Summer is right around the corner and it’s a great time to focus on our health! The weather is at its peak, the flowers are in bloom, and it’s exciting to get outside! However, with a busy life, it can be hard to prioritize your health. Here are some unique ideas to help get you motivated to focus on the your mental and physical health and that of your family.
1-MAKE THE TIME-Improve your mental health by simply taking the time to do the things you love
Utilize holidays like Father’s Day & 4th of July to take a break from work, spend time with your kids while they’re off from school, and get active. Make plans over these holiday weekends to get away from work or any hustle and bustle in your life and spend time recharging with your family. This break can help you all relax, bond, improve your mental health by simply taking the time to do the things you love. If you want to get some physical activity this weekend, go somewhere you can hike, swim, canoe, or even rollerblade around with beautiful scenery. If you only have time for a day trip, that’s okay too! Need some inspiration? Here’s a list of 101+ places to go with your kids in Toledo. The important thing is, is to take intentional time to bond as a family.
2-GET ADEQUATE SLEEP-Limit Screen Time! Too much blue light exposure can disrupt your sleep/wake cycle, causing difficulty falling asleep & deprivation.
Did you know that blue light can affect your vision? With cellphones, computers, and tablets becoming more and more prominent in our daily lives, we have to be more vigilant about screen time, especially for our kiddos. Artificial blue light, like that from digital screens and LED light bulbs can have detrimental effects on health and eyesight. Too much exposure to blue light can cause digital eye strain, which means your eyes become dry, itchy, and blurred. Blue light can disrupt your sleep/wake cycle, causing difficulty falling asleep and deprivation. This can be especially hard for children who have to wake up for school, camps, or sports and can begin to affect their focus, effort, and mental health. To help combat these effects, browse for new eyeglasses that have blue light filtering lenses for you and your children. These glasses can help block harmful blue light from reaching the eyes and affecting physical health. Try to be very proactive on limiting screen time before bed to reduce the effects on the sleep cycle. Luckily, now smartphones come equipped with night mode to remind us it’s time to wind down and stop looking at our screens to help us all get a good night’s rest.
3-BE ACTIVE!-Impromtu game of ball is great for your metal, physical & emotional health! July 15th-21st is National Youth Sports Week!
There are virtually endless benefits to children who play sports from a young age. Children can boost their physical health by playing an active sport, especially outdoors during the summer months. Not only are they bettering their strength, stamina, and coordination but their lung and heart health too! However, it’s especially important for kids to reap the mental and emotional benefits of playing a sport. Sports allow children to show leadership, companionship, and great communication skills with peers. It can also help with feeling included, confident, and worthy, which is amazing for a person’s self-esteem as they begin to age into adolescence.
Take time each month this summer to focus on your health and wellbeing, especially utilizing that time your children have off from school. Whether it’s your physical health, mental health, or bonding as a family – these are all equally important when it comes to caring for your overall wellbeing.
When summer heats up, Imagination Station is the place to be for cool science! Campers ages 8 – 13 will experience a week jam-packed with experiments, challenges and projects designed for exploration and discovery.
A LOT of BANG for your BUCK…Campers Receive
Daily instruction, 9am – 4:30pm*
2 snacks daily
Simulator Theatre ride
Camp T-shirt
Complimentary admission for immediate family on the last day of camp, 3 – 5pm
* Extended day available from 8am – 5:30pm at no additional cost
Registration Information
Imagination Station members: $175
Non-members: $200
Camps fill quickly, so don’t delay – save your spot today! Visit imaginationstationtoledo.org or call us at 419.244.2674 ext. 250 to speak with a Reservation Specialist.
CAMPS…
micro MOLECULES
They offer three totally different, but equally fun programs for kids ages 6 – 8. Attend one camp or sign up each week!
Pirate-ology
June 10 – 14 June 17 – 21 June 24 – 28
ARRRE you ready for an adventure? Come aboard and explore the science that allowed pirates to sail the seven seas. Bravely seek the treasure of the old salty sea dog, Captain Gizmo, and experiment with code-breaking, ship design, weather and navigation.
Super Splatter Science
July 8 – 12 July 15 – 19
Campers will learn about the world as they spew lava from a volcano, run through pools of oobleck, tie-dye t-shirts and shoot elephant’s toothpaste to the ceiling. It’s a week of ooey gooey fun and campers should be ready to get wet, sticky, dirty and messy!
