MAY 2019 washingtonFAMILY.com Healthy You, Healthy Kids Moms OF THE YEAR Party Issue PARTY TRENDS, PLANNING TIPS & MORE! QUALITY CARE FOR YOUR CHILD AT PM PEDIATRICS SEE PAGE 5 Ages 5+ Young Audiences Compagnia TPO and Teatro Metastasio Dancers maneuver a set brought to life with fabric, projections, and sensors for exciting movements and sounds. Performers will interact with audience members—and some may even have the chance to get up on the stage and join in the colorful landscape! May 18 & 19 | Family Theater Kennedy-Center.org (202) 467-4600 Groups call (202) 416-8400 For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540 Funding for Access and Accommodation Programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education. Bank of America is the Presenting Sponsor of Performances for Young Audiences. Major support for education programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program. Additional support for Colors is provided by A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Anne and Chris Reyes; and the U.S. Department of Education. International programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts. WEST VIRGINIA. BY RAIL. A family and friends destination. CALL: 304.636.9477 • MTN-RAIL.COM WE NEED YOU! MAY 2019 RATHER, WE NEED YOUR CHILD washingtonFAMILY.com TO BE ON THE COVER OF WASHINGTON FAMILY! Send a photo (1 will suffice), name and age of the child, and contact information to CoverKids@WashingtonFamily.com. Put Cover Kids in the subject box. 2  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 Summer Camps SEE PAGE 30 CAMP FAIR • FEB. 24 SEE PAGE 51 FOOD ALLERGIES ONE MOM'S FIGHT Musical May MOMMY & ME MAY 15 th WEDNESDAY · 11AM SUITE 360 Enjoy Mommy’s Lounge while your children play and nurture their creative side. Plus, save big with exclusive discounts from retailers listed below. Kids’ Singing & Dancing Activities with 123 Andrés First 100 TangerClub Members check-in at the Tanger Table for a FREE GIFT! & MANY MORE! I-95 & I-295 | 6800 Oxon Hill Road | (301) 567-3880 | TangerOutlets.com 49835_NAT_Mommy&Me_PrintAd_7x10_FIN.indd 1 4/11/19 9:28 AM CONTENTS MAY 2019 ON THE COVER Birthday party trends your kids will love.  Pg. 26 PM Pediatrics in Annapolis Photo by David Stuck FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 12 8 CALENDAR MOMS OF THE YEAR Meet these six powerhouse mothers. 26 PARTY TRENDS Popular and fun ways to make your child’s next birthday party a success. 28 TEEN DRINKING Local parents weigh in on underage drinking. 32 WEEKEND GETAWAY D ogfish Inn in Lewes, Delaware makes for an ideal parents-only escape, one writer says. 20 MOM’S SPEAK 22 SCHOOL NOTES 34 HEALTHY FAMILY Birthday party tips and tricks SAT/ACT planning Focusing on self-care 50 BOOKMARKED Gift-worthy children’s books 53 DMV FUN Mother’s Day celebrations 54 LAST WORD The parenting village GUIDES 23 PARTY READERS’ RESPONSES WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK We welcome your feedback — on specific articles, overall themes and anything else related to editorial content. Enter your comments on the Feedback tab of our website: info@washingtonfamily.com. Please note we reserve the right to edit or refrain from publishing comments we deem inappropriate. 4  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 37 SUMMER CAMPS 48 MONTESSORI SCHOOLS ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS/SHIRONOSOV Now Open in Herndon! Specialized urgent care just for kids and young adults. Led by physicians with 16x more pediatric training than most other urgent care doctors. Locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic! 905 Herndon Pkwy. 703.437.5437 PMPEDIATRICS.COM OUR TEAM MAY 2019 WashingtonFAMILY.com • 301-230-2222 Sylvia Witaschek, Associate Publisher ADVERTISING Rob Leinson, Director of Sales 301-230-0819 • rleinson@midatlanticmedia.com Account Executives Kim Coates, Harrison Dorne, Tamara Morris, Mary Ramsdale, Stacie Shapero, Julie Turco BUSINESS Pattie-Ann Lamp, Accounting Coordinator • 410-902-2311 • plamp@midatlanticmedia.com EDITORIAL Jessica Gregg, Lifestyle Editor • 410-902-2319 • jgregg@midatlanticmedia.com Britni Petersen, Managing Editor • 301-230-6696 • bpetersen@midatlanticmedia.com Adranisha Stephens, Staff Writer • 410-902-2328 • astephens@midatlanticmedia.com Contributors Michelle Blanchard Ardillo, Ann Dolin, Ginny Lawhorn, Courtney McGee, Cassidy Rafsol, Kathryn Streeter CREATIVE Lonna Koblick, Art Director Cheyenne Bass, Graphic Designer James Meskunas, Digital Media Manager David Stuck, Staff Photographer MID-ATLANTIC MEDIA Craig Burke, CEO/Publisher • cburke@midatlanticmedia.com Liz Spikol, Editorial Director • lspikol@midatlanticmedia.com Jennifer Perkins-Frantz, Director of Production • jperkinsfrantz@midatlanticmedia.com Bill Sims, Director of Circulation & Audience Development • bsims@midatlanticmedia.com Jeni Mann, Director of Marketing & Custom Media • jmann@midatlanticmedia.com Table of Contents Single Page Design Calendar of Events © Washington Family. Washington Family is published 12 times a year by Mid-Atlantic Media, and is distributed free of charge throughout Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Correspondence and editorial submissions from our readers are welcomed. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment on all editorial and advertising material submitted. We are not responsible for the return of any unsolicited materials. The acceptance of advertising by Washington Family does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this publication, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without expressed written permission. 11900 Parklawn Drive, Suite 300 | Rockville, MD 20852 | 301-230-2222 or 703-318-1385 | washingtonfamily.com 6  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 FIRST WORD Moms: The Real Superheroes T Britni Petersen Managing Editor bpetersen@midatlanticmedia.com Facebook facebook.com/WashingtonFamilyMagazine​ Follow us on Pinterest @familymagazine and Instagram @washingtonfamilymag Email us Let us know what’s on your mind. info@thefamilymagazine.com Story Ideas Have a story idea? We want to hear it. Email us at editor@thefamilymagazine.com his May, it’s all about moms. Moms are war- riors and real-life superheroes who provide an endless amount of love, nurturing and support through every age and stage of our lives. While moms deserve to be commemorated every day, we wanted to show some extra appreciation this month in celebration of Mother’s Day. In this issue, we are featuring our 2019 Moms of the Year! After a stream of nominations, six local moms were chosen to be honored. Read their sto- ries and find out what their friends and family had to say about each of these deserving mothers on pg. 12. You’ll also discover some wonderful motherly advice along the way. And, in celebration of moms, we have a great list of local Mother’s Day events on pg. 49 to help you treat Mom, or yourself, to a nice day of love and appreciation. Along with Mother’s Day fun, it’s also our party issue! We all know that planning a child’s birthday party can be much more stressful than enjoyable. You can check out as many “easy children’s birthday party ideas” on Pinterest as possible, but it still takes some effort, time and often a decent chunk of change to plan your child’s birthday party. We’ve rounded up some essential birthday plan- ning tips, advice and local resources to make your child’s next birthday a success without all the stress. Michelle Ardillo shares some current birthday party trends on pg. 26, and our annual “Party Guide” on pg. 23 includes a bunch of local spots to throw a party. We also asked local moms to share their tips and tricks on birthday parties as well as their general thoughts on the topic on pg 20. From ways to save money to more thought-provoking advice like let- ting go of party planning pressure and expectations, these moms share it all. Aside from a whole lot of mom love and party read- iness, we have other great stories inside like SAT/ACT preparation, self-care techniques and much more. Happy Mother’s Day to all of you superhero moms out there — you’re not only appreciated on this special day, but every single day.  ■ WashingtonFAMILY.com  7 CALENDAR may } learn more about the conservation status of these amazing creatures. Roer’s Zoofari, Vienna, VA. WEDNESDAY 1 SUNDAY 5 Winnie the Pooh FREE Community Day 10:30 a.m. | $20. Recommended for all ages. Bring the whole family to enjoy this theatre production of Winnie the Pooh and his friends as he and Piglet have to find the Heffalump, watch Rabbit scheme to get rid of the forest of Kanga’s dreaded bathtub and help Eeyore search for his tail. Pooh’s intentions are always the best, but his passion for honey and condensed milk keeps getting him into trouble. The Adventure Theatre MTC, Rockville, MD. Nature Tots Preschool Series 10 a.m. | $50. Recommended for ages 2-4. This 6-week class invites young children to discover the wonders of nature as we journey through the changing seasons. They’ll read stories, make fun crafts and sing songs. Make sure to dress for the weather! Open to ages two to five with a caregiver present. Space limited, advance registration required. The Howard County Conservancy-Belmont, Elkridge, MD. THURSDAY 2 Jack and the Beanstalk 11 a.m. | $12. Recommended for ages 5-12. Show length time is 45 minutes. A timely version of the classic children’s tale about the young lad that doesn’t know beans about trading, but still manages to climb his way to the top. Jack finds that happiness lies in helping others rather than mere personal gain. Told with rod puppets and some surprising twists, Jack has long been a favorite of Glen Echo’s audiences. The Puppet Co. Playhouse, Glen Echo, MD. Noon. The 1st Sunday of the month is Community Day at National Museum of Women in the Arts in D.C. Enjoy free admission to the museum all day. Take this opportunity to explore their current exhibitions, permanent collection and events. Junie B. Jones Noon | $20. Come out an enjoy this theatre production designed for the young at heart. Junie B.’s made it to first grade and is having all sorts of adventures meeting new friends, becoming the boss of lunch,and creating a halftime show for the kickball game. Olney Theatre Center, Olney, MD. MONDAY 6 FREE Jane Franklin Dance: Mouse in the House 10 a.m. A family-friendly performance, Mouse in the House is a lively movement and theatre presentation for the young and young-at-heart. The performance incorporates spoken word, movement, music and an interactive participatory introduction for young children. Beatley Library, Alexandria, VA. WEDNESDAY 8 Kid Fun Time 10:30 a.m. | $5. Ages 2-7. Kid-friendly music, beach balls, limbo and skating lessons are just a few of the activities Kid Fun Time has each week. Free coffee bar for moms and dads and free juice boxes for paid children. Wheels Skating Center, Odenton, MD. THURSDAY 9 FREE Freddie Long Band at Alive at Five 5 p.m. Come out and enjoy a live performance from the Freddie Long Band. This part introspective pop/ rock singer/songwriter, part bluesy soul man/classic rocker is ALL heart. His music will not disappoint. Carroll Creek Amphitheatre, Frederick, MD. FRIDAY 10 Shrek the Musical Jr. $15. Recommended for ages 7 & up. Beauty is in the eye of the ogre in Shrek The Musical JR., based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and fantastic Broadway musical. It’s a “big bright beautiful world” as everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, Shrek JR. is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family. KAT-2nd Stage features youth performers. Arts Barn, Gaithersburg, MD. SATURDAY 11 Snow White 11:30 a.m. | $9.76. This updated version of the classic Snow White story unveils the villain’s perspective, from her tragic childhood to her quest for revenge. So how did the story really go? Join all seven quirky dwarves, a tongue-tied prince, a sassy mirror, a dancing chicken and of course Snow White herself in this Theater for Young Audiences tale about beauty, friendship and happily-ever-afters SESAME STREET LIVE MAY 4 | $18-$75 TUESDAY 7 Into the Woods $20-$83. Recommended for ages 12 and older. In Stephen Sondheim’s imaginative, darkly comical remix of beloved fairy tales, a baker and his wife set out to reverse a witch’s curse in hopes of having a child of their own. The couple’s quest takes them into the woods, where they encounter Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and his beanstalk, a cautious Cinderella, a FRIDAY 3 sequestered Rapunzel and a couple of Giraffe Encounter lovelorn princes. Peter Flynn returns 2:30 p.m. | $5. Giraffe feed cup is to direct this fanciful tale about the included with zoo admission cost. lengths to which we’ll go to get Ever been nose to nose with a giraffe? what we wish. Ford’s Theatre, Well now is your chance. Come feed Washington, D.C. the zoo’s beloved giraffe “Waffles,” and 8  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 When magician extraordinaire Justin visits Sesame Street to put on a magic show