheat Crust

(optional — may substi-

tute store-bought pie

crust)

L 2 cups whole wheat

flour

L 1 cup all-purpose flour

L 1 tablespoon granulat-

ed sugar

L 1/2 teaspoon salt

L 8 ounces cold unsalted

butter, cubed

L 2 large egg yolks

L 2 teaspoons cider

vinegar

L 1/2 cup ice water

BlueBerry FillinG

L 2 cups fresh blueberries

L 1/2 cup granulated

sugar

L 2 teaspoons lemon zest

L 2 tablespoons lemon

juice

L 2 tablespoons corn-

starch

L 1/2 teaspoon ground

cinnamon

L 1 large egg beaten with

1 tablespoon water (for

the egg wash)

lemon Glaze

L 3 cups confectioners’

sugar whisked with 4-5

tablespoons lemon juice

(until glaze is thick but

pourable)

kids love any food on a stick! Inside these palate-pleasing pie pops, sweet blueberries serve as a perfect contrast to tart, lip-pucker-

ing lemons. Make them as a fun dessert for your next outdoor picnic or barbecue.Makes 20-24 pops

dIrectIons:1. Prepare the crust: In a food proces-sor, pulse the whole wheat and all-pur-pose flours, sugar and salt to combine. Scatter butter over top and pulse several times, until pieces are the size of peas.2. In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolks, vinegar and ice water. Drizzle half the water mixture over the dough and pulse 4 or 5 times to combine. Add more of the mixture, 1 tbsp at a time, pulsing after each addition until the dough holds together in moist clumps. 3. Transfer the dough to a large piece of plastic wrap and shape it into a ball. Flatten the dough into a disk and wrap it tightly in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.4. Prepare the filling: In a medium bowl, mix together blueberries, sugar, lemon zest, juice, cornstarch and cinna-mon. Set aside.5. Divide the chilled dough into two pieces, one slightly larger than the other. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the smaller piece to slightly thicker than 1/16-inch. Using a 3-inch round cutter, cut as many rounds as possible. Transfer the rounds to a baking sheet lined with parch-ment paper, spacing them apart. Reroll scraps as necessary and continue cutting.

6. Press the end of a wooden or paper lollipop stick into the bottom half of each round.7. Roll out the larger piece of dough as in Step 5. Using a slightly larger (3-1/2 inch) round cutter, cut out an equal number of rounds, rerolling scraps as necessary.8. Brush the smaller rounds with the egg wash and place a generous table-spoon of blueberry filling in the center of each. Top each with a larger round, pressing edges firmly to seal. Crimp around the edges with a fork.9. Place the pie pops on baking sheets in the freezer for 30 minutes. Mean-while, position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds positions and preheat oven to 375 F.10. When ready to bake, use the tip of a knife to poke 3 or 4 holes in each top crust. Bake pops for 22-25 minutes, switching positions of baking sheets halfway through, until tops are puffed and browned.11. Let pops cool on baking sheets 5 minutes, then drizzle with lemon glaze. Let glaze set 10 minutes before serving.

38 DESERT COMPANION FAMILY DesertCompanion.Com

In their own words, families reflect on the places where they work, play and share their lives

GATHER ’Round

HOME lifE gathering

The family ThaT gardens TogeTher

Growth industry: From left, molly,

tiffany, madison and John Whisenant

Tiffany: The backyard sold us on the house. Before we moved in, we came here several times and sat on the back porch swing. We pictured the garden. I watched how the

sun moved across the yard. We moved in around Christmas time, because I wanted to get the seedlings going by February. … On Sundays, we roll out of bed and take it slowly, because we’re all so busy through-out the week. Madison makes pancakes, and we head out to the backyard, feed the

chickens, take care of what we need to do. The girls play, climb trees; I’m in the gar-den …

John: I’m Mr. Fix-It. That’s my job! It’s been a really productive garden. We had this massive Purple Cherokee toma-to plant out there that was taller than me and wider than I could stretch my arms. Best tomatoes I ever tasted.

Tiffany: The girls cook with us a lot. We’ll have them go out and pick vegeta-bles for dinner, or some herbs. They save seeds with me. Molly can identify pretty much any vegetable or fruit. She tastes everything. They won’t eat carrots unless

they come out of my garden.John: It’s not how the garden fits into

our family; it’s how our family fits into it. I started playing drums when I was 19, because I wanted to do something for work that I love. Then, I decided to take it a step further and get a job fishing. Tiffa-ny getting a job gardening (she’s general manager of Garden Farms of Nevada) fit into our ideal of not having crappy jobs that you hate. It’s important to show the girls that you don’t have to be stuck. You can make a living doing what you love.

— as told to Heidi Kyser


The WhisenanTs

a Peaceful Place for gaThering, laughTer & food

table mates: From left: Chantal,

Barry, Grace, sarah, and Chris Corcoran

in the early ’40s, when both their sons left for war, my husband’s great-grandfather bought his wife this beautiful dining set. An odd consolation gift, I think now, a bit of

a gamble, considering that two of those chairs would sit empty for some time — possibly forever.

But I don’t know the circumstances. Perhaps she was mourning the newly empty chairs at her current table, and he thought a new set would help. Perhaps her fear and heartbreak only added to his, and he had to do something, anything, to try to cheer her; perhaps she’d been eyeing the set for years. Or perhaps it was optimism that inspired the elaborate purchase: Sure-

ly, if he bought such an exquisite piece, his boys would come home, the family would gather, a celebration would ensue.

My husband’s grandfather, Hurricane Harry (so nicknamed for the planes he flew with the British Air Force) and his broth-er, both did return, but first Harry’s plane would be shot down; first he would be de-clared missing in action while he wandered alone, for seven days, in the barren desert; first his parents would receive that tele-graph, a calling card from their worst night-mare. So, we can well imagine that meal when, finally, their children came together, again, to feast on roast pork, creamed car-rots and peas and homemade jelly rolls.

“And tea, tea was always served,” says my mother-in-law, who as a small girl would play under that table only a few years later, while the growing family

flourished and reveled in food, stories and song. A generation later, it would be a boy hiding under the table, eavesdrop-ping on the delicious conversations of his parents and grandparents — the boy who would eventually be my husband. Then, 60 years after those first full gatherings, it would be our turn. Our kids beneath the table, playing with toy cars, while we welcomed family and friends, poured wine, talked until midnight — our feet on the carpet, pillows for little heads.

That seems like yesterday, and now only our dog Shadow properly fits beneath the table. They’re growing so fast. The chil-dren last as long as we do now, in their chairs; sometimes they’re up even later. Soon, it will be their turn. I’ll oil the wood, have the chairs refurbished.

— Chantal Corcoran

The CorCorans


HOME lifE gathering

cooking uP a family reunion

We moved into our house in December 2007, and we didn’t have a grill. We knew that barbecuing is what brings a family together, so

we got a charcoal grill from Lowe’s. My mom’s whole side of the family is French Creole, from the South, and she and my godfather, Hugh Jones, just didn’t think that grill was right. They thought, “If we could find one of those barrel grills, it would be so much better for cooking cat-fish.”

I’m not even sure where it came from. Dwane and I came home one day and my godfather and his friend were dragging it through the house to the back yard. We had a monsoon party in July, so every-body came over to break it in. It was sup-posed to be for my mom, but her yard and house are smaller than ours, so whenever it’s time to barbecue, everybody fits here: my mom and her significant other; my sister and her significant other and son; my godfather and his wife and their four children, who are all grown and have children — every family gathering is at least a dozen people. We’ll say, "We’re barbecuing on Sunday," and we know ev-erybody is going to come.

In a way, it’s the family barbecue, but it’s at our house. My sister can do more on it than anyone, but my mom claims it’s hers, so whenever we barbecue, she comes over, just to make sure we’re doing it right.