Young MacGyver
July 22 – 26 July 29 – August 2 August 5 – 9
When the pressure is on, MacGyver will save the day with quick thinking and a pocketful of common items. Campers will construct grappling hooks, build flashlights and even learn to pick a lock. By the end of the week, they will have tinkered their way to earning an official Young MacGyver badge!
micro-MACRO Mashup
July 1 – 5
Super Splatter Magnified
One week only, micro MOLECULE and MACRO molecule campers meet together for some of the most-requested mess makers compounded into one science-stacked, massively messy and exceptionally exciting camp! Don’t delay – this camp will fill quickly!
MACRO molecules
Designed especially for older kids, MACRO molecules campers ages 9 -13 can choose from four science themes – or immerse themselves in a summer of science by attending them all!
Inside the Lab
June 10 – 14 June 17 – 21 June 24 – 28
Campers will get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to become an Extremes Scientist as they prepare and perform lab experiments, ignite bubbles and set off explosions! Each week ends with an Extreme Science demonstration led by campers.
Super Splatter 2.0
July 22 – 26 July 29 – August 2 August 5 – 9
This camp is ooey, gooey, messy and memorable. Campers will burst bubbles, experiment with eggs, create colorful messes and ignite eruptions. Come prepared to have a BLAST exploring the sticky, slimy and sloppy side of science!
Cardboard Creators
July 8 -12 July 15 -19
Creativity and collaboration are the name of the game at this camp designed to put engineering, planning, construction and communication skills to the test. Using cardboard and household tools, campers will work together to imagine, design and build the biggest, tallest and most extreme structures possible.
Imagination Station Camps: On Location
Can’t make it to downtown Toledo for camp? Register for an Imagination Station science camp hosted by Bowling Green State University or the University of Findlay.
Let’s Build
Bowling Green State University June 4 – 8
University of Findlay June 11 – 15
Using the powerful tools of imagination and creativity, campers will transform the everyday into something extraordinary. Construct space suits, vehicles, buildings and more – the possibilities are endless!
“So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!” -J. M. Barrie-
Finding Neverland at the Stranahan Theater, April 25-28
The winner of Broadway.com’s Audience Choice Award for Best Musical, this breathtaking smash “captures the kid at heart,” says TIME Magazine. Vogue cheers, “It’s a must-see you’ll remember for years to come!” Directed by visionary Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus and based on the critically-acclaimed Academy® Award-winning film, FINDING NEVERLAND tells the incredible story behind one of the world’s most beloved characters: Peter Pan. Playwright J.M. Barrie struggles to find inspiration until he meets four young brothers and their beautiful widowed mother. Spellbound by the boys’ enchanting make-believe adventures, he sets out to write a play that will astound London theatergoers. With a little bit of pixie dust and a lot of faith, Barrie takes this monumental leap, leaving his old world behind for Neverland, where nothing is impossible and the wonder of childhood lasts forever. The magic of Barrie’s classic tale springs spectacularly to life in this heartwarming theatrical event. FINDING NEVERLAND is “far and away the best musical of the year!” (NPR)
That family with the son who has cancer! The 2nd grader with epilepsy! The cystic fibrosis kid! Have you ever noticed how quickly a diagnosis comes to define a child and family? A family that was otherwise flying under the radar in your school, neighborhood, or community now becomes defined by their child’s diagnosis. And when a child becomes defined by a diagnosis, disease, illness, etc. their own identity, what makes them special and unique gets lost and when they lose that hope falls shortly behind. I’m not going to lie, going into the BIG WISH Gala I was one of “those” people, those people who would define a family by their tragedy, but by the end of the evening my heart and mindset changed entirely.
My metamorphosis began the moment we sat down. Seated at our table was Annabella, one of the Wish-Kids being recognized that evening, she was dressed like a little princess seated snug between her mom and dad. I couldn’t help but notice her star balloon attached to her chair and inquired about her wish.
Turns out her wish was granted and what an awesome wish it was, she and her family (even her 7 year old brother & 2 year old brother…who she got a break from at the Gala & got to have mom and dad all to herself for the evening) went on a Disney Cruise!! How cool is that?! I have never been and I had many questions for Annabella and her parents, which they all so graciously answered. I was also excited to learn that Annabella and her family are local, from NW Ohio…like just down the pike a few miles! (Make-a-Wish donations DO stay local) In the background I could hear Christina Williams, the Emcee getting the evening started.
The evening began with all the Wish Kids coming up to the stage, sharing their name, age, and wish…and just like that it all changed for me. Suddenly I didn’t see children who received diagnosis, of leukemia, brain cancer, etc. I saw children who received wishes and with those wishes, hope! How cool is that?