for the whole neighborhood, Elmo wants to be part of the big event. But there is one problem … Elmo does not know how to do magic! Elmo teams up with his friends and learns that you can do anything you set your mind to if you just keep trying! Join your favorite Sesame Street friends on this magical adventure when Sesame Street Live! comes to your neighborhood. Eagle Bank Arena, Fairfax VA. PROVIDED {  FREE FUN WITH A PRE-K PASS When your kids play for free all year long, it’s amazing. Kids ages 3–5 enjoy free admission all season in 2019, which includes family favorites like Soak City, the world’s largest PEANUTS themed kids area, Great Pumpkin Fest and WinterFest. Register online, activate at the park and it’s playtime. Register by May 27th at kingsdominion.com. © 2019 Peanuts Worldwide LLC | peanuts.com 190671_C_KD_2019_PreK_WashingtonFamily_AprilMay_8x11.indd 1 3/12/19 3:40 PM CALENDAR with a twist. This show includes a kid-approved lunch. The Washington County Playhouse Dinner Theater and Children’s Theater, Hagerstown, MD. tale, Shrek JR. is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family. KAT-2nd Stage features youth performers. Arts Barn, Gaithersburg, MD. SUNDAY 12 WEDNESDAY 15 You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown Blue Sky Puppet Theatre: Bananas $18-$22 | 2pm. The whole gang is here: bossy Lucy is hopelessly in love with piano prodigy Schroeder who doesn’t give her the time of day, perfectionist Sally is still mocking blanket-toting Linus, Snoopy is dancing on the doghouse, and “blockhead,” himself, Charlie Brown, is in rare form. Whether you’re keen to fly with the Red Baron, moon over the Moonlight Sonata, or just do your best to find “Happiness,” You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a crowd- pleasing classic. The Performing Arts Factory, Frederick, MD. 10 a.m. | $5. Dr. Broccoli tells Little Yellow and his mom about a talent show and health fair he’s sponsoring. Her other two children, Little Blue and Little Red, want to participate in the talent show as well. Audience members learn songs with them for the talent show about healthy living, and then vote on the best performance! Get up, dance, sing and be healthy! One the most popular shows, with plenty of time for a meet and greet afterwards. Franklin Park Performing And Visual Arts Center, Purcellville, VA. MONDAY 13 THURSDAY 16 Into the Woods FREE Summer Concert Series 7:30 p.m. | $20-$83. Recommended for 12 and older. In Stephen Sondheim’s imaginative, darkly comical remix of beloved fairy tales, a baker and his wife set out to reverse a witch’s curse in hopes of having a child of their own. The couple’s quest takes them into the woods, where they encounter Little Red Riding hood, Jack and his beanstalk, a cautious Cinderella, a sequestered Rapunzel and a couple of lovelorn princes. Peter Flynn returns to direct this fanciful tale about the lengths to which we’ll go to get what we wish. Ford’s Theatre, Washington, D.C. 6 p.m. Brent and Co. Rock/Country. Thursday evenings in May. Bethesda restaurants will also be a part of the concert fun. Veterans Park. Corner of Norfolk and Woodmont Aves. Bethesda, MD. TUESDAY 14 Shrek the Musical Jr. 11 a.m. | $15. Recommended for ages 7 and up. Beauty is in the eye of the ogre in Shrek The Musical JR., based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and fantastic Broadway musical. It’s a “big bright beautiful world” as everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance and part twisted fairy FREE Jane Franklin Dance: EyeSoar 6:45 p.m. | All ages. Through movement and sound, this outdoor performance by Jane Franklin Dance brings awareness of the physical structure of the Beatley Central Library portico and surrounding green areas. A diverse collection of library users, who state their connection to the City of Alexandria and its resources are heard in brief audio interviews incorporated in the sound score. Beatley Library, Alexandria, VA. FRIDAY 17 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
 7 p.m. | $7.50. Take a fantastic musical adventure with an out-of-this-world car that flies through the air and sails the seas. Based on the beloved 1968 film version of Ian Fleming’s children’s 10  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 book and featuring an unforgettable score by the Sherman Brothers (Mary Poppins), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jr. is one family-friendly blockbuster that audiences will find “truly scrumptious.” Join the fun and take a ride at the Children’s Theatre of Annapolis, Annapolis, MD. SATURDAY 18 FREE Walkersville Day 8 a.m. Come out to Walkersville for this town wide annual event. There will be yard sales and flea markets throughout the town. Food will be for sale at various churches throughout the town along with activities and events for the whole family to enjoy. Walkersville, MD. top seller CDbaby.com, and also won a Parents’ Choice Award, and he now plays over 100 shows a year. Mr. Jon & Friends makes music for kids and their families that inspire fun, laughter and dancing. The music of Mr. Jon & Friends is sure to bring a smile to your face! St. John Regional Catholic School, Frederick, MD. TUESDAY 21 FREE Preschool Story Time 10:30 a.m. 3-6 year olds. Story times are more than just books! They’re interactive experiences that engage children with short stories, action rhymes, songs, and fingerplays. Our story times focus on pre-reading skills that all children need to become good readers, and they help parents practice these skills at home. First FREE Healthy Kids Day 10 a.m. The YMCA of Frederick County come, first served until capacity is reached. Prince William Public host its national initiative to improve Library, Woodbridge, VA. the health and well-being of kids. Come out for a fun time! There will be different exhibitors, entertainment WEDNESDAY 22 and games for kids to play along with FREE Baby and crafts. There will also be samples Toddler Story Time of healthy foods to try! YMCA of 11 a.m. Join in for stories, songs and Frederick County, Frederick, MD. rhymes. Please include all attendees (caregivers and SUNDAY 19 children) in your ticket count. Sign up Tuesday, May 21 at 9:30 a.m. Yoga “Down of the Farm” Southeast Neighborhood Library, 1 p.m. | $3-$8. Join in for a Sunday Washington, D.C. afternoon family yoga class. Adults and children ages 10 and older are welcome to participate in this basic yoga class led by Susan Kain, instructor at the Glenwood 50+ Center and Yoga Center of Columbia. Bring your yoga mat or a towel and gather at the barn! They will have a separate area where younger siblings with a parent can watch and participate in their own way. Following yoga, please feel free to stay and enjoy a picnic lunch by the pond, feed the farm animals, tour the greenhouses for your garden needs or venture out on a nature walk. Sharp’s at Waterford Farm, Brookeville, MD. MONDAY 20 FREE Mr. Jon 8:45 a.m. Get your move on! This energetic family music is all about fun, movement and laughter! Mr. Jon is a THURSDAY 23 FREE Summer Concert Series 6 p.m. Moxie Blues Band Blues/Rock. Thursday evenings in May. Bethesda restaurants will also be a part of the concert fun. Veterans Park. Corner of Norfolk and Woodmont Aves. Bethesda, MD. FREE Tony M. Music 10:30 a.m. Sing, play and learn along with the Adventure Kids Club performers. The first 60 club members receive a FREE giveaway and craft. Join the fun at the JC Penny Court. Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg, MD. FRIDAY 24 FREE Gardens Across America All day. From rare and endangered plants to historic estates to modern oases, the collections and stories of 21 different gardens will be showcased throughout the grounds of the U.S. Botanic Garden. U.S. Botanic Garden, Washington, D.C. SATURDAY 25 Winnie the Pooh 11 a.m. | $20. Recommended for all ages. Bring the whole family to enjoy this theatre production of Winnie the Pooh and his friends as he and Piglet have to find the Heffalump, watch Rabbit scheme to get rid of the forest of Kanga’s dreaded bathtub and help Eeyore search for his tail. Pooh’s intentions are always the best, but his passion for honey and condensed milk keeps getting him into trouble. The Adventure Theatre MTC, Rockville, MD. SUNDAY 26 TUESDAY 28 THURSDAY 30 FREE Wonder Room Dance Africa, DC 2019 FREE Summer Concert Series Create Date All day | $15 - $30. Dance Place’s 32nd annual dance and music festival that Activities for children and their adult celebrates the African diaspora with friends or family. The Wonder Room free dance performances, master is a dedicated space filled with classes and other outdoor activities. free, experiential, hands-on, family- friendly activities that inspire creativity Dance Place, Washington, D.C. through design-based problem- solving challenges. Designed for WEDNESDAY 29 children ages 5-11. Sandy Spring FREE Herndon Festival Museum, Sandy Spring, MD. 6 p.m. The event features a carnival all four days, two stages MONDAY 27 of entertainment, a 10K/5K Race Memorial Day Weekend & Fitness Expo, children’s hands- 10 a.m. | Free admission (normally $7 on art area, kids alley, business per person) for all active duty military expo, arts and crafts vendors and an and their immediate family. We honor assortment of food vendors. Hosted you and appreciate your service. by the Town of Herndon Parks and Come visit the farm any day during Recreation Department. Free shuttle the weekend — Saturday, Sunday bus service available. Takes place at or Monday. Clark’s Elioak Farm, the Northwest Federal Credit Union, Ellicott City, MD. Herndon, VA. 6 p.m. 19th Street Band Folk/Rock. Thursday evenings in May. Bethesda restaurants will also be a part of the concert fun. Veterans Park. Corner of Norfolk and Woodmont Aves. Bethesda, MD. FRIDAY 31 FREE Bull Run Scrabble and Chess Club 1 p.m. Teens and adults. Meet up at the library to play scrabble or chess with a small group of dedicated players. We will provide the boards, you bring the words! Bull Run Regional Library, Manassas, VA.   ■ WashingtonFAMILY.com  11 W of the year Meet These Six Powerhouse Mothers BY WF STAFF 12  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 hen it comes to motherhood, there’s no denying that it’s a tough role. Moms are the nurturers, leaders, givers, listeners, providers, role models, first hand holders, warm-hug givers and the ones on whom we can always rely. Moms are the first to offer a shoulder to cry on and the first to cheer on their loved ones during all of life’s monumental moments. Moms are not only incredible pillars of strength within their families but in their communities and workplaces as well. There are not enough ways to truly give moms the recognition they deserve for their lifetime of dedication, love and hard work. Washington FAMILY is honoring local mothers with our fourth annual Moms of the Year issue. We asked readers to nominate a special mom deserving of this recognition. After numerous entries, all describing incredible local moms, six powerhouse mothers were selected to be honored. These deserving and remarkable women have unique stories to tell and great motherly advice to share. Meet our Moms of the Year! Rachel V. Brenke Fredericksburg, Virginia Mom to Joshua, 13, Olivia, 9, Caleb, 6, Micah, 5, Evelyn, 4 Nominated by Nathan Brenke As a mom of five, cancer survivor, multi-business owner and Team USA athlete, my wife deserves to be Mom of the Year. She also has set up a non-profit to raise awareness and change for animal rights laws. She was recently featured on NBC sports and various international magazines for her skills and efforts. She’s an example to all women to have something for themselves (self-care) no matter the circumstances. Occupation: Business consultant and lawyer Favorite “mom-ism:” “Figure it out!” Three fun facts about you and your family: We love to geocache, go to Disney and watch movies. What advice would you give to new or expectant moms? Ignore the judgment and shame. You do you. You’re the one tucking them in and carrying them the rest of their lives — not anyone else. What goals do you have for yourself? Continue to compete with Team USA and qualify for the World Champion- ships in triathlon. How has motherhood changed your outlook on life? Priorities become true priorities. I don’t get so upset about the little things anymore. Describe a favorite mom moment. What’s your superpower? Managing my time and everyone’s hectic schedules. What are three things you use everyday that you can’t live without? My Apple calendar to manage all of our schedules, a coffee pot to keep me lively and my smart phone to keep tabs on everyone! What’s the best thing you are listening to right now? Different crime podcasts that present evidence and psychological informa- tion to help me, the listener, solve the mysteries in my head. This keeps my brain active. What is your secret to balancing life/family/work/ motherhood? “ Ignore the judgment and shame. You do you. You’re the one tucking them in and carrying them the rest of their lives — not anyone