— Sha Rhonda Ramos, as told to Heidi Kyser

sha rhonda ramos


Grill out: sha rhonda ramos, and Deven and

Dwane Crawford

DESERT COMPANION FAMILY 42

BROADWAY’S ORIGINAL SUMMER PROGRAM

FOR THEATRE-LOVING KIDS

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit TheSmithCenter.com or call 702.749.2538

JULY 7–11 & JULY 21–25AGES 6–9 AGES 10–17


Custom blend:

Clockwise from top

left, Diana England

(with Lucy), Tammy

and Leah Goodrich,

Logan and Audrey

England

fam 14

Family life now commonly comes with challenges that were excep-tional a couple generations ago:

divorced parents, joint custody, two-home arrangements. Diana England and Tammy Goodrich have all these, plus some other potentially complicating factors: They’re a same-sex former cou-ple who adopted their children, Audrey and Logan, birth-siblings now 7 and 6 years old, respectively. But rather than treating their particular circumstances like a problem, England and Goodrich use them as motivation to dial up their commitment to co-parenting in a har-monious environment that allows both families to thrive.

“I had always wanted children,” Goodrich says. She was in her late 30s and England in her late 40s when the couple began to talk about their options for having a family. England suggested adoption, and they launched the intense, yearlong process that included nine weeks of classes, stacks of paperwork, a formal domestic partnership and a deep reserve of resolve. “We made friends with everybody,” England says, “case workers, counselors, other parents, fos-


in si g h t an d in sp ir ati on for m ak ing i t al l work in the m ode rn worl d

profile

Working it outAn unorthodox couple finds grace in the challenges of co-parenting b y He id i K yse r

BROADWAY’S ORIGINAL SUMMER PROGRAM

FOR THEATRE-LOVING KIDS

FOR MORE INFORMATION visit TheSmithCenter.com or call 702.749.2538

JULY 7–11 & JULY 21–25AGES 6–9 AGES 10–17

BALANCE profile

Named one of the Top Five Children’s Hospitals in the Country by Consumer Reports for zero infection rates in the Pediatric ICU.

We’re dedicated to providing our children with the highest level of care in the state because they are the heroes in our story.

Nevada’s ONLY Designated Pediatric Trauma Center

Nevada’s ONLY Pediatric Burn & Transplant Center

Nevada’s ONLY Pediatric Emergency DepartmentStaffed 24/7 with Fellowship-Trained Physicians

Nevada’s ONLY Hospital accepted as an Associate Member of the Children’s Hospital Association

CHNV.ORG | UMCSN.COM

Our story is one-of-a-kind.


ter parents. We networked. And we re-ally worked the network.” Their perse-verance brought them Audrey, then 15 months old. Fostering quickly turned to adoption, and two months later, they had her 5-day-old brother, Logan, too. All at once, a family was born.

Two children was not the origi-nal plan. “It was hard,” says England. “Your whole world is changing. In three weeks, I haven’t worked out, I haven’t slept, I haven’t walked my dogs … I said, ‘You go pick (Logan) up. I have to go to work.’” Goodrich resumes the story: “I had him when Diana got home, and she probably walked around the house for 15 minutes before she even looked at him. I think she was in shock.” Today, England says, she’d do it all again.

From the beginning of the end of their relationship, the pair tried to lessen the impact on the kids. They took separate bedrooms in the same house for more than a year; eventually, England moved out — but to a house only two blocks away. Goodrich, a bartender, would pick the kids up from school and get them start-ed on their homework. When England would get home from work, she’d take the kids for dinner and bedtime, then drop them off at school in the morning. Both moms would attend school events, karate, the kids' plays. They worked out a schedule. They worked together. “We’re no different than heterosexual couples that separate,” Goodrich says. Which is to say, it wasn’t always easy.

Communication, consistency and counseling: These are England and Go-odrich’s keys to keeping the peace. They swear by the professional help they get in weekly sessions, saying it taught them the importance of having similar rules and backing each other up on dis-ciplinary matters. No matter how frus-trated they may get with each other, they keep calm in front of the kids, knowing they can always duke it out in the coun-selor’s office later. “If you’re committed to your kids and their having a healthy life,” England says, “then you just have to work through it. We’ve seen the dif-ference the right approach makes, and it’s worth it.”

PhotograPhy Christopher smithDESERT COMPANION FAMILY DesertCompanion.Com48

Hole lotta

talent: Annick

Haczkiewicz

The kid’s goT TalenTThese prodigies are off to a fast start thanks to their natural gifts — and supportive parents

BALANCE people

Annick HaczkiewiczThis queen of the greens might be future golf royalty

thirteen-year-old Annick Haczkiewicz (hutch-kuh-veech) has a regular Friday night skins game that is

anything but regular: “I play with a bunch of older guys that are like 80 years old and stuff, and we play for money,” she says, and often enough, Haczkiewicz wins. The older fellows like to give each other the gears about losing to a small girl, but really you can’t blame ’em — Haczkiewicz has a 2 handicap and a killer short game.

She took up golf when she was only 8. The draw? The furry little bunnies that hopped about the course, and the chance to spend time with dad. Even-tually, she joined group classes at her favorite course, Angel Park. For a while she found herself a coach, Brandon Stooksbury, until he took a job in Geor-gia a year ago. Since then she’s been without a coach.

Now, it’s just her and dad again. They practice every day for 2 or 3 hours; then Haczkiewicz has league games on Thursdays and Fridays; and she plays tournaments, too. It’s a reg-imen that works for her. In March, as

one of the youngest in the 13-18-year-old division, Haczkiewicz won the PGA Southwest Nevada Ping Junior Series — for the second year in a row. She’s also qualified to play in the 2014 Callaway Junior World Golf Cham-pionship in San Diego. And last year, she placed fourth at the TaylorMade World Masters of Junior Golf.

Support system: “I’m not trying to be a coach, I’m just trying to be a prac-tice partner. We correct each other,” says her dad, Marek Haczkiewicz, who wants nothing more than for his daugh-ter to continue to enjoy the game. Both Marek and his wife Ursula were child

athletes — he a trampolinist in Poland and she a Canadian gymnast; they met on the Cirque du Soleil circuit — who’ve seen, up close, what happens when par-ents push their kids too hard. “My goal is just to keep her in love with the sport, so she doesn’t burn out — because it’s really a physical and mental game.”

The future’s so bright: Haczkiewicz has grander ambitions. “I really want to go to the 2015 Olympics in Rio. And I want to play in the LPGA.” Although, in the short term, the eighth-grader is hoping to join Palo Verde High School’s team, and maybe win a few more bucks from the old guys. — Chantal Corcoran


Jonah Jakin SchoenmannThere’s nothing abstract about this boy’s painting talent

art is freedom, baby! “Being a child,” 10-year-old painter Jonah Jakin Schoenmann says

with disarming candor, “I’m basically owned by my parents.” Who are sitting

there as he says it. He smiles. “When I’m painting is the one time no one can tell me what to do.” He shuts himself into his play room, turns on cartoons for in-spiration — “The Simpsons,” “Adventure Time” and “The Regular Show” being his favorites — and paints. No parents allowed! Oh, sometimes he’ll ask what they think of a piece. “They’ll say, ‘Good job! Don’t change it.’ I change it. I paint over it three or four times.” Only he knows when something is finally fin-ished and right.

The result of his process: surprising-ly lively, sophisticated abstract canvases, kinetic with molten colors from his car-

toon-infatuated palette. He may be a kid, but plenty of smart people don’t dismiss his work as kid stuff. If you visited the Art Odyssey at October’s Life is Beautiful Fes-tival — a motel repurposed with rooms of carefully selected art — you saw some of his pieces alongside those of far more es-tablished artists, including Chuck Close.

“I gotta tell you something,” Odyssey coor-dinator Patrick Duffy told the Las Vegas Sun at the time, “this Jonah has an incred-ible capture of color and composition. He just blows my freakin’ mind.”

Hands off: How would his mom, Kate Hausbeck Korgan, advise parents who want to help nurture and direct their kids’ talents? “I’d take the word ‘direct’ out of that sentence,” she says. She and her husband, Todd Korgan, a director of commercial videos, know better than to smother Jonah. They’re not all, Time to paint, son! “I’ve seen so many stage moms ruin their child’s talent by forcing it, pres-suring them to do well,” he says. “We’re the exact opposite of that,” adds Kate, in-

terim dean of UNLV's Graduate College. Their policy of noninterference gives Jo-nah the mental elbow room he needs.