Make-a-Wish helps us all change our narrative! No longer is a child defined as, “that child with cystic fibrosis”, but rather, “that young author who had his book published” or “that 6th grader with brain cancer”, but, “that 6th grader who swam with sharks”….yup, true stories, those are wishes that were granted thanks to Make-a-Wish and thanks to ordinary people like you and me!
I arrived home that evening feeling rejuvenated & hopeful, apparently it’s contagious…and couldn’t wait to tell my husband all about Annabella, her family, and her wish. When I was done he asked, what was Annabella diagnosis? You know, it had never dawned on me to inquire…her narrative from me will always be an amazing little girl given the diagnosis of hope, via a Disney Cruise thanks to Make-a-Wish!
Please help change local children’s narratives today! No donation is too small; every dollar is greatly appreciated! Share & tag friends!
Click on link to learn more, donate, volunteer, and/or nominate a wish kids, https://oki.wish.org/
Congratulations, Julie Meissner, you are the winner of the family 4-pack tickets to Finding Neverland
“So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!” -J. M. Barrie-
Bring the whole family to experience Finding Neverland, the story of how Peter Pan came to be. Packed with mesmerizing visuals, irresistible songs and plenty of laughs.
Finding Neverland at the Stranahan Theater, April 25-28
“far and away the best musical of the year!” (NPR)
The winner of Broadway.com’s Audience Choice Award for Best Musical, this breathtaking smash “captures the kid at heart,” says TIME Magazine. Vogue cheers, “It’s a must-see you’ll remember for years to come!” Directed by visionary Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus and based on the critically-acclaimed Academy® Award-winning film, FINDING NEVERLAND tells the incredible story behind one of the world’s most beloved characters: Peter Pan. Playwright J.M. Barrie struggles to find inspiration until he meets four young brothers and their beautiful widowed mother. Spellbound by the boys’ enchanting make-believe adventures, he sets out to write a play that will astound London theatergoers. With a little bit of pixie dust and a lot of faith, Barrie takes this monumental leap, leaving his old world behind for Neverland, where nothing is impossible and the wonder of childhood lasts forever. The magic of Barrie’s classic tale springs spectacularly to life in this heartwarming theatrical event. FINDING NEVERLAND is “far and away the best musical of the year!” (NPR) (https://americantheatreguild.com/toledo/findingneverland/
Enter to win Finding Neverland Family 4-pack tickets for opening night performance, Thursday, April 25, 2019: 7:30 p.m.
HOW TO ENTER:
1-Share this post on Facebook
2- Comment on the BLOG with the answer to the following question: In Peter Pan, Nana is the children’s nurse, which is not unusual until you add the fact that she is a dog….what type of dog was she?
The struggle is real! So many options, so little time! These are legit filling up fast! The first American Girl Camp is already FULL! If you find a Camp your daughter/granddaughter/Goddaughter would enjoy sign up today because there is a good chance it will be filled up by tmrw.
In an effort to make this as user friendly as possible all the camp offerings are listed below and at the end of the post is a link for registration.
Best of luck! And remember to share/tag with friends who’s kiddos might also be interested so you can set up a carpool for camp.
The Art of Hand-lettering
Campers will learn the fundamentals of hand-lettering and calligraphy, and they will use letter forms and brush pens to create a beautiful project to display at home. Note: campers should know how to write in cursive. Space is limited to 12 campers.
Grades: 6-8 Fee: $60
Dates: June 5-6 Time: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
The Art of Paper
Spend a few days in the SUA art room learning the basics of making paper, printing on paper using linoleum block prints, and creating/decorating a sketchbook. Space is limited to 12 campers.
Grades: 4-7 Fee: $90
Dates: June 10-13 Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Campers in the Kitchen
Put on your chef’s hat and come to SUA’s culinary camp to try out your skills in the kitchen. A variety of recipes and food preparation techniques will be introduced. The best part will be sampling your work! Space is limited to 12 campers.
Grades: 4-7 Fee: $90
Dates: June 10-13 Time: 12:30-3:30 p.m.
SUA’s American Girl® Camp
Invite Kit, Blaire, or your favorite doll friend to join you at SUA’s American Girl® Camp. You and your 18” doll will participate in a variety of hands-on activities that foster confidence, manners, and creativity. On Thursday, invite a special adult to a fun gathering. Space is limited to 15 campers.