else. ” [ RACHEL V. BRENKE ] Fill the rocks first. Always put the priorities into the schedule first, includ- ing self-care and each person’s individual goals (track, soccer, etc). Then, you put in all your other obligations. Favorite local spot? Vivify Burger in downtown Fredericksburg. My favorite moments are the way they fly down the stairs and into my arms when I come home, whether I’ve been gone to the store, to work or have been gone on a trip. MOMS: PROVIDED; ALL OTHER: COURTESY OF GETT Y IMAGES WashingtonFAMILY.com  13 Jasmine Hill Manassas, Virginia Mom to King, 9 Nominated by Armelia Hill My daughter should be Mom of the Year because she is an awesome mom caring for a nine-year-old autistic son. She works very hard at making my grandson’s life as normal as possible. She has him traveling and racing at our local Autobahn speedway because she knew he could excel, and he does. She doesn’t let anyone treat her son like he’s different or less than because he’s not. They bake, sing and dance together, and she has made a wonderful life for him as a single parent. She works a full-time job as well as a part-time job to make sure all his needs are taken care of. She knows that being a mom isn’t just about what she can provide for him, it’s about being loving, caring, supportive and flexible, and she has the patience of a saint. It’s amazing for me to see just how much compassion she has for her little boy. She has raised him to be a leader, and that is what he is at school and at home. His teacher always sends homes notes about how he leads his class in different activities. It’s amazing how far he has come, and it’s all because of his supportive mom. God blessed my daughter with an awesome son, and I’ve been blessed beyond measure seeing the mom God made her to be. Occupation: Apartment leasing consultant Favorite “mom-ism:” “You want Legos? You have Lego money?” My parents used to say, “Want Taco Bell? Get a job!” Three fun facts about you and your family: I volunteer at Serve Homeless shelter once a week helping watch kids while their parents work on being their best. Also, my younger brother’s name is “H,” and we have a dog named Kevyn. What advice would you give to new or expectant moms? Love, accept and raise your child the same no matter how they come out. And appre- ciate being able to have a child because there are people that are unable to. What goals do you have for your family? Our goal, which we just recently met, is living in our own apartment without King’s grandma (Bibi), “Pop Pops” or uncle H. It’s been a difficult transition, but like everything, we’ll get through it! 14  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 Describe a favorite mom moment. This year, my son was nominated and won for a “Kindness Award” for fourth grade overall. I can’t even describe how proud I was, especially knowing he is a bit bossy at times (the name King sure doesn’t help), but he is a big softy when he sees anybody in pain. Favorite local spots? Uptown Alley at The Manassas Mall (won- derful restaurant, easy time killer and bowling!) and Crossroads Tabletop Tav- ern in Old Town Manassas. I mean come on ... they have every board game ever made. It is an easy family-fun night and weekdays are more chill. Also, Centre- ville Multiplex. You just can’t beat those $2 Tuesdays! What’s your superpower? Humor and optimism. So many things can be stressful or not funny at all when you have a child on the spectrum. You must always find the “good” in everything and learn to laugh a lot off. What’s the best thing you are watching right now? We are always watching whatever movie King wants to since he doesn’t do TV. Presently, his go-to is “All Dogs Go to Heaven.” It’s absolutely a classic. What would you say your secret is to balancing life/ family/work/motherhood? Focusing on my breathing, and taking everything a task at a time and every day a day at a time. There is no sense in over- whelming yourself trying to do too much. It will all get done! “ Love, accept and raise your child the same no matter how they come out. ” [ JASMINE HILL ] AJ Jones Leesburg, Virginia Mom to Prince, 16 Nominated by Prince Parker I nominate my mom, Ashley “AJ” Jones, for Mom of the Year for her nonstop dedication to me and her community. For the past 12 years, my mom has been my sole provider and has constantly exhibited her love for me and our great nation. My mom proudly served in The United States Army for 10 years, but this dedication to her country never got in the way of her love for me, her only son, as we moved from state to state with several permanent changes of station (PCS). Nine years after retiring, she is still today very much involved with her community and those that live within it. My mom currently par- ticipates in volunteer efforts for 89 Ways to Give, Lambda Beta Alpha Military Sorority Incorporated and Socialites of Loudoun, a group of Loudoun County residents who strive for greatness in their community. In addition to volunteering, helping others and her full-time job as a contractor, my mom has also been able to expand her brand and branch out, following her dreams. Today, she trains with NOVA Roller Derby in hopes of being accepted into the league (one of her longtime dreams) and is the founder of AJ’s Tasting Room, where she reviews Northern Virginia wineries, breweries and distilleries. All of these reasons contribute to why my mom, Ashley “AJ” Jones, does not only deserve Mom of the Year (and I may be a little biased), but “Mom of the Past Decade.” Occupation: Intelligence analyst, owner of AJ’s Tasting Room, freelance writer Three fun facts about you and your family: My son and I love to travel! We try to go somewhere special every spring break. We have our own “accent” when conversing at home, and there is an inside joke or dance that applies to most situations. What advice would you give to new or expectant moms? Stop. Take five to 10 deep breaths (depending on the severity of situation). What goals do you have for your family? Our goal for the near future is to further our role in giving back to the community. My son, Prince, is currently a junior at Tuscarora High School and is preparing to go to college. He aspires to major in journalism/communications. How has motherhood changed your outlook on life? Motherhood changed my outlook on life dramatically. The ability to put your chil- dren’s needs before your own without a thought is beautiful. Describe a favorite mom moment. My favorite mom moment is my son nom- inating me for this honor. What’s your superpower? Hearing. I can tune in or tune out. When tuning in, I have the ultra-high frequency hearing. When tuning out, all I hear is, “Have you heard anything that I’ve said?” What would you say your secret is to balancing life/ family/work/motherhood? A calendar and the ability to say “no.” A calendar helps keep me organized, and it also shows me when I need to say “no” and take time to recoup. Favorite local spot? AJ’s Tasting Room takes me to the best wineries, breweries and distilleries in the area! I can’t say that I have one favorite local spot, but as long as I’m out doing what I love, I’m in my comfort zone. What are three things you use everyday that you can’t live without? Kombucha, the Amazon app and music. What’s the best thing you are reading/watching/ listening to right now? “This is Us,” “The Enemy Within,” and I’m addicted to the “Hamilton” soundtrack. WashingtonFAMILY.com  15 Holly Kammerer Chevy Chase, MD Mom to Kenton, 12, Cally, 9 Nominated by Krysten Jenci Holly Kammerer is an amazing mother and truly spectacular advocate for all the kids in our community. Holly has two children who she supports with all her heart and soul. Through all the ups and downs of motherhood, Holly faces each challenge with courage, love, strength and persistence. She is hon- est, generous and kind to other mothers who can feel overwhelmed and overly taxed during the course of a school year. She is an inspiration to all of us. As continually recognized by the leadership at both Chevy Chase Elementary School and Silver Creek Middle School, Holly takes almost every opportunity to answer the call for parental support. For years, she has volunteered to be the classroom parent, creating once in a life- time memories for the kids in class. Holly has organized numerous school-wide fundraising activities, and recently chaired the school’s 100 year anniversary. Holly’s passion for children – both her own and those in the community – underscores why she should receive this award. She embodies what it is to be a Mom in this day and age. Occupation: Full-time Mom, community volunteer, real estate Fun fact about you and your family: My husband, Doug Kammerer (Chief Meteorologist at WRC NBC4) and I met at our first jobs after college in TV news. We worked in Macon, Georgia at a Fox station where I was a news reporter and fill-in anchor. It was a small market, and sometimes (on days I was lucky enough to not one-man band with a tripod and a 20 pound VHS camera), he would act as my camera man after forecasting the weather for the morning show. He would help me shoot my stories and offer advice on my stand ups and live shots. In exchange, I would edit his stories and give him writ- ing tips. He is so comfortable on camera, while writing is my strong suit. We filled in each other’s gaps pretty well and had a lot of fun laughing and working together. We were just co-workers for a long time, eventually became friends and started dating. We moved around to several TV markets, Macon, Jacksonville, Orlando and Philly before making D.C. home. Turns out we ended up making a pretty good team for life! What advice would you give to new or expectant moms? Don’t worry about perfection. Perfection is the present. Who cares if there are 16  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 dishes in the sink? Drink it all in. Take care of yourself. Laugh. Sleep. Create as many memories as you can. Cherish your female friendships and create new ones. Savor every moment with your children, love and kiss them until they turn away and beg for mercy. As they get older, lis- ten carefully to what they have to say. Always make eye contact when they are talking to you. Get down on their level and play. Enjoy this exact moment in your life … blink and you’ll miss it! What goals do you have for yourself and your family? As my children get older, I miss the chal- lenge of work. The old drive is back. My husband and I had always talked about doing real estate together because we are fascinated by houses and neighborhoods. How do you find your neighborhood? I am the first one to dive in. My goals for my children are much simpler. Doug and I are strong believers in character. We want to raise good contributing members of the community. We want them to have a positive outlook on life, find joy all around and do their best at whatever they want to accomplish, but to be resilient. Resilience is the key. Not everything will always be perfect in life. The key is to keep trying. Describe a favorite mom moment. There are so many, but my favorite times are when we are all together. No one else. Just the four of us. Either playing games or snuggled up in bed or on a road trip. When we can just shut the world out and be together. It’s so simple and yet, it is everything. What’s your superpower? My superpower is my connections with other moms in our community. I am so honored to be included in Moms of the Year, but the truth is, I am surrounded by incredible selfless moms. These dynamic, awe-inspiring women encourage and sup- port each other every single day. They are all Moms of the Year. I can think of dozens of women who somehow do it all. They support their communities, their schools, their friends, their children, other people’s children. I feel so lucky to have these women in my life. I don’t ever complete any endeavor alone. It takes a team of women and girlfriends. They inspire me. Favorite local spots? Maki Bar is our go-to Mommy & Me spot. The Tournedos at Duck Duck Goose is my all- time favorite meal! Our favorite museum is The Renwick. And I love to go dancing with my Mom friends to live music at Villain & Saint. Lauren Lawson-Zilai Potomac, MD Mom to Kiley, 5 Nominated by Justin Zilai Lauren is someone who believes in social impact and is tireless in her efforts to make a difference in the community. As the senior director of PR for Goodwill Industries International, Lauren leads the external communications strategy for North America’s nonprofit leader in workforce training for people looking for employment or career advancement. Lauren serves as a Stephen Minister for our church where she provides caregiving to people facing crisis in life. Lauren also utilizes her skills to provide pro bono PR services for numerous D.C. non- profits, including Mary’s Center, a D.C.