The family does maintain a creative household — nonstandard wall colors, art hanging prominently — and makes his art a priority. If he’s invited to do some-thing with his artwork, and he wants to,

“We make that happen,” she says — can-celing plans, whatever it takes.

The future is a blank canvas: Though it made him nervous to imagine thousands of Life is Beautiful attendees seeing — and judging — his work (“Ooh yes, oh, oh yes, I thought a lot about that. What if people don’t like it?”) he enjoyed the experience. He met a lot of peo-ple, heard good things: “I was speech-less,” Jonah says. “I still am speechless

— surprised that so many people liked a 10-year-old’s art.” Maybe it’ll become a career. Who knows? “I can’t really tell what the future holds,” he says. “But I know I’ll always paint.”

— Scott Dickensheets

Painter of

promise:

Jonah Jakin

Schoenmann

BALANCE people


Bryce Beckman Of this second-grader’s many occupations, math comes the most naturally

at 7 years old, your average kid is still mastering addition and subtraction. Bryce Beckman

isn’t your average kid. He has complet-ed all the math challenges given him by Candace Makowski, his teacher at Mabel Hoggard Math and Science Mag-net School, and is whizzing through advanced math, including fractions. Ask him why it’s his favorite subject, and he’ll reply, “Because it’s easy.” Then ask why he thinks that is: “I’ve been practicing.”

‘No tiger mom’: Valerie Chang and Gary Beckman expose their son to many activities, from swim team to cultural festivals, hikes to museums, so as not to pigeonhole him. Still, with Bryce scor-ing in the 97th percentile nationwide for math aptitude on last year’s standard-ized tests, they know they’re dealing with a special talent. He started at Ma-bel Hoggard already ahead of his peers, having taken classes at Talent Bilingual Education Academy, which stresses math, since the age of 3. And his parents reinforce his natural ability by giving him games such as Sum Dog to play, and by including Brain Quest in his bedtime reading. “Whatever he does, I tell him to try his best,” says Taiwan-born Chang.

“I’m no tiger mom. If he comes in last, but he tried his best, I tell him it’s okay.”

Future Bobby Fischer? Don’t be surprised to see Bryce Beckman’s face someday on the cover of Chess Life mag-azine. Since joining a kids’ chess club in October, he’s won first place in two weekly competitions. — Heidi Kyser

Kayla Quijano She found the cello — or did it find her?

When Kayla Quijano plays cello, she bows her head, caus-ing long, dark bangs to veil

half her face. Maybe she’s concealing the emotions she says she channels to bring compositions to life — something she does

remarkably well for a 12-year-old. “Music means everything to me,” she says, without an iota of drama. Her natural gift is appar-ent to Lindsey Springer, orchestra teacher at K.O. Knudson Middle School, but it’s Quijano’s dedication that earned her a spot as soloist for the orchestra’s festival com-petition, where it received a perfect score in March. The same month, she won the opportunity to play a solo in a concert by the Nevada Chamber Symphony.

Everything a miracle: When Rich-ard Quijano and ex-wife Charissa Ching, Kayla’s mom, encouraged their daughter to take up an instrument three years ago, they assumed it would be guitar, which they both play. But inspired by Japa-nese cellist-vocalist Kanon Wakeshima, whose music appears in the anime film

“Vampire Knight,” Kayla chose cello. “She was such an ill child that any time she’d get involved in something, it was like a

miracle to us,” her father says, referring to a severe respiratory illness that sent his newborn to the ER repeatedly during her first year of life. Private cello lessons at the Nevada School of the Arts led Kay-la to a seat in the Las Vegas Youth Orches-tra and enrollment at Knudson, a magnet school for the arts. And the music doesn’t end with the school day. The family oc-casionally jams together in the Quijano living room, where the bare floors and instrument set — scarcely a piece of tra-ditional furniture to be found — make it seem like a mini-concert venue.

Sharing the gift: Kayla (who now also plays guitar, ukulele and violin) hopes to someday teach music and perform outside school, as her teachers do now.

“Sometimes I think about not doing cel-lo anymore and trying different things,” she says, “and that makes me sad, be-cause cello is my life. It is.” — H.K

Music maker:

Kayla Quijano


BALANCE feature


The iPotty — I’m not making this up — is a toilet training seat that looks like a small school desk, on which an iPad replaces the desktop. Or there’s Fisher Price’s Apptivity

seat for newborns and toddlers — a baby bouncer with an iPad mount. It’s also a real thing. Both products are flying off the shelves as fast as any of the latest tech gadgetry for adults. This, despite the American Academy of Pediatrics recom-mendations that children 6-18 have only two hours of media a day; children 3-5, no more than an hour; and children under 2 should get no screen time at all.

It’s a wired world out there.AAP guidelines notwithstanding, the

fact remains that today’s children, aged 8 to 18, average more than seven hours

a day in front of their TVs, cell phones, computers and tablets. (This according to a 2010 Henry J. Kaiser Family Founda-tion study.) How bad is that for our kids?

Objective consensus can be hard to find. I asked six experts on the subject of kids, play and technology what all of this screen time is doing to our children, and they threw up their hands. Some made alarming references to the vast exper-iment we’re in the midst of. (While it’s true that every generation grows up in a world different than the last, the land-scape has never been quite as foreign as that of cyberspace.)

Parents are uncertain, too. In March, when Cris Rowan, a pediatric therapist and expert on the impact of technology on neurological development, published

on Huffington Post a list of “10 Rea-sons Why Handheld Devices Should Be Banned for Children Under the Age of 12” — reasons that included delayed de-velopment, epidemic obesity and radia-tion dangers — many parents agreed (it was shared 400,000 times on Facebook), but many others reacted with the wrath of Angry Birds.

The fact is, we like our tech. A lot. But what is living in this hyper-digital age doing to our kids? How is it shaping the way they behave, play and learn? Can we as parents really manage our kids’ gad-get time? For that matter, can we control our own media overuse for the good of our children?

NOBODY REALLY KNOWS

A confession: My son was among this seven-hour group — the kids who spend as much as seven hours a day

on their screens. I’d often wring my hands, while he remained parked in front of the big screen, racing cars, blowing things up, building worlds and chatting, while one hour rolled into the next. Like so many of today’s youth, he found friends online when he was heartbreakingly alone in the 3-D world. To limit this minimal so-cialization with other middle-school kids seemed wrong. It’s where kids hang out today, I surmised. I rationalized.

story by Chantal CorCoranillustration by Chris morrisAre we

CAndy Crushing our kids?

When it comes to kids and tech, no one knows how much is too much — but it’s clear all these screens are changing them

BALANCE feature

What do I know of parenting in this cyber-age, anyway?

Indeed, what does anyone know? Four days after Rowan’s call-to-ban went up on Huffington Post, Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a member of the executive committee of the AAP Council on Chil-dren and Media, published a somewhat different take in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Pediat-rics. In “Time to Rethink the American Academy of Pediatrics Guideline?,” he explains that research can’t possibly keep up with the speed of technological advancement. While he and his council peers continue to study the impact of new technologies on the development of children, it will be years before they have “robust data about their effects.”

However, he does plainly state that it is now his opinion — although not the official stance of the AAP — “that judi-cious use of interactive media is accept-able for children younger than the age of 2 years.”

Wait. What? Meanwhile, Dr. Victoria Dunckley, an

integrative child psychologist, has coined the term Electric Screen Syndrome (ESS) to describe a compilation of mood, cogni-tive and behavioral symptoms caused by too much screen time. “I don’t know at what point you can say it’s irrefutable, but the evidence is mounting that too much screen time is resulting in brain changes,” says Dunckley. She’s in Rowan’s camp; her screen time recommendations are stricter than even the AAP’s.