Grades: K-3 Fee: $90
Dates: June 10-13 Time: 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Click! Camp
Future photographers will love this digital photography camp! Not only will you take amazing pictures all around our beautiful campus, but you’ll also learn to edit and mount them to create one-of-a-kind, personal pieces of art. Space is limited to 12 campers.
Grades: 5-8 Fee: $90
Dates: June 17-20 Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Harry Potter® Hijinks!
Find out if you’re a Gryffindor or Slytherin at SUA’s Harry Potter® camp! During the week, you will learn more about life at Hogwarts as we explore the foods, activities, and academics of Harry and his friends. Space is limited to 15 campers.
Grades: 4-6 Fee: $90
Dates: June 17-20 Time: 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Laffalot℠
Laffalot℠ summer camp is a high-energy, high-activity, fun-focused sports and activities program devoted to the physical, emotional, and social development of girls. Laffalot has a specifically designed girls-only format. The programs are created for any range of athletic ability, so no child is left behind in this all-inclusive program. The activities are designed for large muscle development, which improves balance and overall coordination, and is essential for children in setting a foundation for skill development later. Activities include Pillo Polo, flag tag, floor hockey, dodge ball, kickball, scavenger hunts, volleyball, and much, much more!
Ages: 6-12 Fee: $122 for shorter session; $167 for full-day session
Dates: June 17-21 Time: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. OR 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Yoga: S-t-r-e-t-c-h Your Way to Fitness!
Namaste! Are you interested in trying yoga or perfecting your form? Join Jenn McCullough, local yoga instructor,for a relaxing and fun-filled four days of downward dogs and cobras. Wear comfy clothes and bring a yoga mat or beach towel. Space is limited to 12 campers.
Grades: 4-7 Fee: $90
Dates: June 24-27 Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
SUA’s American Girl® Camp II
Invite Kit, Blaire, or your favorite doll friend to join you at SUA’s American Girl® Camp. You and your 18” doll will participate in a variety of hands-on activities that foster confidence, manners, and creativity. On Thursday, invite a special adult to a fun gathering. Space is limited to 15 campers.
Grades: K-3 Fee: $90
Dates: June 24-27 Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Center Stage Camp
Calling all future Broadway stars! Join us for a fun four days of singing, dancing, and acting in our brand-new Black Box Theater as you learn more about play and musical production. Our “leading lady” is Kirsten Hinshaw, SUA’sDirector of Performing Arts, who will guide you through the fun of theater—and get you ready for a performance on Thursday, June 27, to show off your new skills! Space is limited to 20 campers.
Grades: 4-7 Fee: $90
Dates: June 24-27 Time: 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Writer’s Workshop
Love to rhyme? Enjoy making characters come to life? Spend a day as a journalist, a novelist, a poet…if you love words, this camp is for you. Space is limited to 12 campers.
Grades: 4-7 Fee: $90
Dates: July 8-11 Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
STEM Camp
Smart is cool at SUA! When you learn more about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), you prepare for your future! Participate in fun activities that focus on skills and knowledge in these areas. See why SUA is the place to be for girls who love STEM classes! Space is limited to 12 campers.
Grades: 4-7 Fee: $90
Dates: July 8-11 Time: 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Undeniable Unicorns!
Campers will participate in a variety of activities that will expand your imagination—and give you a good dose of unicorn fun! The camp will include crafts, snacks, and activities related to the coolest animal ever imagined. Space is limited to 15 campers.
Grades: K-3 Fee: $90
Dates: July 15-18 Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Girls in Digital Arts
A beginner-level course for girls interested in graphic design. Mirrored after SUA’s high school course Women in Digital Arts and taught by an SUA fine arts teacher, this camp will provide you with the basics of the Adobe suite programs, as well as help guide your creative skills. Space is limited to 12 campers.
Grades: 6-8 Fee: $90
Dates: July 15-18 Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
iWant to Make an iMovie!
Attention future film makers! Spend the week learning more about iMovie…and get ready to accept your Oscar®! Space is limited to 12 campers.
Grades: 6-8 Fee: $90
Dates: July 15-18 Time: 12:30-3:30 p.m.
BASKETBALL CAMPS
Arrow Basketball Coach Tandy Bradford and current players will be hosting a camp to develop fundamental skills, game IQ, and love for the game of basketball. The focus of camp is to develop ball handling, footwork, shooting, and defensive positioning. This camp is designed to help develop more advanced players, as well as beginners, through individual and group instruction.