-based community center that provides social services to individuals whose needs are unmet by the public and private systems. Lauren is selfless with her time from mentoring others to guest lecturing at local universities. She volunteers with our daughter and ensures that she is enriched with activities from learning multiple languages to embarking on educational outings and taking classes such as yoga. For Lauren, volunteering is a genuine and demonstrated passion, and one that she has instilled in our five-year-old daughter. Occupation: Senior director of public relations and national spokesperson, Goodwill Industries International Favorite “mom-ism:” “Mommy gets cranky after 8:30 p.m. I’m tired. Please go to bed.” What advice would you give to new or expectant moms? Find your support group of moms. I feel very fortunate to work for an organiza- tion where one of my colleagues started a private email listserv to share tips, arti- cles, frustrations and the like with each other. It’s also important to find your tribe of moms who can serve as a peer support group, identify with your strug- gles and triumphs and share experiences, friendship, resources and comfort. What goals do you have for your child? I want my daughter to be inten- tional about helping others and being aware of other’s feelings — treating others as they want to be treated, as everyone has their own standards and beliefs. I’m encouraged by the fact that we live in a society where it’s “cool to be kind” and there is more of a focus on anti-bullying. My daughter and I always talk about “girl power.” As she enters elementary school, I will continue to encourage and celebrate women’s empowerment, inde- pendence and confidence so that she knows there are no limits or boundaries based on her gender. How has motherhood changed your outlook on life? After giving birth, your priorities change. Different issues take different precedence. You no longer have the physical or emo- tional energy for the things that used to occupy all your time. For me, the biggest shift has been the energy that I used to spend worrying about anything and every- thing. There is simply no capacity for that. Describe a favorite mom moment. My daughter came home one day and told me her teacher was complaining of back pain. She wanted to provide comfort to her teacher, so she took one of our big throw pillows, wrapped it up with tis- sue paper in a bag, and presented it her teacher the next day. She has these innate compassionate moments where she wants to care for others. I was really touched by her kind act as was her teacher. What are three things you use everyday that you can’t live without? adventures for families and a GPS so my directionally-challenged self can find my way to all of my daughter’s classes and activ- ities across the greater metropolitan area. A purse with crayons, toys, wipes, tissues, hair bands and the like also helps. What’s the best thing you are listening to right now? Simon Sinek. He is the author of “Start with Why” and also has a TED talk called “How great leaders inspire action.” He emphasizes focusing on your why – your purpose, your cause, your motivation and your beliefs. Why do you get out of bed in the morning? And why should anyone care? As a result, the way we think, act and communicate is from the inside out. It is a great lesson both professionally and personally to put priority on why you do, not what you do, and to follow indi- viduals who inspire those around them or find others who inspire them. Favorite local spot? National Harbor. We love all the activ- ities at the Gaylord during the holidays; the family-fun destinations during the summer from the carousel to the boat rides, the beach and the park as well as the seasonal displays at MGM. A large latte, listservs like Beltway Bambinos that provide recommendations on weekly WashingtonFAMILY.com  17 Kellye Lynn Frederick, Maryland Mom to Austin, 16, Chloe, 14 Nominated by Meena Bhinge “ Savor every moment, take time for you, do your best and release the rest. ” [ KELLYE LYNN ] Kellye is mother who brings tremendous mommy wisdom to her work. We were very impressed how she worked with our children to get the best out of them. A few days after the shoot, I had contacted Kellye to brainstorm for another student community project and she gave me excellent input and also asked her children to substantiate her thoughts. She has a tough schedule while balancing her family life, and she works hard to showcase children, families and educational organizations through her work. When I read the announcement for the Moms of the Year, she was the first person that came to my mind. I think she deserves every bit of this recognition. Occupation: What’s your superpower? Favorite “mom-ism:” What are three things you use every day that you can’t live without? Anchor/reporter “Shine your light today.” Three fun facts about you and your family: We bike ride every Mother’s Day, we go to Disney World annually, and we like to hand out care packages to the homeless. What advice would you give to new or expectant moms? Savor every moment, take time for you, do your best and release the rest. How has motherhood changed your outlook on life? I measure my success differently. My family and their well-being are now my priorities. Describe a favorite mom moment. When my daughter was about three- years-old and got lost in a crowd. Upon being reunited with me, she confidently stated, “Don’t worry, Mommy, God was watching over me.” 18  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 Faith plus determination. Patience, wisdom and forgiveness. What’s the best thing you are reading and watching right now? I love HGTV and inspirational books and movies. What would you say your secret is to balancing life/ family/work/motherhood? Regular exercise, eating healthy, resting and appreciating the simple things. Favorite local spots? I love the local library, any space with flowers and parks or trails where I can take in nature.  ■ Christian Leadership Academy for Early Learners, Inc. 5001 Seminary Road Suite #109 Alexandria, Virginia 22311 (703) 931-1051. Fax (703) 931-2472 www.info@happyhomeclc.com Thank you to all MOM's who do their very best each day to make sure that our children reach their fullest potential.  You are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Always remember that YOU ARE ENOUGH. Dr. Deborah L. Tillman American’s Supernanny Lifetime Television BE APART OF OUR JOURNEY Guided Meditation, Music, Art, Scriptures, Poetry, Cooking, Character Development, “I AM” confidence building statements, Science, Community Outreach, Spanish, Sign Language and much, much more. You were Born to Shine and to leave a legacy of love and leadership to the next generaton. 20 18 WINNER The Area’s Leader in Gifted Education Autism is treatable. Early intervention is critical. Best for Families Winner for "Best STEM Program" in Education Preschool-8th Grade Admissions tours held on: Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. Please call (301) 770-4370 to schedule a tour. 301.770.4370 admissions@ feynmanschool.org 1 1 8 1 0 Fa l l s Ro a d , Po t o m a c , MD www.littleleaves.org 202-420-8359 info@littleleaves.org en Op ! w ay N c o tod i in nfo C s l e i or u B d r m le i L � ll fo Ca WashingtonFAMILY.com  19 MOMS SPEAK Birthday Party Tips & Tricks BY WF STAFF W e asked our readers to share their best birthday party planning tips along with the best parties they’ve either thrown or attended. Check out what they had to say for some instant birthday party inspiration! “Parties are great and all, but let’s stop impressing people with who did it best and start celebrating the child.” — LYSSA P. 3 TIPS “For my daughter’s fifth birthday, she has a huge soft spot for homeless animals and asked if her guests could bring gifts for the ani- mals at Fairfax Animal Shelter. It was a huge success and saved me from clutter from unused toys.” —Catherine F. 1 “For our daughter, who is 2 1/2 years, we decided not to do parties, but to always plan some sort of an outing/trip for her birthday so that she would have some sort of an experi- ence that is special for that day. This is mainly because her birthday is in the middle of summer, and also because we just are unsure whether we want to put together something that we will remember and she really won’t, if that makes sense.” —Marija B. 2 4 “I feel like parties should stop focusing on the ‘party’ and start focusing more on the child. We stopped throwing extravagant Pinter- est parties and instead spent the money on our child. They get to decide on a large gift, vaca- tion or choosing a special friend to take on a day adventure. Parties are great and all, but let’s stop impressing people with who did it best and start celebrating the child.” —Lyssa P. 3 “We’ve done big parties, small parties, com- bined parties and even some years with no party. The best one ever was a combined party for our two youngest a couple of years ago. We rented an inflatable movie screen, ordered tons of pizza, filled the coolers with drinks and invited everyone and their families to bring blankets and chairs. Everyone was outside, kids were running around laughing, even the neigh- bors came over to say how great it was to see kids outside playing.” —Jaclyn D. PARTIES “We had a great birthday party experience at Bach to Rock Music School. We chose a rock band theme. The kids picked an instrument and a popular rock song, and within a couple of hours, they learned the music and had a studio recording. Each kid left with a CD. In between jamming, there was time for pizza and cake. The kids had a blast!” —Julia G. 1 2 ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS/ MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES four chocolate bars of their own. It was a nice change from all of the bounce/laser tag/ trampoline parties.” —Abbie B. “We just did a really cool birthday party at River-Sea Chocolates in Chan- tilly. My fifth-grade daughter and 10 of her friends got to learn how chocolate is farmed, harvested and made. They got to temper choc- olate. And then they got to make/embellish 20  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 “Anything that gives the guests fun things to do or explore. We’ve had fun with deco- rating your own mini-cakes, a foil fashion show (pair up kids with a roll of foil and they cre- ate outfits), scavenger hunts and mini science experiments.” —Jane M. 5 “There are so many options in the area for easy but awesome local parties, but the most encouraging thing parents need to hear is that it’s just as fun for the kids to ‘go simple.’ You don’t have to go big to give your kid a great birthday. Our kids and their friends seem to love the old-fashioned playdate-style party in the basement or back yard with group games (like stacking cups, dance competition, etc.) just as much as the big blowout parties.” —Tricia R. 6 “We switch it up each year ... swim party, home sprinkler party, monster golf (glow in the dark) party, and she gets a say in the plan- ning. This year, she is thinking about a rock climbing party for her tenth birthday. My main mantra is that they need to be fun and for her. And if she wants a not-so perfect cake made by Mom, then I am not going to be embarrassed and make it for her!” —Pam M. 7 “Harris Teeter does a free smash cake for first birthdays. I’m glad we did this. My daughter was so dainty with tasting it. There certainly wasn’t any smashing happening. We did a brunch and donut theme. It was ‘Donut grow up sweet one.’ Birthdays are like weddings, you spend all this time planning, the day comes and you are too busy entertaining to even enjoy it. Take the time to reflect on the day and what’s important about it.” —Shaelyn M. ■ WE NEED YOU! RATHER, WE NEED YOUR CHILD TO BE ON THE COVER OF WASHINGTON FAMILY! Send a photo (1 will suffice), name and age of the child, and contact information to CoverKids@WashingtonFamily.com. Put Cover Kids in the subject box. MAY 2019 washingtonFAMILY.com Summer Camps FOOD ALLERGIES ONE MOM'S FIGHT SEE PAGE 30 CAMP FAIR • FEB. 24 SEE PAGE 51 TEACHING BOYS IN THE #METOO ERA Readers' Choice IS BACK 10 Love BOOKS to 21 INDOOR GLOW GOLF FUN WashingtonFAMILY.com  AT SHADOWLAND SEE PAGE 6 SCHOOL NOTES Roadmap to SAT/ACT Success Strategies for Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh-Graders BY ANN DOLIN A s soon as your son or daughter begins high school, the reality of them heading off to college comes into focus pretty quickly. Not only are classes beginning to get more “college-like,” they’re actually beginning to count for something. And as your high schooler marches towards college applications, you are most likely flooded with questions. Where does my child want to attend? What do they need to do in order to get in? When should we start thinking about the SAT or ACT? Of all these questions, the latter is often the first most stressful in the college planning process. Read on for some helpful advice on what the SAT/ACT preparation roadmap looks like for ninth, tenth and eleventh-graders, and how to best approach and plan for this new milestone. Why practice tests matter • Taking a practice test, especially in a test-taking environment, helps students get familiarized with the structure, content and actual real process of the SAT/ACT. • The practice scores are only shared with the student, so the student can get an idea of where they stand so far without the pressure. • Because a student’s first scores don’t always match up to their expectations, getting their first scores from a practice test rather than the real one is less damaging to a student’s self-confidence. Grade 9: Early Practice Is Good Practice Considering there’s plenty of time at this point, ninth-graders don’t have to stress out too much about SAT/ACT preparation. But, it’s also the year things start to count. Have your student register for a mock test if they’d like to get a head start on preparing. Although it’s not nec- essary at this stage, sometimes the earlier kids start, the more their scores improve over time. As for the PSAT, not all schools offer it to ninth-graders. However, if it is offered, kids should take advantage of it. Getting lots of practice early is important for future success! Grade 10: The New Junior Year For Test Prep Many years ago, students almost always took the SAT or ACT test in the spring of their junior year and the fall of their senior year. However, there has been a huge shift in the last couple of years where kids are taking the tests sooner. For that reason, it’s important for tenth-graders to start with the PSAT if their school offers it. Now, the PSAT is really valuable because nobody sees it. It doesn’t get sent to colleges; meaning there’s no disadvantage of taking it several times. Taking the PSAT allows parents and students to get a better understanding of how they might score on the actual exam. And if they took it in ninth grade already, it will be a great opportunity to get another practice score in and see where they stand. 