Then there’s Sue Cusack, an assistant professor in the educational technolo-gy department at Lesley University, to remind us of the many incredible bene-fits of this computer age. Cusack is the mother of a boy with severe cerebral pal-sy who, with the aid of computers, has been able to access both community and education. “If this was 40 years ago, he’d probably be warehoused in a sheltered workshop,” she says.

Cusack advocates for technology in schools; she maintains that computers allow for kids to be creatively expressive in new ways. Her concern for children

denied access to technology — “Many of the careers, many of our life needs will be technology-driven, and children who do not have more facile and seamless access will be forever disadvantaged” — equals the concerns expressed by Row-an and Dunckley for children who are too plugged in.

Still, the mother of three, Cusack con-cedes, “I know controlling screen time at home can be a challenge.”

The one thing the experts all agree on: Balance is imperative, and seven hours is too much.

CHANGING MINDS

Dunckley points to several studies in “Gray Matters: Too Much Screen Time Damages the Brain,” an arti-

cle she wrote for Psychology Today. Ac-cording to these studies (which Cusack cautions aren’t yet definitive) the brains of gaming addicts show: atrophy in the gray matter area which governs tasks like planning and critical thinking; com-promised integrity in the white matter which affects internal communication within the brain; impaired cognitive functioning; altered dopamine produc-tion; and impaired dopamine receptors — creating cravings for more gaming. When we spoke, Dunckley also noted that mel-atonin — which signals the brain to sleep

— is suppressed in the serious gamer’s brain, as well as serotonin, which affects mood and anxiety.

Her biggest concern is how such alter-ations might damage the brain of a child, which is still rapidly developing during those first 12 years.

“We can draw from other addiction studies. Like in teenagers with alcohol abuse, there are changes in the frontal lobe that are permanent because the frontal lobe is developing during these years. For screen time, I think one pos-itive thing is that there’s no actual toxin in the brain, like you have with drugs or alcohol. But it’s also a lot harder to be abstinent from technology, in our world.”

Some observable truths: Disorders like ADD, ADHD and OCD are so prevalent among children today that

we know them by their initials; and depression is growing so rampantly that the World Health Organization predicts it will overtake cardiovascu-lar disease as the primary disability of people as of 2016.

What Dunckley has discovered in her clinical practice is that many of the symptoms she associates with ESS mimic the symptoms of many common psychiatric disorders. So, before she diagnoses her young patients, she pre-scribes a three- to six-week screen fast.

“And generally, the child is in a better mood. They can pay attention. They can do their homework. They’re following directions. They’re sleeping better. Ev-erything across the board is better.”

Her theory about video gaming, or any prolonged stimulus-response screen time, is that it causes a stress response that shifts the activity in the brain from higher thinking centers to lower, more primitive centers. “So your brain is func-tioning in survival mode, which is fight or flight. You’re not thinking clearly. You’re just reacting from an instinctual defensive position. So it really mimics chronic stress,” says Dunckley.

And suddenly I recall my nephew, 12 years earlier, a 6-year-old rough-and-tumble boy who liked nothing more than to wrestle with the big kids. One day, they let him play video games, and after 30 minutes at the controls, he was red in the face and drenched in sweat, as if he’d been rough-housing for hours.

“Are you okay?” I had to ask several times before I caught his attention.

“Ya, ya.” His little voice batted me away.

I recognized then that he was totally stressed out and I knew, instinctively, that the frenzied state he was in was un-healthy — but I felt powerless to stop it. Technology had arrived in the world’s playroom. What could I do to stop it?

DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO

Eight years ago, before I owned an iPhone, I was out to dinner with my family. At the next table was a father

and his daughter. She was maybe 4, in



a pretty dress, and ribbons in her hair. While she ate her meal and chatted en-thusiastically, her father nodded — but mostly he thumbed the screen of his Blackberry. Once she’d graduated to ice cream, he turned toward the window, and the conversation pressed at his ear, and I watched as she grew more and more desperate for his attention. Her an-imated chatter escalated to singing and dancing, between the tables then up on her chair; she took long licks of the win-dow he stared out of; tugged at his sleeve; then cried for the jerky shrug of his arm, his pointing finger, his glaring eye; until, spent, she laid herself to rest on the car-pet beneath the table.

“When you are out with our children,” I raised my finger to my own device-tot-ing husband, “I expect that you are car-ing for them and tending to them, not to your little toy.” I was furious! And I was forecasting.

Flash forward to January 2014 when, according to the Pew Research Inter-net Project, 90 percent of American adults carry cell phones; 58 percent have smartphones; and 42 percent own tablets, and suddenly that same scene is playing out in restaurants and living rooms across the country. Flash forward and even I have shushed my children to catch up on my latest emails or the Face-book posts of people I didn’t even like in high school.

A recent Boston Medical Center study of the impact of smartphones on the parent-child relationship, describes children physically raising their parents’ faces to get their attention, and parents kicking kids under the table for inter-rupting screen time. As a result of her findings, BMC’s Dr. Jenny Radesky is working with the AAP to create guide-lines for smartphone usage in front of children.

But, considering consumer demands for iPotties and Apptivity seats, do AAP suggestions really matter?

According to a 2013 national study by the Center on Media and Human De-velopment at Northwestern University, almost 40 percent of American adults

spend as much as 11 hours a day on their screens. A 2011 Telenav survey indicates that 40 percent of iPhone users would rather give up their toothbrushes than their phones.

Rowan suspects that the parents an-gered by her Huff-Po call-to-ban either assumed she was rejecting technology overall for children, and not just the handheld devices; or they felt accused of being overusers of tech.

“Parents set the pace for tech use. It’s never a kid issue when we’re looking at tech overuse. It’s a family endemic is-sue,” says Rowan. She suggests that par-ents are assuaging their guilt about their own addictions “by putting kids on it.”

Perhaps — but, as a bonus, there’s certainly less of that maddening sleeve-yanking and face-raising. Sure-ly, if the young ribbon-haired girl had had her own iPad, the scene would have played out altogether differently — there would have been no window-licking, no dancing, either.

GAME CHANGERS

But, for the young child, dancing and even window-licking are enriching experiences, learning opportunities.

Dr. Nancy Carlsson-Paige, a Lesley University professor emerita and an-other expert on the impact of media on children, reminds us in a Washington Post article that decades of research confirm that kids learn through direct play and hands-on experiences. “They need to manipulate objects physically, engage all their senses, and move and interact with the 3-dimensional world. This is what maximizes their learn-ing and brain development. A lot of the time children spend with screens takes away time from the activities we know they need for optimal growth,” she says.

It’s simple math: If children are sleeping for nine hours; in school for six; then on video games for as many as seven, that leaves precious little time for hands-on play in the physical world. If those remaining hours are reserved for homework, piano lessons or soccer

practice, creative playtime could be lost altogether.

Even without technology, children have exceedingly less free-play time than they used to. Classrooms are more structured; recesses are fewer and shorter; and even on the home front, parents stress homework and organized activities more than in previous eras.

Furthermore, as The Atlantic recent-ly reported in “The Overprotected Kid,” our preoccupations with safety have robbed our children of the sort of ex-ploratory, independent and widely imag-inative play that we reveled in as young-sters. Hanna Rosin, who authored the piece, blames sensationalism in media and a sue-happy culture for the fear that inspired Generation X to always keep Generation Y within arm’s reach and, consequently, often indoors — where the outlets happen to be.

While Rosin doesn’t much mention toys, it can’t be denied the multibillion dollar toy industry has had a major im-pact on the way kids play today. My moth-er-in-law fondly remembers attaching bobby pins together to create tiny, skirt-ed dolls she would dance across the floor. I spent hours designing homes for Barbie: album covers made walls and ceilings; a stack of paperbacks, a bed. But to enter-tain my daughter: a plastic castle for Dora and interactive furniture to fill it.

But was she really entertained? Now that I think about it, Dora’s castle never saw much play. My daughter certainly didn’t spend the time with it that I spent repurposing household objects for Bar-bie’s use.