Almost Arrows Basketball Camp
Grades: 6 – 8
Dates: June 24 – 26
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Fee: $50
Little Arrows Basketball Camp
Grades: 3 – 5
Dates: June 24 – 26
Time: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Fee: $35
VOLLEYBALL CAMPS
SUA Head Coach Sydney Antonio will direct the camps with help from her staff, as well as from past and present varsity team members. Coach Antonio has been involved with SUA volleyball for more than 10 years and leads successful camps to help develop each player.
Advanced All Skills Volleyball Camp
Players who attend this camp should play on a competitive volleyball team with a fast pace and as an athlete with an eagerness to improve her skills!
Grades: 5 – 8
Dates: July 8 – 11
Time: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Fee: $75
Volleyball Defensive Camp
This camp is ideal for those who wish to train as a defensive specialist or libero. Major emphasis will be placed on body posture, footwork, and digging techniques, as well as advanced floor and ball handling skills. Space is limited to 48 campers.
Grades: 5 – 8
Dates: July 8 – 10
Time: 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $60
Volleyball Setter Camp
This position-specific camp is geared for those who want to train strictly at the setter position. The technique-packed sessions are led by Kaycie Perillo former college setter and SUA alum, with emphasis hand position, body posture, footwork patterns, and release location, as well as decision-making and various different “play sets.” Space is limited to 24 campers
Grades: 5 – 8
Dates: July 8 – 10
Time: 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Fee: $60
Little Arrow Volleyball Camp
This beginner’s camp will focus on introducing all aspects of volleyball skills, including serving, passing, and game play.
As the old saying goes: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Three big principles of any solid financial plan are to save, spend and give. Most people forget about the giving part, though, because they think mostly about saving and spending.
But giving is just as important. It softens the heart of the giver and frees their soul from dependence on money. You’ll never walk away from giving feeling bad! (Source)
Those wise words from the money guru himself, Dave Ramsey, resonate in my mind as I eagerly raid my closet for something to wear to the upcoming Make-A-Wish 2019 Toledo BIG Wish® Gala!
There are currently 25 children in northwest Ohio who are awaiting their wish.
For details on how to get engaged with our chapter, please visit http://www.oki.wish.org/ & follow on social media @makeawishohkyin.
Make-A-Wish® creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The organization is on a quest to bring every eligible child’s wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a child’s treatment journey.
Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky, & Indiana (Make-A-Wish OKI) will celebrate the dozens of life-changing wishes granted last year in northwest Ohio, and the generous community who helped bring those wishes to life at the Northwest Ohio BIG Wish® Gala presented by Toledo Molding & Die, Inc. on Friday, April 12th at Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel.
This year’s gala honors the 15th anniversary of wish kid Travis’ book, “The Spider Who Never Gave Up.” Make-A-Wish OKI granted Travis’ wish to write the inspirational children’s book in 2004. Since then, Travis, who battles Cystic Fibrosis, has donated and sold more than 10,000 copies!
“Make-A-Wish is the reason I became the person that I am today.
“After a lifetime of Cystic Fibrosis and two double-lung transplants, I have learned a lot about life and purpose,” said Travis. “Make-A-Wish is the reason I became the person that I am today. My purpose was to make sure Sparkey’s message reached people. Make-A-Wish fulfilled my purpose.”
Several wish kids will be honored during the program including wish kid Braylon. His parents will share about his wish experience to go to the Pro Bowl.
Make-A-Wish OKI Gala special guest and emcee is 13ABC’s Christina Williams!
Huge shout out to all the generous sponsors for this year’s gala including Toledo Molding & Die, Inc., Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
There are currently 25 children in northwest Ohio who are awaiting their wish.
The Toledo community can visit http://www.oki.wish.org/ to learn more about ways to support Make-A-Wish and help make wishes come true for kids in northwest Ohio.
Balloons, cake, streamers, snakes, lizards…..are you ready for a b-day party game changer?
It’s time to take the b-day experience to the next level, forget Pin the Tail on the Donkey, gather around and watch the b-day boy feed the 2nd biggest species of frog in the world a 3” hissing cockroach!
We’ve officially booked Frogtown Exotics for my son’s b-day party and we can’t wait!!
What is Frogtown Exotics? The owner, Jake, who has had a lifelong passion for herpetology shares his passion via educational fun, hands-on, and memorable experience for the kiddos by bringing an upwards of over a dozen different live reptiles & amphibians for kiddos to get up-close and personal. Sweet, right!?!