22  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 For students who plan on taking the real test in their junior year, it’s particularly beneficial for them to start studying the summer after their sophomore year. For example, if a student who is going into their junior year plans on play- ing a sport in the fall semester, they may not be left with much time during the fall semester to prepare for the test. By prepping during the summertime, this allows the student the option to take the fall off from SAT studying to focus on their activities. Then, once the sport season is over, they can resume prepping. Grade 11: It’s Crunch Time Eleventh grade is a crucial year since this is the time students register for and take their SAT/ ACT tests. At the beginning of junior year, it’s important for students to decide on whether they will focus on the SAT or ACT before regis- tering. While it is common for students to take both tests, taking a practice test in ninth and tenth grade allows students to focus their time on the one test that they perform the best. After deciding, have your child register for their first SAT/ACT for winter or spring of their junior year. Get a test scheduled on the books so that they have something to plan around. This will ensure more time to take the test more than once. And then make a test prep plan and com- mit to some form of practice. There are plenty of independent study options out there which are helpful once you know what your child needs to work on, as well as many test prep services. Often, students reach their desired score prior to their senior year, after having taking it a few times. A great schedule for students is to take the first test in the late winter or early spring of junior year, the second test by the end of spring semester during junior year, and then finally, if needed, one in the early summer before the start of senior year. This plan helps students feel more prepared while also giving them enough opportunities to build up their scores. This can be a stressful time, but if you take the appropriate steps, your child can be prepared, confident and ready to achieve a score that will help them put their best foot forward on college applications.  ■ Ann Dolin is a former Fairfax County teacher and current founder and president of Educational Connections Tutoring, serving the D.C. area. PARTY GUIDE ANIMALS CLARK’S ELIOAK FARM clarklandfarm.com clarkselioakfarm@hotmail.com 410-730-4049; 10500 Clarksville Pike (Rte. 108) Ellicott City, MD Have a fun petting farm party with pony rides and a hayride. LEESBURG ANIMAL PARK leesburganimalpark.com admin@leesburganimalpark.com 703-433-0002 19270 James Monroe Hwy., Leesburg, VA Go wild at Leesburg Animal Park! Enjoy indoor or outdoor party areas, pony rides, animal petting and feeding, kids’ play zone and more! Or we can bring the zoo-to-you anywhere in the D.C. metro area. PONIES PLUS LLC 2019 Party Guide LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! Whatever you’re celebrating — birthdays, graduations, anniversaries — Washington FAMILY’s Party Guide has all of the resources you need to make your party memorable. From fantastic locations and party planners to entertainers and musicians, you’re sure to find that special something to make your party spectacular. poniesplus.org; poniesplus1@msn.com 571-283-2408; 12780 Aden Rd. Nokesville, VA 20181 Pony rides, petting zoo, & ice cream truck for any occasion. Smiles are our specialty! REPTILES ALIVE LLC reptilesalive.com; reptilesalive@gmail.com 703-560-0257 Kids go WILD for Reptiles Alive! Bring our fun, exciting and engaging live animal show to your next party, school assembly or special event. Our 20 years of experience in delighting audiences of all ages guarantees your event will be a success. CAKES, CUPCAKES & TREATS JUST ASK MO CUSTOM CAKES justaskmo.com; justaskmo@gmail.com 703-359-5055 An award-winning boutique bakery in Fairfax, VA celebrating 10+ years of business. We offer parties and decorating classes. We pride ourselves on attentive customer service, working within specific dietary needs and the added convenience of delivery. STAY COOL ICE CREAM EDUCATIONAL PARTIES Party Pals! partypals.us; laurakpartypals@gmail.com 571-265-3898 We come to you! Indoor/outdoor children’s party entertainment! Good old-fashioned fun! Masters in Education, Pre-K – Grade 8. PARTY PALS! PONIES PLUS LLC partypals.us laurakpartypals@gmail.com 571-265-3898 Indoor/Outdoor—we come to you! We customize your event. Ages 1-13! Sports, Dance, Parachute, Manicures, Crafts, Characters, Treats, Face Paint & more! Masters in Education! poniesplus.org; poniesplus1@msn.com 571-283-2408; 12780 Aden Rd. Nokesville, VA 20181 Pony rides, petting zoo, & ice cream truck for any occasion. Smiles are our specialty! poniesplus.org; poniesplus1@msn.com 571-283-2408 REPTILES ALIVE LLC reptilesalive.com; reptilesalive@gmail.com 703-560-0257 Kids go WILD for Reptiles Alive! Bring our fun, exciting and engaging live animal show to your next party, school assembly or special event. Our 20 years of experience in delighting audiences of all ages guarantees your event will be a success. SMITHSONIAN EARLY ENRICHMENT CENTER National Museum of Natural History 10th and Constitution Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. seecstories.com; seecinfo@si.edu (202) 633-9587 Description: Have a one-of-a-kind birthday experience that takes place in both the classroom and the museum. Not only will children learn something new, they’ll have a ball with our playful, hands-on activities. We host parties for children from ages 3-8 and have a variety of themes from which to choose. ENTERTAINERS AND FUN THAT COMES TO YOU REPTILES ALIVE LLC reptilesalive.com; reptilesalive@gmail.com 703-560-0257 Kids go WILD for Reptiles Alive! Bring our fun, exciting and engaging live animal show to your next party, school assembly or special event. Our 20 years of experience in delighting audiences of all ages guarantees your event will be a success. FACE PAINTING PARTY PALS! partypals.us laurakpartypals@gmail.com 571-265-3898 Indoor/Outdoor—we come to you! We customize your event. Ages 1-13! Sports, Dance, Parachute, Manicures, Crafts, Characters, Treats, Face Paint and more! Masters in Education! MISTER BARRY misterbarry.com; barry@misterbarry.com 703-851-7606 See the look of surprise and wonder in your child’s eyes as Mister Barry presents his amazing magic and comedy show. PLACES TO HAVE A PARTY MISTER BARRY ADVENTURE ZONE misterbarry.com; barry@misterbarry.com 703-851-7606 See the look of surprise and wonder in your child’s eyes as Mister Barry presents his amazing magic and comedy show. adventurezoneplay.com 301-703-3707; 18620 Woodfield Rd. Gaithersburg, MD Ready to soar in open jump arenas, play trampoline dodgeball, do flips, somersaults, and 10% OFF IN-HOME PIANO & VIOLIN LESSONS Treat your child to a magical sleepover party We create bespoke sleepover themes for boys and girls Select your date and package We deliver, set-up and style. next day we collect (703) 819-9796 Book Your Child’s Party Today! 703-563-1567 www.confettiteepes.com GETTY IMAGES / JUNCE Enroll NOW to receive discount. Visit chansonmusic.com WashingtonFAMILY.com  23 PARTY GUIDE climb with friends? Adventure Zone is the place to be! From kids’ parties to youth groups, you can find everything you want. It’s fitness disguised as fun for all ages. ASHBURN ICE HOUSE Affiliation: William Day 21595 Smith Switch Road Ashburn, Virginia 20147 www.ashburnice.com info@ashburnice.com (703) 858-0300 Ages: 3-15 Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Extended Day DURBIN & GREENBRIER VALLEY RAILROAD mountainrail.com, 877-686-7245 315 Railroad Ave., Elkins, WV; 242 Main St., Coss, WV From vintage diesel to steam locomotives, our trains will transport your group through the scenic mountains of West Virginia in comfort and style! Our trains range from 1½ to 8½ hours in length, so we have something for everyone’s liking! Make aquatic exploration part of your next birthday party! GEPA hosts birthday parties with the exciting themes, or we’ll help you plan your own. Parties are available for ages 3 and up and include a guided tour of the Aquarium Exhibits and Touch Tank, a themed craft activity, and use of a Glen Echo Park classroom for refreshments. 703-359-5055 An award-winning boutique bakery in Fairfax, VA celebrating 10+ years of business. We offer parties and decorating classes. We pride ourselves on attentive customer service, working within specific dietary needs and the added convenience of delivery. HARMONIA SCHOOL OF MUSIC & ART KIDS FIRST SWIM SCHOOLS harmoniaschool.org harmonia@harmoniaschool.org 204-F Mill St., NE, Vienna, VA 703-938-7301 kidsfirstswimschools.com contact@kidsfirstswimschools.com See website for locations The KIDS FIRST® Swim Schools are America’s largest provider of year round warm water swimming instruction, operating 24 locations across five states, teaching over 100,000 students annually. EWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA GLEN ECHO PARK AQUARIUM jccnv.org; 703-323-0880 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax VA Make your child’s birthday celebration one to remember! Fun for the kids and carefree for the parents, birthday parties are available on Sundays from either 11 a.m.–1 p.m. or 1–3 p.m. The first hour is reserved for party activities while the second hour is reserved for food/cake etc. Arts and crafts, cooking, games, gym and jam, ballerina and hip hop-themed parties are available. glenechopark.org/aquarium 301-955-6256; 7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo, MD JUST ASK MO CUSTOM CAKES justaskmo.com; justaskmo@gmail.com Opening Day May 25t h! @ cbw aterpark _ beachcomber SHADOWLAND LASER ADVENTURES kingsdominion.com; Doswell, VA Explore our world-class roller coasters, thrill rides, kids’ rides and Soak City waterpark slides and attractions. shadowlandadventures.com; shadowlandbooking@yahoo.com 703-921-1004; 5508 Franconia Rd., Alexandria, VA 703-263-1004; 4300 Chantilly Shpg. Ctr. Chantilly, VA 301-330-5546; 624 Quince Orchard Rd. Gaithersburg, MD Strap on a suit, enter the huge, 6500 sqft multi-level carpeted arena and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime! LEESBURG ANIMAL PARK ROBOT WORKS, LLC leesburganimalpark.com; admin@ leesburganimalpark.com 703-433-0002; 19270 James Monroe Hwy. Leesburg, VA Go Wild at Leesburg Animal Park! Enjoy indoor or robotworksacademy.net robotworks@cox.net 703-364-5418; 8992 Fern Park Dr., 2nd Floor Burke, VA We love robots and so do kids! Contact us for more KINGS DOMINION & SOAK CITY SUMMER FUN CAMP SkateQuest is the BEST place for you and your family to cool off this summer we have camps for everyone – all ages – all levels! Perfect for the very beginner or recreational skater! Ages 4.5 to 12! $300.00 per week. speed 25% OFF Admission Tickets Use Promo Code 25Washington (Up to 4 tickets, Monday-Friday only) www.chesapeakebeach waterpark.com lazy river AGES: 6-11 dc.madscience.org 301-593-4777, 703-536-9897 Educational Activities. waterfalls lap pool character days MAD SCIENCE slides grille outdoor party areas, pony rides, animal petting and feeding, kid’s play zone and more! Or we can bring the zoo-to-you anywhere in the DC metro area. birthday parties 4079 Gordon Stinnett Ave Chesapeake Beach, MD 24  