“Play that’s scripted by toys, by me-dia characters or by the expectations of parents and other adults, means that the self-organized free play of children is pretty much non-existent,” says Dr. Stuart Brown, founder of the National Institute for Play and an expert on play’s history, adding that this scripted play

“focuses the attention of the kid away from their own imaginative side and into being repetitive and kind of linear.”

What of programmed screen play, then, which is for the most part repeti-

56

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feature

tive and generally, although not always, linear? As with all questions about tech-nology, as pertains to its effect on chil-dren, the evidence is inconclusive. One 2011 Michigan State University study of 12-year-olds found that the more chil-dren engaged with video games, the more creative they were in writing and drawing. Another similar study at the College of William and Mary found cre-ativity in 300,000 children and adults had been steadily rising until 1990, when it suddenly took a downturn — technolo-gy is thought to be at the root of this.

It seems that for every study that con-siders kids and technology, there is an-other to dispute its findings. Like Chris-takis writes: “It will be years before we have robust data.”

In my home, despite plenty — too much even — screen time, there seems to be no lack of imagination. When my

daughter isn’t playing Flappy Bird or watching television, she’s teaching to a whole class of imaginary kids in her bed-room. My son writes scripts and uses his high-tech video camera to make movies in which the family stars. My teenage girl creates old school: poetry in ink.

SOCIAL ISSUES

But what I have noticed is that too much screen time seems to stunt children, socially. Brown of the Na-

tional Play Institute confirms that the era of the pickup game is virtually gone and, with it, the naturally occurring play set-tings inherent to all previous generations

— where children of mixed ages came together to govern in-game; where they learned complicated social skills funda-mental to survival.

“The effects of that are huge,” says Brown, “in that within those naturally

occurring play settings (are) the roots of empathy, the nuanced ability to sort of know what your own skills are, the ca-pacity to deal with being excluded and then included.”

These settings in which previous gen-erations have learned how to behave in groups; in which we measured our-selves against our peers, also helped us to know ourselves.

Self-identity is a tricky enough busi-ness in the tween and teen years, and from what I’ve witnessed in my own family, it becomes even more difficult when screen time prevents kids from interacting with each other in the physical world.

It’s easy to see how the problem is com-pounded when technology maims fam-ily interaction, when children begin to recognize that screens take precedence to them. Not only will this cripple their


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self-esteem, but it teaches them to place considerable value on their own screens.

MODELING GOOD TECHNOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR

The fact is that while they proceed with their studies and while they rally for their opposing causes, the

experts agree more than they disagree, and they all say too much screen time is damaging to a child’s growth and de-velopment. They all say it’s imperative to balance screen time with other phys-ical, creative and outdoor activities for optimal physical, mental and emotional health.

How, then, to manage our kids’ tech-nology use in this hyper-digital age? Tech-free family meals, tech-free peri-ods and tech-free zones in the home are a good start. Getting outside, away from the outlets, is another fine idea.

But what about the lot of us who are ourselves addicted to our own devices?

I’m reminded of those parents in the seventies who tucked lit cigarettes be-hind their backs and blew smoke from the side of their mouths to preach to us the dangers of nicotine. We know that

“Do as I say, not as I do” parenting meth-odologies don’t work.

Like the smoking parents of our youth, we need to kick our own hab-its, first, in order to model good screen behavior — and better screen etiquette, for that matter.

In her forthcoming book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed, Jessica Lahey, who writes for The Atlan-tic and The New York Times on parent-ing and education, promotes self-regula-tion in children. In this digital age, it’s a skill that’s as important as ever.

But even Lahey admits that, where video games are concerned, things get challenging because the programs are designed to perpetuate play, there are no built-in stopping places. She advises setting clear expectations and teach-ing children to self-regulate through those expectations, as opposed to hov-ering and nagging, “Because nagging is sort of the enemy of self-regulation,” she says. In her home, when her boys use more than their allotted tech time, they lose the following day’s screen privileges.

Approaching the end of the New Hampshire winter — which is as long as a Nevada summer — Lahey confesses that it’s been hard to find things to do besides Minecraft but, she says, that’s a part of figuring out how to entertain themselves, without the screen. “That’s part of using their imaginations.”

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fam 14

Learn, grow and pLay with this FamiLy resource guide

60 DESERT COMPANION FAMILY deSertcoMpanion.coM

THE GUIDE

Nevada’s only 3-D mini-golf, laser tag and

arcade. The 18-hole course takes guests on a

glow-in-the-dark 3-D journey through space,

down Route 66, under the sea, through a

volcano and more. Featuring flashing lights,

sirens and fog, the 2,000-square-foot laser

tag arena can accommodate up to 11 players

at a time. The arcade features numerous

redemption prize games, as well as driving

skills and shooting combat games. 2 p.m.-10

p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 2 p.m.-11 p.m. Fri.; 10 a.m.-11

p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun.; $3-$30 plus

$1.50 glasses rental for mini golf; $4-$7 for

laser tag; $24.99 unlimited play; specials

available weeknights.

ART/CULTURE/EDUCATION

National Atomic Testing Museum 755 e. fLaMingo road, LaS vegaS,

702-794-5151; nationalatomictesting-museum.orgThe National Atomic Testing Museum

features one of the most comprehensive

collections of nuclear history that includes

a wide variety of materials and more than

12,000 unique artifacts relating to atomic

testing, the Nevada Test Site, the Cold

War, and nuclear and radiological science

and technology. The current display

includes thousands of rare photographs,

videos, artifacts, scientific and nucle-

ar reports and data, and one-of-a-kind

scientist collections, as well as the “Area

51— Myth or Reality” exhibit. 10 a.m.-5

p.m. Mon.-Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.; free-$20.

Children under 17 must be accompanied by

an adult.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art BeLLagio hoteL-caSino, 3600 LaS ve-

gaS BLvd. S., LaS vegaS, 702-693-7871;

bellagio.com/attractions/gallery-of-fine-art.aspxThis fine art gallery features rotating world-

class art and objects exhibitions that include

paintings, sculptures, ceramics and more

created by renowned artists ranging from

Picasso to Warhol. The artworks showcased

are drawn from prestigious internationally

known museums and private collections.

An audio tour of the gallery is included in

the price of admission. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily;

$13 for Nevada residents; $11 for students,

teachers, military; free for ages 12 and

younger. Locals night 5-7 p.m. Wed., $8

with Nevada ID. Annual memberships

available.

Bodies ... The ExhibitionLuxor hoteL-caSino, 3900 LaS vegaS

BLvd. S., LaS vegaS, 702-492-3960; lux-or.com/entertainment/bodies.aspxViewed around the world by more than 15

million people, this one-of-a-kind exhibit fea-

tures nine rooms, each dedicated to different

functions of the human body, including the

circulatory, digestive, muscular, nervous and

respiratory systems. Displays showcase 13

preserved whole-body specimens and more

than 260 organs and parts. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

daily; $29 for locals with valid ID; free for

children age 3 and younger.

Clark County Museum 1830 S. BouLder highWay, henderSon,

702-455-7955; clarkcountynv.gov/depts/parks/pages/clark-coun-ty-museum.aspxLocated on this 30-acre site is a unique

collection of historic homes that re-cre-

ates the daily lifestyle of the decade in

which each was built, the Ghost Town and

Mining Trail, and a contemporary pueb-

lo-style exhibit hall that presents a time

line of Southern Nevada from prehistoric

to modern times. The exhibit hall also

features changing art and artifacts, as well

as special-themed displays. 9 a.m.- 4:30

p.m. daily; $1-$2. Museum memberships

available.

The Discovery Children’s Museum 833 LaS vegaS BLvd. n.,

LaS vegaS, 702-382-3445;

discoverykidslv.orgThis nonprofit museum inspires kids to

want to learn and consists of nine ongoing

hands-on exhibits that feature interactive

science, sliding and climbing structures,

creative play, green living, design and

engineering challenges, role-playing and

problem-solving, a sensory area, educa-

tional water play, the art of investigation,

the elements of art and health education.