I’m so excited! We have booked Frogtown Exotics for my son’s b-day party! I can’t wait to share our experience with you all….stay tuned!
FYI- Frogtown Exotics travels to parties, schools, daycares, libraries, churches, summer camps, scout groups, or any special event with their animals to educate all the guests with amazing facts of each critter and have an opportunity to pet/hold most of these animals.
Throw an epic b-day party or give an awesome gift? Hmmm, the decision can be a tough one! Especially when it comes to our kiddos! As parents is it smarter to throw our kiddos a party or use that money to go towards an awesome gift? This was the dilemma the hubs & I were dealing with recently. So, like the nerd I am I did a little research. Here are my findings….
While experiences are designed to be fleeting, they provide high level of arousal & memorability thanks to anticipation. Example, you hear your favorite artist is coming to town so you mark your calendar not only for the date of the show, but also when tickets go on sale. You’re anticipating purchasing tickets and then attending a show after you’ve secured your tickets. Going to this show is an entire experience, not just a singular moment!! (Source, https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/294163 )
The Experience Boosts our Happiness
A 2014 study by Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University, found that experiential adventures — such as travel, a concert, or viewing exhibitions — were far more powerful in shaping our lives and boosting our happiness than any commercial, material goods. (Source, https://blog.mindvalley.com/experiences-make-us-happier/ )
Nah-uh…was my first “adult” thought upon reading all the studies, Lol! So I took it a step further and wracked my brain trying to remember what I received as my b-day gifts as a child at my McDonalds b-day party, at the awesome party my mom threw at home, or the 3 epic parties my mom threw at the Hilton (my b-day is in January…she got two rooms and I invited 6 friends to swim, a swim party in January, it was LIT!), nothing! I legit have no idea what I received as gifts at any of my b-day parties…I can remember the parties like it was yesterday, not so much the gifts.
AN EPIC B-DAY PARTY IT IS!!!
I’m so excited! Per the research I did our experience starts now at the anticipation phase!!! We have booked Frogtown Exotics for my son’s b-day party! He already can’t wait to hold the 2nd biggest species of frog in the world and feed it a 3” hissing cockroach!
What is Frogtown Exotics? The owner, Jake, has had a lifelong passion for herpetology & is eager to share his passion via educational fun, hands-on, and memorable experience for the kiddos by bringing an upwards of over a dozen different live reptiles & amphibians for kiddos to get up-close and personal. Sweet, right!?!
I can’t wait to share our experience with you all….stay tuned!
FYI- Frogtown Exotics travels to parties, schools, daycares, libraries, churches, summer camps, scout groups, or any special event with their animals to educate all the guests with amazing facts of each critter and have an opportunity to pet/hold most of these animals.
Just because the weather isn’t cooperating doesn’t mean the fun has to end! Here’s a list of some awesome kid-friendly indoor destinations to visit in NW Ohio and SE Michigan that will allow the adventures to continue no matter the weather!
The largest indoor play structure in Ohio! Jungle Junction is an AMAZING fun time for children ages 12 and under. Six levels of adventure with over 60 play features including slides, air cannons, obstacle courses, and interactive game panels keep kids entertained and challenged for hours. A dedicated toddler tumble zone with molded jungle friends for climbing, crawling and sliding the day away. Their controlled environment will keep you cool in the summer and warm when the weather turns cold and wet.
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm (Sensory Day- The first and third Wed. of each month. 10a-2p, no air cannons)
Explore hands-on exhibits, gaze at the stars, discover new worlds in our IMAX® theatre, and take part in live stage shows. As Michigan’s STEM Hub, we inspire curious minds of all ages.
General admission: $14/adult, $11/child 12 and under or senior citizen (60+).
Children under age two are free.
Check out the additional options/packages on their website. (General admission doesn’t include IMAX theatre)
Regular Hours:
Monday – Tuesday Closed
Wednesday – Friday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
The Mazza Museum
Phone: 419-434-5521
Address: Virginia B. Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion University of Findlay 1000 North Main St.
The Mazza Museum is the most diverse collection of original artwork by children’s book illustrators in the world. The museum’s goal is to promote literacy and enrich the lives of all people through the art of picture books.
“BOOKS TO FILM EXHIBIT”
Many children’s books have been made into films. Come see your favorite characters from movies in their original picture book form…or better yet take note of the books and read them before your see them on film.
“Patricia Polacco Exhibit”-The Keeping Quilt is one of our favorites….Come see why!
Admission: FREE
Museum Hours of Operation:
Wednesday-Friday: Noon – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 – 4 p.m.