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 1800 Michael Faraday Court • Reston, VA 703-709-1010 • www.skatequest.com information about birthday parties at Robot Works. provide a perfect location for your child’s birthday party, outing, group event or a night ROER’S ZOOFARI out! Enjoy Fireworks, promotions, special events roerszoofari.com; groups@roerszoofari.com and more! 703-757-6222; 1228 Hunter Mill Rd., Vienna, VA Roer’s Zoofari is a family zoo that covers an area of 30 acres. Come on an open air safari bus tour, CARDINAL FENCING ACADEMY experience animals up close and personal, or 44900 Acacia LN STE 108 have your party with us. Sterling, Virginia 20166 www.cardinalfencingacademy.com/ info@cardinalfencingacademy.com SHENANDOAH DISCOVERY MUSEUM (240) 424-0749 discoverymuseum.net; business@ Our fencing programs introduce the Ashburn, discoverymuseum.net Sterling, Reston and other North Virginia/ 540-722-2020; 19 West Cork, Winchester, VA Loudoun County area students to the many We offer a fun-filled approach to birthdays benefits of this Olympic sport. Beyond the that allows you to have the party your way. We fitness benefits, fencing promotes intellectual pride ourselves on providing the most stress- development, decision making skills, self free party experience in the area! And if you are looking for something a little different, check out discipline and confidence. All taught in a safe, supportive environment. our Discovery Museum Sleepovers. Spend the We focus on Epee fencing: the modern evolution night in your child’s favorite museum! of the rapier duel. Epee fencing is the most straight-forward of the three Olympic fencing SKATEQUEST disciplines: the athlete that hits first scores the skatequest.com touch and the whole body is target. The referee 703-709-1010 trusts the scoring machine completely and there 1800 Michael Faraday Ct. Reston, VA are no right-of-way rules. We are a twin sheet indoor ice skating center Learn the Olympic sport of swords and join us for with full service pro shop, café & party rooms! a fun workout, fencing and new friendships! Open year round! TypesSpecial Activity Parties - Sports SMITHSONIAN EARLY ENRICHMENT CENTER National Museum of Natural History 10th and Constitution Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. seecstories.com, seecinfo@si.edu 202-633-9587 Have a one-of-a-kind birthday experience that takes place in both the classroom and the museum. Not only will children learn something new, they’ll have a ball with our playful, hands- on activities. We host parties for children from ages 3-8 and have a variety of themes from which to choose. Educational Parties, Goodies For Your Party / Party Supplies, Place to Have a Party, Special Activity Parties - Other PUPPETS PARTY PALS! www.partypals.us laurakpartypals@gmail.com 571-265-3898 Indoor/Outdoor—we come to you! We customize your event. Ages 1-13! Sports, Dance, Parachute, Manicures, Crafts, Characters, Treats, Face Paint & more! Masters in Education! SPECIAL ACTIVITIES, DANCE, GYMNASTICS, MARTIAL ARTS & SPORTS BOWIE BAYSOX 4101 Crain Hwy. Bowie, MD baysox.com; info@baysox.com 301-805-6000 Bowie Baysox (Class AA Affiliate of the Orioles) COMPETITIVE EDGE ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE CENTER competitiveedgeva.com info@competitiveedgeva.com 571-398-2813; 14849 Persistence Dr. Woodbridge, VA Create awesome birthday memories at Competitive Edge! We offer a one stop for your birthday party needs. We’ll create an amazing birthday experience full of memories for your child and guests. ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO encorestage.org; info@encorestage.org 703-548-1154 Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA Celebrate your birthday with theatre! Our birthday package includes a party room rental before the children’s theatre performance, and an exclusive backstage tour (for ages eight and up) or cast and crew Q&A session (for ages seven and younger). Plus, your child’s birthday will be announced to the entire audience before the start of the show! FIBERART.STUDIO KIDS FIRST SWIM SCHOOLS kidsfirstswimschools.com; contact@ kidsfirstswimschools.com See website for locations The KIDS FIRST® Swim Schools are America’s largest provider of year round warm water swimming instruction, operating 24 locations across five states, teaching over 100,000 students annually. PLAY N’ LEARN’S PLAYGROUND SUPERSTORES playnlearn.com 410-992-0992; 9033 Red Branch Rd., Columbia, MD 703-502-1864; 4102 Pepsi Place, Chantilly, VA Let us host your child’s next party at our Columbia and Chantilly indoor playgrounds featuring the finest swing sets, trampolines, basketball hoops, foosball and air hockey. Our parties run for two hours and include party supplies. Bring your own food and enjoy in our colorful party room. SHADOWLAND LASER ADVENTURES shadowlandadventures.com; shadowlandbooking@yahoo.com 703-921-1004; 5508 Franconia Rd., Alexandria, VA 703-263-1004; 4300 Chantilly Shpg. Ctr.Chantilly, VA 301-330-5546; 624 Quince Orchard Rd., Gaithersburg, MD Strap on a suit, enter the huge, 6500 sqft multi-level carpeted arena and prepare for the adventure of a lifetime! SKATEQUEST skatequest.com 703-709-1010 Reston, VA We are a twin sheet indoor ice skating center with full service pro shop, café & party rooms! Open year round! YMCA OF METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON 1112 16TH STREET, NW, 2nd FLOOR WASHINGTON, 20036 www.ymcadc.org Linda.Blake@ymcadc.org (202) 232-6700 Contact your local Y for details on birthday party packages. Each location offers something different including walk wall climbing, aquatics, cooking and more. Cakes, Cupcakes & Treats, Place to Have a Party, Special Activity Parties - OtherMisc. Parties & Celebrations  ■ + ICE CREAM TRUCK BOOK NOW FOR YOUR Summer Programs School Fairs Corporate Venues Birthdays 571-283-2408 ❤  FAMILIES SCHOOL GROUPS SCOUTS BIRTHDAYS 7300 MacArthur Blvd Glen Echo, MD 20812 301-955-6256 OPEN: Saturdays 9-5 Sundays 12-5 is Mention th t a ad and ge ! FREE GIFT (Weekdays by request) glenechopark.org/aquarium 240-600-0170; 9812 Falls Rd., Potomac, MD Check out our website to schedule a custom birthday party. GAME GYM 7825 Tuckerman Lane #204 Potomac, Maryland 20854 gamegym.com Admin@GameGym.com (301) 801-7122 Special Activity Parties - Sports WashingtonFAMILY.com  25 What Comes Before Part B ? PART PART – – A – – Y Y Birthday Birthday Party Party Trends Trends Your Your Kids Kids Will Will Love Love BY BY MICHELLE MICHELLE BLANCHARD BLANCHARD ARDILLO ARDILLO 26  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 A child’s first birthday party was once a small celebration at home with imme- diate family, grandparents, neighbors, and a few close friends of the parents. There would be cake, ice cream and presents, but times have changed, and the sky’s the limit now when planning a child’s birthday party. As with real estate, the first big step to planning is: location, location, loca- tion. Will the party be at home, at a public venue with a party room or at an indoor entertainment destination specializing in group parties? Parties at home are still very popular, especially with the resources of Karen Carbone of Car- bone Entertainments readily available. Under her website’s “birth- day party” tab, there are nearly 50 ideas for theme-based birthday celebrations that can be scaled to the age range of your child. Her com- pany will bring two ponies to your front yard for pony rides, or intrigue your party guests with reptiles, exotic birds or a petting zoo. Party mas- cots are very popular, and Carbone has a large selection: from princesses and superheroes to nursery rhyme characters and walking-talking animals. Carbone says that among her most popular parties, for all ages, is anything that allows the creative side of the party guests to emerge. Cupcake decorating and cookie decorating are as popular as ever, but so are the “paint and juice boxes” par- ties where guests create a painting to take home as their party favor. “Everybody loves painting, whether it is with icing to create an edible keepsake” or with acryl- ics and canvas, sipping a juice box and “becoming the next Picasso.” Carbone says that hands-on activities are great for children of all age ranges. Her “fill a friend” parties are a big hit, where party guests create their own stuffed animal. The “fill a friend” concept is also popular, with companies wanting to combine a fun team experience with a char- itable act, making stuffed animals to donate during the holidays or to children’s hospitals. Destination parties are just the ticket for tweens and teens. There are many options available in the ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS/SHIRONOSOV the D.C. area, with everything from laser tag to bowling and bocce ball to ropes courses. ZavaZone’s website, with loca- tions in Sterling and Rockville, describes the experience: “Kick boredom to the curb and create your own adventure at our active indoor parks — perfect for guests, ages five to 105. Adventure awaits you!” Pinstripes, part restaurant/part modernized bowling alley that offers bocce ball lanes as well, entered the D.C. market in 2014, initially in Georgetown but now in North Bethesda as well. Laser tag spots give kids the opportunity to play a live-action video game, and trampo- line hubs like Sky Zone take jumping on a trampoline to a whole new level. Sara Raak of SKG Designs says that desti- nation parties are great because “they offer complete packages of food, favors and the best of all, they clean up!” She says that home parties are still really popular, with parents serving up pizza and cupcakes for the kids, and cheese-grazing boards and sparkling water for the adults who stay to celebrate. Raak says that a new trend in home parties is “a breakfast birthday party, starting with pancakes and a topping bar and ending with birthday donuts instead of birthday cake.” Raak has at-home theme party ideas for kids of all ages: Disney and Paw Patrol themes for the younger kids, and Fortnite and Nerf guns promise a blast of success for older boys. Older girls enjoy slime-making par- ties or spa parties complete with a spa truck parked outside! If parents want to book their own entertainment for an at-home TOP THREE trending birthday party themes in 2019, according to Pinterest: > SCAVENGER HUNTS > ENCHANTED FOREST > BACKYARD FUN party, R a a k said that The Great Zucchini is a local treasure who entertains kids ages two to seven with a 40-minute magic show guaranteed to bring the house down with laughter. With so many options and price points, planning a child’s birthday party doesn’t have to be stressful or time-consuming. Whether you go for a low-key party at home with or without professional entertainment, or invite friends to an indoor activity center for a party package, remember your child’s birthday comes around only once a year, so make it special!  ■ Michelle Blanchard Ardillo is a freelance writer and middle school language arts teacher who knows a thing or two about children’s birthday parties, having worked professionally as “Giggles the Clown” for two years. Follow her on Twitter or Goodreads @michardillo or visit her website at michelleardillo.com. Money Smart FOUR WAYS TO SAVE ON BIRTHDAY PARTY COSTS: 1 Choose a budget-friendly time. Parties in the morning or afternoon mean you don’t usually have to serve a meal, which can add in extra costs. 