Also on display is a traveling featured

exhibit. General hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues.-

Fri.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; noon-5 p.m. Sun.;

Summer hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat.;

noon-5 p.m. Sun.; $12 or free to members,

children younger than 1 year old and adults

100+. Children younger than age 13 must be

accompanied by an adult.

Las Vegas Natural History Museum 900 LaS vegaS BLvd. n., LaS vegaS,

702-384-3466; lvnhm.orgWith nine permanent interactive exhibits,

as well as traveling exhibits, this private

nonprofit institution is dedicated to

educating the community in the natural

sciences, such as wildlife, ecosystems

and various cultures. Permanent exhibits

include dinosaurs, Egyptian treasures, wild

mammals, African jungle animals and pre-

historic primates, Mojave Desert plants and

animals, marine life and terrestrial animals,

a young scientist center with computers

and microscopes, and geological natural

resources and minerals. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily;

free-$10. Membership program available.

Barrick Museum univerSity of nevada, LaS vegaS

caMpuS, 4505 S. MaryLand parkWay,

LaS vegaS, 702-895-3381; unlv.edu/barrickmuseum/about-the-barrickThe museum’s goal is to provide an engaging

space consisting of works of art and cultural

objects that represent past and present

cultures, as well as artistic creativity, that can

be experienced directly by guests in an effort

to promote the understanding of art as an en-

during human endeavor. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-

Wed. and Fri.; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thurs.; noon-5

p.m. Sat.; free; suggested voluntary contribu-

tion: $5 adults; $2 children and seniors.

Nevada State Museum SpringS preServe, 309 S. vaLLey

vieW BLvd., LaS vegaS, 702-486-5205;

springspreserve.org/attractions/nsm.htmlFocusing on the prehistory, history and

natural history of Nevada, this two-level,

70,000-square-foot museum features a

13,000-square-foot permanent exhibit

gallery that informs visitors about the state’s

geology, early flora and fauna, Native Amer-

icans and first settlers, mining and railroad

histories, the Hoover Dam, the atomic era

and more. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thurs.-Mon.; admis-

sion included with paid general admission

to Springs Preserve, $10.95-18.95; free for

Preserve members.

ENTERTAINMENT/ATTRACTIONS

The Adventuredome circuS circuS hoteL-caSino, 2880

LaS vegaS BLvd. S., LaS vegaS, 702-

794-3939; adventuredome.comAmerica’s largest indoor theme park at 5

acres offers visitors both thrill and tradi-

tional carnival rides that include two coast-

ers, eight premium, two large, three junior

and four family rides. And it keeps the

fun going with seven featured attractions

where guests can enjoy rock climbing,

bungee jumping, miniature golf, midway

and video arcade games, clown shows,

bowling or navigating a maze of lasers. 10

a.m.-9 p.m. Sun.; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.;

10 a.m.-midnight Fri.-Sat. (hours may vary);

$5-$10 per ride; $29.95 adults and $16.95

kids 33 to 47 inches tall, free for children

under 33 inches for all-day pass; $2 dis-

count Mon.-Fri. with valid Nevada ID.

Bonnie Springs Ranch oLd nevada, 16395 Bonnie SpringS

road, LaS vegaS, 702-875-4191;

bonniesprings.comOriginally a stopover for wagon trains

heading to California down the Old Span-


ish Trail, Bonnie Springs now features a

replica of an authentic 1880’s mining town

where live performances, a hanging and

gunfight reenactments take place in the

street; a petting zoo; horseback riding,

pony rides and a train ride; motel and

full-service restaurant and bar. 10:30 a.m.-

5 p.m. daily; $7-$10.

Dolphin Habitat Mirage hoteL-caSino, 3400 LaS

vegaS BLvd. S., LaS vegaS, 702-791-

7188; miragehabitat.comThis 2.5-million-gallon habitat containing

four connected pools and an artificial coral

reef system is home to a family of Atlantic

bottlenose dolphins. Both an educational

and research facility, visitors can observe

these magnificent creatures in a naturalis-

tic environment above and below ground

and participate in two special programs

— Painting With the Dolphins and Trainer

for a Day. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekdays; 10

a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekends (hours may vary);

$16.95 local adults; $11.95 local children

ages 4-12; free for children age 3 and

younger. Annual passes also available.

Ethel M Chocolates & Cactus Garden 2 cactuS garden drive, henderSon,

702-435-2608; ethelm.comNot only can visitors take a self-guided

Ethel M factory tour, learn about making

chocolates and get a free taste sample,

they can step outside the factory and ex-

plore the Botanical Cactus Garden, touted

as Nevada’s largest and one of the world’s

largest collections of its kind. The garden

features 4 acres and more than 300 spe-

cies of plants, including drought-tolerant

ornamentals, cactuses and other succu-

lents. And be sure to stop back around

Christmastime for the garden’s annual

holiday lighting — absolutely spectacular!

8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; free and

open to public.

The Lion Habitat Ranch 382 Bruner ave., henderSon, 702-595-

6666; lionhabitatranch.comAn accredited facility by the Zoological

Association of America, this is home to the

lions that previously were at the MGM Lion

Habitat attraction on the Las Vegas Strip. At

the ranch, the public can get a private tour;

interact with new cubs; participate in a three-

to four-hour Trainer for a Day program in

which guests are instructed in such lion care

activities as preparing daily food, cleaning

a cage, feeding, watering and bathing; or

book a Feast with Beast catered lunch or

dinner for up to 10 people where they will

be surrounded by lions watching their every

move. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Fri.-Mon.; $20 per adult

and one child; $10 extra child younger than

age 14; $50 for Mom, Dad and kids.

Siegfried & Roy’s Secret GardenMirage hoteL-caSino, 3400 LaS ve-


miragehabitat.com/pages/garden_main.aspLegendary magicians Siegfried Fischbacher

and Roy Horn have worked for years to help

save endangered animals, primarily white

tigers and lions. Modeled after these animals’

natural habitat, this open-air tropical environ-

ment that the duo created as part of their

conservation effort is filled with palm trees,

lush foliage and simulated mountain terrain

and is also home to black panthers, golden

tigers and leopards. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. week-

days; 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekends (hours may

vary); $16.95 local adults; $11.95 local children

ages 4-12; free for children age 3 and younger.

Annual passes also available.

Shark Reef AquariumMandaLay Bay, 3950 LaS vegaS

BLvd. S., LaS vegaS, 702-632-4555;

sharkreef.comA definite standout, this aquarium immerses

visitors in a unique, total sensory experience

where they’ll have close-up encounters with

dangerous underwater predators and unusu-

al aquatic creatures from the world’s tropical

waters. It features an amazing 1.3-million-gal-

lon shipwreck that allows for an almost

360-degree view of various kinds of sharks

and colorful fish through an acrylic tunnel, 14

exhibits, a Touch Pool and more than 2,000

animals, many of which are rare. 10 a.m.-8

p.m. Sun.-Thurs.; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.;

Summer hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily; Nevada

Residents: $15 adults; $10 children ages 5-12;

free children age 4 and younger. Packages

and annual passes available.

Springs Preserve 333 S. vaLLey vieW BLvd., LaS vegaS,

702-822-7700; springspreserve.orgAt 180 acres, families have plenty of room

to explore and learn about the history of

the Las Vegas Valley. The Preserve features

110 acres of display and natural gardens

with more than 1,200 species of native and

nonnative desert-adapted plants; wildlife

habitats; walking and biking trails; museums

with interactive gallery displays, traveling

exhibits and a theater; animal shows and

activities; and family events. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

daily; Nevada Residents: $9.95 adult; $4.95

ages 5-17; $8.95 students with ID, military

with ID and ages 65+.

The Planetarium coLLege of Southern nevada,

3200 e. cheyenne ave., north LaS vegaS,

702-651-4138; csn.edu/planetariumSouthern Nevada’s only public planetarium

presents programs to the public and local

schools utilizing a high-definition hemi-

spheric video projection that creates virtual

realities on a domed screen above the audi-

ence. As an added bonus, after the 8 o’clock

showing, the telescopes at the Student

Observatory are open for viewing when the

weather is clear. 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Fri.; 3:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sat.;

no late seating. General: $6; Discount: $4

seniors 55+, children younger than 12 years

and CSN students.