University of Michigan Museum of Natural History
Phone: (734) 764-0478
Address: 1105 North University Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1079 (Look for the “Golden Dome”…that’s the planetarium in the building)
Parking: Free Parking on Sundays! Most non-marked spots in any Campus Faculty/Staff Parking (including Palmer) is free on Sundays. (Do NOT park in Gold, Business Vehicle, or other marked spots.)
With the largest display of dinosaurs in Michigan, the University Of Michigan Museum Of Natural History offers an array of educational programs and exhibits for families, students and adults. Exhibits include the Hall of Evolution, Michigan wildlife, anthropology, geology, and several changing exhibits.
Museum Hours: Monday-Sunday 9am-5pm
Admission: FREE to individuals and groups of 10 or fewer. (Suggested donation is $6 per person)
Don’t just see a movie, experience it!! An immense explosion….A whisper heard over your shoulder. The rumbling bass you feel instead of hear. The combination of their perfectly tuned integrated sound system and precise speaker orientation ensures you can hear a pin drop and be able to tell exactly where it landed. Every note of the soundtrack and every scuff of a shoe are clearer in IMAX, with a complete overhaul of each movie’s audio overseen by the film’s director. All of this pristine sound is then pumped into a theatre that has been customized for an optimal experience. Clarity, detail and size make IMAX more than a movie. Two projectors run simultaneously to provide the perfect image with a balance of warmth and sharpness. IMAX draws you into something as close to reality as you have ever experienced!
For list of shows and times click on the website above….I do know, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story starts showing this week!
Wednesdays are the discount days…$10 for IMAX all day! (FYI: Kids concessions combo-drink, popcorn, fruit is $5.65)
Snook’s Dream Cars
Phone: 419-353-8338
Address: 13920 County Home Rd, Bowling Green, OH 43402-8670
Snook’s Dream Cars displays the extensive collection of “long time car guy” Bill Snook (deceased) and operated by his son Jeff Snook. It features a recreated 1940s era Texaco gas station, a showroom of extensive automobile memorabilia and a car collection presented within period scenes ranging from a 1930s general store to a racetrack from the 1960s.The car collection, which features models from the 1930s to the 1960s, includes coupes, convertibles, sedans, roadsters and racecars, made by Cadillac, Ford, Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, Packard, Kaiser, Willys, Jaguar, Triumph, MG and Lotus. The facility also houses a complete four-bay shop for maintaining collector cars.
Public tours of the factory are available on their Dum Dums Trolley Wednesday through Friday 10 am to 3:00 pm ET. There are no reservations. Tours are on a first come, first served basis. You may wish to call ahead for information. Store & Museum admission is free – tour prices are shown below.
Due to safety and FDA regulations, the trolley tour will not go through the main kitchen areas, but will go through the warehouse areas and their most recent addition, the Portland Street expansion. It is the 87th production expansion in company history and nearly 20,000 square feet in size. Visitors are able to see their palletization area and automatic case packers. Candy cooking and forming in the kitchen areas will be shown via a DVD player while on the trolley tour.
Factory tour prices are: Adults $5, Children 6-18 years $3, Children 5 & Under Free with paid Adult, Seniors $4. Tours will not be offered on any day that is a holiday for the factory.
CTY imagine22p Lynsey Garber, 10, a fifth grader at Ottawa River Elementary, rides the high wire bike at Imagination Station, Wednesday, March 21, 2012. The Blade/Andy Morrison
Imagination Station, Toledo’s Science Center, is dedicated to making science, technology, engineering and mathematics fun and accessible. There are hundreds of interactive, hands-on exhibits that are fun and educational for the entire family. Whether you only have an hour or you have all day, there is plenty to see and do at Imagination Station. Come join us and explore everything that Imagination Station has to offer!
There is no age limit on jumpers; if you can walk you can jump. Destress and have a blast jumping and possibly even flipping in/on Sky Zone’s awesome trampoline courts. Simply sign the waiver, get your jump time, put on your Sky Zone Socks and reach for the sky! Enjoy full access to the park, including, the Main Court, Ultimate Dodgeball, SkySlam, the Foam Zone, etc. Sky Zone also offers food and beverages so you can recharge after all that jumping. If you wish to expedite your experience you can sign the waiver and get jump time in advance, so you can get kiddos on the courts ASAP!