2 Make your own invitations. Save big on creating your own fun invitations. Print them out on card stock paper. Try using canva.com or fotojet.com. 3 Reuse décor and “shop” your house. Any leftover non-theme specific decorations from previous events or parties are perfect to re-use. If you have particular theme, check around your house for items you already have that can work for the theme. You might be surprised at what you can find! 4 Make the cake. Bakery cakes can be crazy expensive, so buying a boxed cake mix is always a solid option. Another easier and still Instagram-worthy option is making individual cupcakes and then arranging them on a platter as your child’s age. Source: moneysavingmom.com WashingtonFAMILY.com  27 EENS & THIRD IN A SERIES U SE T TOUGH TOPICS Last month, we talked to local teens about underage drinking. Now, we’ve turned to local parents to get their points of view. In collaboration with Baltimore’s Child, we also conducted a short online survey and some respondents agreed to be interviewed. Here’s what they had to say. Ninety-three percent of surveyed parents said they do not let their children drink, and 97 percent of parents said they frequently talk to their kids about drugs and alcohol. But after talking with some of these local parents, we learned that their stance on underage drinking is not as black and white as these percentages suggest. In fact, there’s a lot of gray area when it comes to what parents allow and what they do not. Fifty percent of surveyed parents said they allow their kids to have supervised parties, for example, and of the 7 percent of parents who let their teens drink, all said they also supply the alcohol. Beth from D.C., who has two middle schoolers, believes her teens shouldn’t drink — but only up to a point. “Our rule in our house for any alcohol consumption is 18 and up,” she says. Her reasoning? “If you can fight for our country at 18, then you 28  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 should be able to drink a beer.” She also adds that she lets her teens drink wine during communion at church. A., from Arlington, first allowed her kids to drink around 15 and 16 while vacationing abroad as a family. “We traveled a lot to for- eign countries, where we did allow them to drink when they were with us,” she says. “So, because that happened, it was pretty hard to not let anything happen back here.” For S., a mom from Westminster, her own attitudes about drinking affect the rules that she and her husband have for their two teens, ages 13 and 15. “My husband and I actually don’t drink much, just socially every couple of months,” she says. “So, it’s not something we allow, but we are also not big drinkers or keep [alcohol] in the house.” G., a mom from Towson, says she keeps it “straightforward” with her 14- and 17-year-olds. “Underage drinking is not LOCAL PARENTS WEIGH IN ON UNDERAGE DRINKING BY BRITNI PETERSEN allowed, period,” she says. However, she notes that while she hopes her children wait until they’re 21, she’s also “not naïve to think they won’t start early.” While these parents were eager to talk about this topic, they also recognized the sensitivity of the issue. And they were con- cerned about how they might be judged for what they have to say. “I never said to my kids, ‘Hey, how about you throw a party?’” says A. But she did come home to at least a “handful of parties,” which she or another adult in the household then monitored for safety. “I just got looser by their senior year because by that point, you pretty much know they’re already drinking.” Many of these parents were also less wor- ried about the laws and more about the social and health effects of underage drinking. “Teenagers are not ready for the respon- sibility that comes with drinking,” says Gigi. “They may not have the self-control to avoid addiction, and underage drinking is not safe.” S. agrees with this concern. “Alcohol really worries me because it lowers inhibi- tions so much. People get sick, they aspirate on their own vomit and die, or they go get in a car,” she says. She even adds that if she ever had to choose between her child drink- ing or vaping, she’d choose vaping — the “lesser of two evils.” “Teenagers are going to try stuff. So is it less dangerous to vape than drink? I don’t know,” she says. “But it’s definitely something I’ve thought about.” The parents we talked to also knew of instances where other parents had been penalized for underage drinking in their homes and other related problems with parties. A. recalls once dropping her son off at house party and then soon after getting a call from him to come back and pick him up. “He told me that someone had invaded the parents’ liquor cabinet and some girl had passed out, so the police were on their way,” she says. “I was really proud that he called me.” While parents said they want to be clear with their kids, many were unclear on the laws around underage drinking. In fact, 22 percent said they were unaware of their state’s laws on providing alcohol to minors in their home — and perhaps for good rea- son as the laws vary from state to state in our region. Paul D’Amore, an Annapolis-based per- sonal injury lawyer says that in Maryland, there are two laws on this subject, one that addresses alcohol possession by a minor, and one that addresses providing alcohol to a minor. “The former makes it a crime for a minor to possess alcohol; the latter makes it a crime for an adult to pro- vide alcohol to a minor. Both of these laws make exceptions for instances where the alcohol has been provided to the minors by a member of their immediate family for consumption in a private home or during a religious ceremony,” he says. “So, you can give alcohol to your own children but not someone else’s child.” Yet, that is just the criminal side of the issue, D’Amore cautions. “Two recent Mary- land Appeals Court decisions have made it clear that providing alcohol to minors cre- ates civil liability for the adult if the minor is harmed or harms a third party. So, if parents serve alcohol to minors at a house party, or turn a ‘blind eye’ to obvious alcohol con- sumption, they risk financial responsibility for any harm caused to the children or that the children cause others, say by injuring someone on their way home.” For those in Virginia, the laws are pretty similar, with the added exception that they also allow those under 21 to drink as a guest in the house if their parent, guardian or spouse who is age 21 or older is present. But for the District? The laws are tight. There are no family or location exceptions for underage drinking. In the end, when it comes to teenage drinking, the general consensus among parents is that talking to your kids is key. “We started talking about alcohol and drugs at age 10,” says Gigi. “We talked about the lasting effects of drug and alcohol use. We talked about actions and consequences, and how drugs and alcohol impact individ- uals, families and futures. We had an open and honest conversation, an ongoing con- versation to ensure our teens know where we stand and our expectations.” Beth agrees. “Our kids are being exposed to a lot of stuff that maybe we weren’t. Whether you can identify if your kids are drinking or using drugs or not is less the point than if your kid feels like you’re going to be there if they have an issue and they need to talk to you.”  ■ FACING PAGE, TOP: GETTY IMAGES/PHOTODISC/RYAN MCVAY; BOTTOM: E+/DRBIMAGES; ABOVE: E+/CNICBC Our rule in our house for any alcohol consumption is 18 and up. If you can fight for our country at 18, then you should be able to drink a beer. ­— BETH Teenagers are not ready for the responsibility that comes with drinking. They may not have the self-control to avoid addiction, and underage drinking is not safe. ­— GIGI WashingtonFAMILY.com  29 � e Campagna Early Learning Center at St. James is now OPEN ! We provide high-quality early childhood education to preschoolers ages 2 ½–5 with a STEM and language-rich curriculum which allows children to explore their talents and interests, build supportive relationships, and receive educational experiences that promote school readiness— so each child can reach his or her full potential. We are open 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday–Friday year-round. We o�fer full-time, part-time, and other �lexible rate options. � e Campagna Early Learning Center at St. James is located at St. James Plaza, 5140 Fillmore Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22311. For enrollment information, contact Paulette Shannon, Campagna Early Learning Center Director, at pshannon@campagnacenter.org. 2019 VOTE FOR THE WINNERS! Vote for your favorite people, places and things to do, see, and visit in the DMV! The winners are voted on and chosen by popular vote, so let your friends know it’s time to cast their ballot. As a business, share with your audience to help you win the title of “Best” in your category! Voting closes May 17 Winners will be contacted in June and the results will be in the July issue of Washington FAMILY. Go to washingtonfamily.com/bestforfamilies and VOTE TODAY! LOCAL. TIMELY. RELEVANT washingtonfamily.com 30  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 Contact Jeni Mann for more information at jmann@midatlanticmedia.com THE WORLD’S LARGEST PROVIDER OF CHILDREN’S SWIMMING C CHILDREN H I L D R E N S S SWI W I M M MING I N G I INSTRUCTION NSST R U C T IONN One camp location. 285 acres. 21 onsite sports. 8 miles from the beltway. GIVE THE GIFT THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME! Teach a child to swim at KID’S FIRST Swim Schools! V is it o f a c e b o o u r pa g e k a list of fo r lo c atio n o u r s We Offer: • Group or Private instruction • Mommy & Me Classes • Developmental Swim Team • Homeschoolers Programs • Birthday Parties $10 OFF NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY TO RECEIVE DISCOUNT PRESENT COUPON AT REGISTRATION. Columbia: 443-755-0111 Rockville: 301-217-5910 Germantown: 301-540-SWIM Chantilly, VA: 703-488-9800 Waldorf: 301-638-SWIM Unlimited fun for your child. Peace of mind for you. Bretton Woods Recreation Center has been creating memories and friendships for area youth with unique activities such as ropes courses and camps that incorporate sporting interests such as onsite: Bowie: 301-262-SWIM Sterling, VA: 703-444-9673 Manassas: 703-392-SWIM Laurel, MD: 301-725-SWIM North Bethesda: 301-984-SWIM Golfi ng • Tennis • Soccer Swimming • Hiking An all-in-one location with forest and fields under supervision of experienced, certified camp staff. Falls Church: 703-534-SWIM Bretton Woods also off ers: Healthy Smile... Healthy Child pediatric dental care John Han, DDS Pediatric Dentist Fernanda Fontes, DDS Pediatric Dentist Jenny Ha, DDS Pediatric Dentist Harold Fleming, DDS Orthodontist Dr. Han voted one of the Top Dentists in Northern VA Magazine & VA Living Magazine. GAME GYM SUMMER CAMPS ARE THE PERFECT MIX OF GAMES, CODING, SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCES FROM PROS IN THE GAMING AND ESPORTS INDUSTRIES AND AWESOME-AWAY-FROM-THE- KEYBOARD ACTIVITIES! YOUR GAMER WILL HAVE FUN, LEARN NEW THINGS, AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS AT GAME GYM SUMMER CAMP! Cabin John Shopping Center admin@gamegym.com GameGym.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Leadership Academy Sportsmanship Programs Bretton Woods Adaptive Camp Transportation off ered. See Camp Bus Schedule. *new*Chef Curated Camp Before & After Care CONTACT US CAMP BWRC.org 240.848.9128 www.BWRC.org Sedations Laughing Gas/Nitrous Oxide Emergency Care Digital X-ray & Technology Free Orthodontic Consultation Sealants White Fillings School Exams Kid PDC s C Fluoride Treatment Firs ome Early Orthodontics t Cleanings Check up exams * No Referrals Required Accepting all major insurances and Smiles for Children www.mypdcdentists.com Pediatric Dental Care Fairfax office: 9901 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax, VA 22030. Springfield office: 6120 Brandon Ave. Suite 114, Springfield, VA 22150 WashingtonFAMILY.com  31 The Dogfish Inn & Brewery Beach & brewery tours = grownup fun ’ s t n e Par d n e k e e W BY GINNY LAWHORN D ogfish Head has taken crisp, clev- erly named beers, a truly unique company ethos, three towns in Delaware and in all has created much more than a company: It has created a culture. One sunny, off-season morning, I set out to spend two days immersed in this culture while staying cozy in the Dogfish Inn in Lewes, Delaware. In 2014, Dogfish Head expanded its craft brewing and spirits kingdom to include this inn. This unassuming, two-building prop- erty, formally known as Vesuvio Motel, includes 14 rooms with a mix of double, queen and king options. Adjacent to the main building is a cottage that houses the Cottage SWEET! featuring a king bedroom, a separate living room and a kitchenette. Nearby is the Suite SWEET!, a beach house that provides expanded amenities for vis- itors who may prefer a bit more room to stretch out for their time at the beach. Once settled, I decide to start with the obvious fan favorite and head to nearby Milton to check in for a Dogfish Head Brew- ery tour. There, I meet Kim Koot, a veteran guide. We don our safety glasses and dive into all things Dogfish. Koot starts with an 32  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 explanation of the Eureka moment when founder Sam Calagoine added unwashed, over-ripe cherries to a homebrew, adding extra yeast and amplifying flavor. This happy accident would pivot Calagoine’s life from pursuing a writing career to blazing a trail in the American craft beer industry. As we walk the halls of the brewery exploring classic beers and new expres- sions, Calagoine’s literary background shines through in all of the puns and word play that have help define Dogfish’s “Two days with Dogfish was a dream trip for a beverage writer and business owner like me.” identity — and market share. The brand’s flagship expressions, the 60 Minute, 90 Min- ute and 120 Minute IPAs, found their names in the continual hop process, Koot says. Calagoine found inspiration for this process while watching a cooking show that taught viewers to flavor soup through a cycle of continuous seasoning. He then purchased an electric football game at a local thrift store and rigged the board at an angle to shimmy hops throughout the brewing process. Inn guests have a few more tour options available as part of their stay. The Grain to Glass package opens normally off-limit parts of the brewery to inn guests, and the INNclusive package is available Thurs- day through Saturday for long-weekend visitors and includes roundtrip transpor- tation from the inn to the brewery and later the