Vegas Indoor Skydiving 200 convention center drive, LaS

vegaS, 702-731-4768; vegasindoorskydiving.comAmerica’s first indoor skydiving facility,

complete with a vertical wind tunnel, mesh

trampoline floor and foam-padded walls, here

guests can experience bodyflight and the free

fall sensation during a simulated skydiving

session. All participants attend a brief training

class before suiting up for their flight. 9:45

a.m.-5 p.m. daily; $75 first-time single flight;

$40 second flight, same day; $350 for 15-min-

ute block with two to five flyers; $200 book

of five flights for one person. No age limit but

weight guidelines apply. Participants younger

than 18 years old must fly with an adult.

Wet ’n’ Wild 7055 S. fort apache road, LaS vegaS,

702-979-1600; wetnwildlasvegas.comThis 33.5-acre water-themed amusement

park offers more than 25 adrenaline-pumping

water slides, but for those who desire a milder

form of excitement, it also features a winding

river, interactive fun zones, nine slides and

a wave pool. Amenities include shower and

changing facilities, lockers, cabana rentals and

tube rentals. Dive ’n’ Movie program offers a

unique outdoor movie-viewing experience

shortly after sundown every other Friday.

Opens for season on April 12, 10 a.m.-closing

times vary (6 p.m.-10 p.m.); $39.99 adults;

$29.99 children under 42 inches tall and se-

niors; free for children 2 years and younger.

PARENTINg RESOURCES

The Alexander Dawson School Summer Camp10845 W. deSert inn road, LaS vegaS,

702-253-2802; bgchevents.org/dawsonThe Alexander Dawson School, in partner-

ship with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern

Nevada, runs an affordable pay-as-you-go

summer camp program for children in kin-

dergarten through eighth grade. Open to the

public, the camp utilizes more than 15,000

square feet of indoor space, including the

gymnasium, a large game room, cultural arts

center, acting lab, science center and dining

hall, as well as multiple outdoor fields and

playgrounds. Campers also receive a healthy

lunch and afternoon snack daily that are

included in the weekly registration fee. June

9-Aug. 15, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.


The Children’s Free Clinic of Southern Nevada 1140 aLMond tree Lane, LaS vegaS,

702-826-2300; cfcsnv.org In partnership with the nonprofit organiza-

tion Children’s Medical Assistance Inc., which

gives uninsured and underinsured children the

opportunity to receive the same medical care

as the more fortunate through community and

professional partnerships, this is the first and

only completely free pediatric clinic in Nevada.

The clinic offers immunizations and medical

services for children up to 18, as well as a free

prescription drug program. No appointments

are necessary and walk-ins are welcome. 8:30

a.m.-noon Mon.-Fri. (hours may vary); free.

Children’s Medical Assistance Inc. 1930 viLLage center circLe, Suite

3-411, LaS vegaS, 702-823-4954;

childrensmedicalassistance.org A nonprofit organization dedicated to giving

uninsured and underinsured children the op-

portunity to receive the same medical care

as the more fortunate through community

and professional partnerships, such as The

Children’s Free Clinic of Southern Nevada.

Other partnerships provide immunizations,

children’s mental health services, free health

school-based clinics for Clark County School

District students and more.

Head Start 702-387-0179 for aLL LocationS;

nvhsa.net/counties/clark.shtmlThis federal government-created and

-funded program helps lower-income chil-

dren up to 5 years of age and their families

gain access to various social services and

development programs, such as education-

al programs, free medical and dental care,

and overall child development assistance.

Parents may be able to receive assistance

through the program to gain long-term

self-sufficiency in terms of finding a job or

other social services.

Helping Kids Clinic 968 e. Sahara ave., LaS vegaS, 702-

732-7001; helpingkidsclinic.orgTreating about 10,000 kids up to age 18

annually, this private 501(c)3 nonprofit orga-

nization’s goal is to provide affordable med-

ical services to underserved and uninsured

children in the Las Vegas area who cannot

afford health care. The clinic is staffed with

three to six medical doctors and advanced

practice registered nurses who offer such

medical services as immunizations, wellness

checks, daycare, sport and camp physi-

cals, Denver screening, minor illness care,

newborn screenings and TB tests. Bilingual

specialists are available. Call to schedule an

appointment Mon.-Fri.; $10 donation to cover

office visit, though no child will be turned

away for family’s inability to pay.

HopeLink of Southern Nevada 178 WeStMinSter Way, henderSon,

702-566-0576; link2hope.orgThe mission of this Family Resource Cen-

ters program, which is funded by a grant

from the Nevada Department of Health

and Human Services, is “to build a better

community by preventing homelessness,

keeping families intact, and promoting

self-sufficiency.” Since its beginnings,

the organization has made such nota-

ble contributions as distributing school

supplies, backpacks, clothing and books to

schoolchildren; assisting families with rent

and utilities; establishing a literacy program

that is held in 12 at-risk elementary schools;

providing food, bus passes and parent-

ing and life skills classes, and parental

resources; assistance with job searches and

interviews. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.

Nevada Department of Health & Human Services MuLtipLe LocationS; 702-486-1001;

dwss.nv.govOffers numerous agencies and family

resources to assist with child support

enforcement, child care and development,

professional development, energy, food,

financial and medical assistance to

Nevada families, the disabled and elderly.

8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.

The Nevada Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC)MuLtipLe LocationS; 702-220-6096;

nevadawic.orgFor more than 40 years, this federally

funded short-term special supplemental

nutrition program has been providing

free nutritious foods, nutrition education,

breastfeeding support, and health and

social services referrals to pregnant, post-

partum and breastfeeding women, infants

and children younger than 5 years of age

who are at nutrition risk and meet income

eligibility requirements. 7:30 a.m.-noon, 1

p.m.-4:30 p.m. for all locations except Cam-

bridge (8 a.m.-noon, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.); free.

Social Services DepartmentcLark county 3885 S. MaryLand

parkWay, LaS vegaS; 1600 pinto Lane,

LaS vegaS; 2432 n. Martin Luther

king BLvd., Suite d,north LaS vegaS;

522 e. Lake Mead BLvd., Suite 4, hen-

derSon; 702-455-4270 nuMBer for aLL

office LocationS; clarkcountynv.gov/depts/social_serviceProvides a variety of assistance ser-

vices and aid — emergency crisis and

financial, medical, child care, protective

services for seniors, help with rent and

utility bills, food, transportation, debt

and foreclosure, legal aid, cremation and

burial and more — for needy residents of

Clark County and Las Vegas who aren’t

assisted by other federal, state or local

government assistance programs. Offices

open 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Southern Nevada Health District Immunization Program SNHD Main Facility330 S. vaLLey vieW BLvd; 702-759-0850;

SouthernnevadaheaLthdiStrict.org/immunizations/clinic-locations.phpThe SNHD provides adolescent, back-

to-school, flu, immunizations and travel

vaccine clinics. For children under 18 years

of age, written consent must be provided

to the health district from a parent or legal

guardian at the time of service. SNHD: 8

a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; East Las Vegas:

9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; Henderson: 9

a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; NLV: 8 a.m.-4:30

p.m. Mon.-Fri. Cost varies based on type of

immunization; in addition to vaccine costs,

an administrative fee of $16 per child for one

vaccine and $25 per child for two or more

vaccines is charged.

SPORTS/RECREATION

Black Mountain Recreation Center/Aquatic Complex 599 greenWay road, 702-267-4070,

henderSon; cityofhenderson.comOffering a wide selection of programming

and special events, this 41,000-square-foot

center is designed for all ages. It features a

fitness center, gymnasium, indoor cycling

area, racquetball and wallyball courts,

tennis courts, an adjacent seasonal aquatic

complex with an outdoor pool, Kids Corner,

game room, classes and meeting rooms,

a multiuse room and a covered patio. The

aquatic complex offers interactive water ap-

paratus, a raindrop waterfall and three-loop

slide. Center: 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9 a.m.-5

p.m. Sat.; and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sun.; Pool: 11 a.m.-

6 p.m. daily Memorial Day weekend through

Labor Day. Call for admission pricing.