Experience exciting outdoor adventures with hands-on activities, exhibits and simulators — walk behind and touch a waterfall, step into a fishing boat and reel in a big fish, hit the trail on a mountain bike or snowmobile, and much more. At the OAC, you’ll learn about how the DNR manages state parks, forests, wildlife and fish as you climb the roots and explore the canopy of a massive bur oak tree, hop aboard a real airplane, and see what’s swimming in our aquarium.
Slug: CTY museum20p THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH Caption: Life raft recovered from the Edmund Fitzgerald on display at the National Museum of the Great Lakes Thursday, 04/17/14, in Toledo, Ohio.
The National Museum of the Great Lakes is a fun and unique experience for all. Learn about the rich history our Great Lakes have afforded us, making up 84% of all the fresh water in North America it is no surprise they are treasured waters. Explore the history and enjoy some hands-on displays as you learn about one of the world’s greatest natural resources. Kids will be intrigued by all the means of transit along the Lakes, including the huge ship, the Schoonmaker just outside the museum in the Maumee River, (tours of the ship are offered May-Oct). Be sure to stop in the museum store so the kiddos can pick out some souvenirs to commemorate their visit.
Sylvania Playland is the one and only indoor bounce house and playground in Sylvania! Come in and play on their five inflatables, four swing sets and toddler area. Our glow-in-the-dark mini golf is now OPEN! 18 holes, 4 themes (underwater, pirates, dinosaurs, knights and dragons). Win prizes in their arcade and have a taste of Toft’s ice cream!
Calling all history buffs and those simply intrigued by the vast history located in NW Ohio tour this an amazing 1868 Romanesque Revival two-story brick building that originally housed Wauseon’s first high school, and later, the county’s first hospital. Experience thirteen rooms that showcase permanent historic exhibits of hidden historical gems. Listen to locally written abolition hymns of the Underground Railroad movement in the county; see the crackling campfire of local Civil War soldiers and the museum’s extensive collection of Civil War era artifacts which are the impressive centerpiece of this exhibit.
Call ahead and make an appointment to see the Depot! Two blocks south of the museum, visit the Wauseon Depot. A collection of items from Fulton County’s railroad past, which included 6 steam lines and two electric inner urban lines, is on display inside the depot. Watch and listen to an O-scale working model railroad display that highlights Fulton County’s railroad 1920s hay-day.
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10:00am – 04:00pm
Sunday: noon-4:00pm
Rates: Adults – 18 and over: $8.00
Seniors – 55 and over: $7.00
Children – 6-15: $3.00
Children 6 & under are FREE
When you’re finished with your awesome tour stop by Red Rambler for a hot cocoa for the kiddos and a Flight of their brewed beers for mom and dad!
Since the founding in 1901, the Toledo Museum of Art has earned a global reputation for the quality of its collection, innovative and extensive education programs, and architecturally significant campus. The main Museum building interior contains four and a half acres of floor space on two levels. It has 45 galleries, 15 classroom studios, the 1,750-seat Peristyle concert hall, the 176-seat Little Theater lecture hall, the Resource Center for Educators, the Family Center, the Visual Resources Collection, the Museum Café, and the Museum Store featuring Collector’s Corner. The Glass Pavilion has five galleries, a glass study room, classrooms, two hotshops, a multipurpose GlasSalon, public and private courtyard space, and a coffee bar.
Family Center: Free, fun, and open to everyone! The TMA Family Center, located in the education wing near the Plough entrance, is the perfect place for our youngest Museum visitors to make and take memories with their parents and caregivers. Drop in for themed activities that enliven the world of art for kids ages 1-10 (and even grown-ups!). Check the calendar on this page for upcoming projects. Calendars can be customized and printed by clicking on the Google Calendar icon at the bottom of the calendar listing.
Family Center Hours:
Tuesdays & Thursday: 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Friday: 3:30–8 p.m.
Sunday: noon–5:00 p.m
Admission: The Museum and the Family Center are FREE
Since 1994, Planet Rock has been providing world class indoor rock climbing. With creative wall design and innovative route setting, Planet Rock enables climbers of all ages and experience levels to love a sport that is like no other. Over 25,000 square feet of climbing surface with walls up to heights of 50′ and routes up to 70′ long, their gyms cater to competitive and recreational climbers alike. The gym also features unique climbing features such as the full-training areas and giant bouldering mushroom. Both beginner and experienced lead climbers will find routes that are both technical and fun. Their dedicated lead climbing walls have extensive lines and challenging features, while their bouldering areas offer interesting topography and an innovative mat system for softer landings.
Mom on the go in Holy Toledo 