Desert Breeze Aquatic Facility8275 Spring Mountain road, LaS ve-

gaS, 702-455-7798; clarkcountynv.gov The facility features an indoor pool with lap

swim and family swim hours, as well as a

seasonal outdoor water park that provides

a shallow water beach entry, play structure

and two water slides designed for those

48 inches and taller. Lap Swim: 5:30 a.m.-8

p.m. Mon., Wed. and Fri.; 5:30 a.m.-10 a.m.,

3 p.m.-9 p.m. Tues. and Thurs.; 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sat.; Family Swim: noon-4 p.m. Mon., Wed.,

Fri. and Sat.; 8 p.m.-9 p.m. Tues. and Thurs.;

Outdoor: Opens May 26, call for hours.


Fit4Mom Stroller Strides Classes at toWn Square park 6605 LaS ve-


strollerstrides.net/lasvegasA fitness program for moms and their

babies, Stroller Strides classes offer moms

a total body workout while their babies

are engaged in songs and activities in their

stroller. The program features hourlong

classes that include a five minute warm-up,

45 minutes of power walking with intervals

of strength and body toning exercises

using tubing, the stroller and the environ-

ment. The class concludes with 10 minutes

of abs and stretching.Through July, 8:30

a.m.-9:30 a.m. Mon., Wed. and Fri.; $18 per

class; $110 for 10 classes.

Helen Meyer Community Center 4525 neW foreSt drive, near fLaMin-

go and tenaya, LaS vegaS, 702-455-

7723; clarkcountynv.gov This center’s amenities include ball fields,

tennis courts, a recreation center, fitness

course, walking course, playground, spray

pool and picnic areas. The center also offers

a variety of classes and events, including

a 10-week Kindergarten Prep session, a

10-week Preschool Prep session and an

open recreation program, which is a free af-

ter-school program for 6 to 12 year olds that

provides homework time, sports, activities,

arts & crafts, field trips and socialization. 8

a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. Call for costs.

Henderson Multigener-ational Center/Aquatic Complex 250 S. green vaLLey parkWay,

henderSon, 702-267-5800;

cityofhenderson.comOne of the largest recreational facilities

in Nevada and the first facility of its kind

in Southern Nevada, this 84,120-square-

foot center features an aquatic complex,

including indoor and outdoor pools, a fit-

ness center, walking-jogging track, dance

and aerobics rooms, indoor cycling area,

indoor mulitsport area with basketball

court, rock climbing wall, Kids Corner, an

art gallery, teaching kitchen, adult lounge

with reading area and kitchenette and

a game room. 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9

a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sun.; Climb-

ing Wall: 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Mon., Wed. and Fri.

Call for admission pricing.

Silver Mesa Recreation Center & Pool 4025 aLLen Lane,

north LaS vegaS, 702-633-2550;

cityofnorthlasvegas.comThis 5-acre rec center provides numerous lei-

sure activities, educational opportunities and

athletic outlets, including a fully equipped

fitness facility with free weights, circuit and

cardiovascular machines, exercise classes, a

gymnasium, swimming pool with waterslide

and mushroom shower and shaded picnic

areas. The center also offers classrooms,

multipurpose rooms, and dance and art

studios for arts & crafts activities, guitar and

piano lessons, computer skills instruction and

more for all ages. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 9

a.m.-2 p.m. Sat.

SkyView Multi-Generational Center 3050 e. centenniaL parkWay,

north LaS vegaS, 702-522-7500;

lasvegasymca.orgSet amongst the mountains, this nearly

40,000-square-foot facility is located in

the far north but is easily accessed from

the 215 Beltway. Featuring award-winning

programs from the YMCA, this new state-

of-the-art community center accommo-

dates all ages and fitness levels. It offers a

heated indoor lap pool with spacious deck

and lesson area; wellness center that hous-

es cardio equipment, circuit machines and

dumbbells; cycling studio; aerobics and

yoga studio; fully equipped locker rooms

with showers; kids’ gym; lounge areas with

free Wi-Fi; multipurpose rooms for public

use; and games such as Xbox, Kinect, air

hockey, billiards and foosball. Facility: 6

a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Fri.;

8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.; seasonal Sun.; Pool: 6

a.m.-noon and 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.;

8 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Sat.; seasonal Sun.; $40

individual annual program participant

membership; $55 family-immediate family

annual program participant membership;

financial assistance available.

Whitney Ranch Recreation Center and Aquatic Complex 575 gaLLeria drive, henderSon, 702-

267-5860; cityofhenderson.comLocated adjacent to the Whitney Ranch

Aquatic Complex, the 41,000-square-foot

center includes a fitness center, dance and

aerobics room, gymnasium, courts for rac-

quetball and wallyball, a Kids Corner, game

room, classrooms and meeting rooms

and a conference room. The state-of-the-

art aquatic complex offers two pools: an

outdoor activity pool featuring 25-yard

competition lanes, a shallow training area

and water play features that is open during

summer months and indoor pool that is

open year-round featuring a retractable

roof, 10 competitive lanes, a shallow water

instructional area and a wheelchair lift.

Center: 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 9 a.m.-5

p.m. Sat.; Indoor Pool: 5 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-

Fri.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.; an 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

Sun.; Outdoor Pool: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Me-

morial Day weekend-Labor Day weekend.

Call for admission pricing.

Walnut Recreation Center 3075 n. WaLnut road, LaS vegaS, 702-

455-8402; clarkcountynv.govThis northwest rec center features a water

park; fitness center; numerous recreation and

education classes, such as dance and cheer,

early childhood for kids and their parents,

exercise and fitness, martial arts and sports;

computer lab; game room; day camps;

community service program; free super-

vised open recreation program for ages

6-17; and party room. The facility also serves

the community through several programs,

including Back on Track, a gang intervention

program focusing on mentoring and case

management; free ESL classes sponsored

by College of Southern Nevada; Nevada

Early Intervention Service that helps identify

infants and toddlers who may be at-risk

or have developmental delays; Parenting

Project, which offers free parenting classes

like Nurturing Parents and Families; ABCs of

Parenting; Parent/Teen Solutions; and more.

7 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri.; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat.

Call for costs; discount program available.

PARKS/TRAILS

Craig Ranch Regional Park 628 W. craig road, north LaS vegaS,

nv, 702-633-2418

A 170-acre park that offers numerous ame-

nities — a skate park, a sports plaza featur-

ing two basketball, four sand volleyball, six

tennis courts and two youth baseball fields,

three dog parks, a garden plaza and memo-

rial tree grove, two ponds, two themed play-

grounds and a rock climbing area, a water

splash area, walking-biking-skating paths,

open space, barbecue grills and picnic shel-

ters — and connects the Las Vegas Valley

Regional Trail System. 6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

Sunset Regional Park 2601 e. SunSet road, LaS vegaS, 702-

455-8200; clarkcountynv.gov The crown jewel of Clark County parks with

an expansive 325 acres, Sunset features a

lake for fishing, more than 200 rare Mojave

Desert plant species and an abundance

of wildlife. It offers numerous urban park

amenities, such as tennis, volleyball and bas-

ketball courts, softball fields, disc golf and

fitness courses, interpretive walking-jogging

trails, a water play splash pad, playgrounds,

a remote-control boat facility, a dog park, an

amphitheater, shaded picnic areas, barbecue

grills and plenty of open space. The park

also hosts numerous special family events

throughout the year, and bicycle, sports and

fishing equipment rentals are available.

6 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.

viSit desertcompanion.com for More reSourceS for faMiLy, kidS and parenting.

Our graduates will be ready to achieve their individual potential, savor life and meet the challenges of the world. Experience AMAZING at AlexanderDawsonSchool.org, or call (702) 949-3600 for a personal tour.

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Desert Companion - 2014 Family Edition

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