to brew pub in Rehoboth Beach for $45 per person. Other tips Not a beer drinker? Dogfish Head has spent the last 16 years cultivating a craft spirit line as unique as its beer. The base for all of its spirits is the same 100 percent brew- er’s malt and its proprietary “doggie” yeast base used in its beers. This base provides not only a link to the beer-based heritage of the brand, but also a unique nose-and-mouth feel for its spirits. These characteristics are most prominent in the Analog Vodka, which makes it an ideal drink for folks who like other beverages, such as whiskey. The spirits line also includes a Roasted Peanut vodka, a Barrel Honey rum, a Compelling gin, and my unabashed favorite, a Sonic Archeology bottled cocktail. Cocktail flights and spirit samples are available in the brewery bar. There is beer and benevolence here: All tips contributed to tours and at the tasting room are donated to various nonprofits throughout the year. During my visit, the Sierra Nevada Camp Fire Relief Fund was the featured nonprofit. Later, I head to the Dogfish Head Brew- ings & Eats brew pub. Brewings & Eats originated as the smallest commercial brew- ery in the U.S. The company and the location would expand and, as of early this year, employ nearly 500 team members across all of the Dogfish platforms. The current brew- pub opened in spring of 2017 and offers a state-of-the-art house mixer and innovative concert space. While the focus is on local music, the venue also hosts national acts such as the Mountain Goats, who will perform there in this month. I implore you to try the “Dogpile” nachos. While this combination of Flesh & Blood IPA beef chili, mozzarella cheese, spinach and artichoke dip, cured red onion, pickled jalapeño, fired tortilla chips, cilantro crema and cilantro itself may seem daunting and muddled, this combination of comfort foods comes together delectably. Next door is a finer dining restaurant experience, Chesapeake & Maine. Sourcing seafood exclusively from the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Maine, this Dogfish restaurant features a raw bar, seasonal sides, decadent desserts and 1¼-pound lobsters every Sunday for just $10. As a James Beard Award semifinalist nominee for Best Bar Program, the bar is a destination for locals and visitors alike. Exit through the gift shop: Waggies by Maggie and Friends makes all-natural dog treats with Dogfish’s spent grain and employs persons with intellectual dis- abilities. Also on tap: beer soap and all the Dogfish-branded personal items and homewares you could want. Two days with Dogfish was a dream trip for a beverage writer and business owner like me. My only wish is that it hadn’t gone so fast and that I could work for Dogfish when I grow up. Maybe one day.  ■ Off-Season Awesome What else can you do at the beach when it’s not July? A lot, as it turns out. The boardwalks in Rehoboth Beach and Ocean City remain open year-round, although some stores are only open in the summer. However, cyclists can bike on Rehoboth’s boardwalk in the off-season, something strictly forbidden from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Cape Henlopen State Park is also open for hiking and cycling and offers beach scenery like no other Delmarva locale. The Seaside Nature Center has limited hours in the off-season but is open. Still want more outdoor time? The Cape May-Lewes ferry is one of the oldest operating ferries in the U.S., and offers excursion trips and the chance to see dolphins in the Delaware Bay. How about shopping? Rehoboth’s main drag has plenty of boutiques and shops that remain open, including the ever-popular Browseabout Books and nearby Bella Luna. Need more? Check out the shops in Bethany Beach and Berlin, Maryland, which is also known for its antiques. In Ocean City, many restaurants are open, including Crab Bag, The Greene Turtle, Fager’s Island, Hooked and Pickles Pub, among others. In Fenwick Island, Harpoon Hanna’s has year-round hours, as does Twilley’s Willys, the hot dog joint with the funniest name. The owners of popular farm-to-table restaurant One Coastal took some time off in January but reopened last month. Finally, the Ocean City Life Saving Museum is open year-round.   ■ — WF STAFF Cape Henlopen State Park The Cape May-Lewes ferry The boardwalk at Rehoboth Beach FACING PAGE: COURTESY OF DOGFISH HEAD BREWERY ISTOCK/GETTYIMAGES — BOARDWALK: JOE_POTATO; STATE PARK: MDGMORRIS; CAPE MAY-LEWES FERRY: VISIT DELAWARE WashingtonFAMILY.com  33 HEALTHY FAMILY Hey, Moms! Prioritize You Don’t put your health last! s much as we look to creating healthful habits for kids, it’s time to turn the camera on ourselves and see if we are setting healthy examples. Moms tend to focus so fully on everyone else that it can take a toll on their own wellness, in mind and body. Why does self-care feel selfish? You get the kids to the dentist, the pedi- atrician and their activities on time, but still haven’t scheduled your overdue mammogram. Your kids are outfitted in new sports gear, and you’re wearing worn- out sneakers. You pack healthy lunches and snacks for everyone, yet grab crack- ers and a soda from the vending machine to eat at your desk. Someone else’s needs are always more pressing. Who’s looking out for you? “The identity of self as an independent person versus as a parent is often hard to separate,” says Lauren Pantoulis, licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC). “Most women assume if they take time to look at their own needs that they are being selfish and less of a mother. A feeling of discontent can build over time and result in resentment, relationship issues, fatigue, lack of patience and burnout.” Stress, pressure and anxiety “We are living in a culture of the ‘super mom’ who works, keeps a perfect home, hosts Pinterest-perfect parties, volun- teers at school, coaches a team, cooks healthy meals every night, helps with homework and is raising kind, gifted children who will go to Harvard on schol- arship. At least, that’s what we see on social media and television,” Pantoulis says. “There is a pervasive message that unless she’s devoting all of her time and energy outward, she’s not doing her best for her family.” “We are drowning in the pressure of how we ‘should’ be living,” she adds. “The result is high levels of stress and anxiety, and sometimes depression, as mothers give everything to their various roles in life with- out stopping to think about what makes them feel happy as an individual.” 34  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 Don’t wait until something gives way It’s often not until a crisis point that we think of ourselves, and even then it’s more likely because we’re worried about what will happen to our families if we become unable to care for them than because we’re concerned about our own well-being. Reframe it, if necessary, to see that in tak- ing care of yourself you are ensuring that you are around to care for your loved ones, Panto- ulis says. Think of the airline safety pre-flight speech — in an emergency, you are instructed to secure your oxygen mask before tending to those in your care. Prioritizing yourself allows you to bring your best self to those you love and sets a valuable precedent in affirming that your needs are important. “The identity of self as an independent person versus as a parent is often hard to separate. Most women assume if they take time to look at their own needs that they are being selfish and less of a mother.” — LAUREN PANTOULIS LICENSED CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR (LCPC). Think about what you are modeling Learning how to set boundaries and goals are lessons that will serve children well in life, and they can learn by watching you. “Teaching your children that self-care is important not only teaches them to respect you as an individual, but it also shows them healthy habits for caring for themselves,” Pantoulis says. “When they see you doing things for yourself, they learn that not only is that OK, but it’s good for their own GRADYREESE/E+/GETTY IMAGES A BY COURTNEY MCGEE HEALTHY FAMILY mental and physical health.” Model independence and show the kids that they don’t need you for everything! “You want your daughters and sons to value their own self-care and not feel the need to grow into ‘people pleasers.’ Let them problem solve, take on some additional responsibil- ity or seek support from others,” she says. “These are life skills.” confidence and contentment will soar. And that’s an example worth setting. “Your kids will see you growing as your own person and take pride in the fact that their parent is well rounded, strong and inde- pendent,” Pantoulis says. “It also helps with the relationship between spouses/partners, as intimacy can also suffer when parents are feeling tapped out and frustrated.” Set aside time for cultivating YOUR healthy habits Nobody thinks they have enough hours in a day, yet if necessary you’d carve time out of thin air to make sure your loved ones get their needs met. Do the same for yourself. “Start small. Pick one thing and begin there. Maybe a daily walk, a block of time to read or joining a gym,” Pantoulis suggests. Be creative. Try a guided meditation app. Rediscover an old hobby. Take a healthy cooking class with your spouse. Sign up for a 5K with a friend to keep each other moti- vated and accountable. As you commit to finding time and enjoyable ways to reflect, recharge and restore healthy balance, your “When mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” The old saying does hold true. “Mom tends to be the center of the home,” says Panto- ulis. “And, like a body, when the heart isn’t healthy, the rest starts to falter.” Consider your self-care needs the same as you would your children’s: balancing emotional, phys- ical, nutritional and self-expression needs. Consider ways you can restore healthy bal- ance, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Do a regular “check-in” with yourself, and take inventory of your feelings. Ask yourself: Do I feel resentful? Do I rely on autopilot to get through my day? Am I missing out on enjoying little things and being present in the moment? Am I always fixating on what I have to do next? Are guilt and obligation my motivators for getting things done? Can I find laughter and contentedness in my day? Am I neglectful of my own health — sick more often, gaining/losing weight or sleep- ing poorly? What percentage of my day is spent focused solely on others? Keep that “Mother’s Day” vibe all year Pantoulis admits that even she sometimes feels hypocritical in advising moms to be more attentive to self-care, when she knows all too well how easy it is to neglect your own needs for the sake of others. As a health-based writer and mom myself, I don’t want to go overboard on advice and add to the pressure of what you should be doing (besides, it’s easier to give advice than to follow it!). But I do want to give you this reminder: In this month when we celebrate moms, please take an opportunity to pause and consider your own well-being, recognize your worth and promise yourself the ongo- ing gift of prioritizing YOU.  ■ SUMMER CAMPS! Music Art Theater Camps for Ages 4 to 14 Learn 3D Modeling, Coding, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Game Design, Filmmaking, and more at prestigious universities in the US and Canada like Stanford, Harvard, and GWU. George Washington University 1 & 2 Week Sessions Available (866) 656-3342 PM Extended Care Register today at www.digitalmediaacademy.org Full & Half Days Multi-Session & Sibling Discounts Performances and Shows SUMMER MAIN STAGE Year-Round Music Lessons Sweeney Todd Flexible scheduling during Summer - 7/29 - 8/10, ages 13-18 SCHOOL EDITION Register now for the Cast Placement Audition! Register Now! Early Fall Registration begins 6/1! 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Not to be sold, transferred, trademarks Expires 1/31/19. or restricted. United States. prohibited, taxed mark are registered Inc. where ® MILLERSVILLE way. Void ® and the Jiffy Lube design Jiffy Lube International HIGHWAY, ONLY. LOCATIONS Jiffy Lube ® International, Inc. ©2018 • 8071 VETERANS ROAD, SEVERN GLEN BURNIE of Jiffy Lube SEE PAGE 51 410-969- At This Location Available CRAFT 5 GOAL-TRACKIN Pictured: Student at Reston Montessori School See OLYMPICS, page 14 SER homeservic esmag.com ONE MOM'S FIGHT SEE PAGE 30 CAMP FAIR • FEB. VICE S M AG IN THE IS BACK YOU SHOULD KNOW TALKING MASSAGE PAGE 12 jewishtimes.com 1 10 LoveLoveLoveLoveLove Love BOOKS to toto To advertise please call: 410-902-2300 | Anne Arundel County | homeservicesm ag.com Highway 8037 Ritchie MD 21122 Pasadena, 3311 Brake Service MID-ATLANTIC MEDIA has been covering both Beltways in a MAJO R LEAGU E way for 100 years. 410-349-95 WadeLands 07 capes.com 1 410-768- At This Location Available Brake Service Brake Service ST ATS ANNE ARUNDEL #METOO ERA Reader s' Choice 0 6> 2 Brake Service THE AZIN Fall 2018 24 TEACHING BOYS HIGHWAY, 2610 ANNAPOLIS AT: 7101 RITCHIE PASADENA • OFFER VALID RITCHIE HIGHWAY, • 8037 Highway 8071 Veterans MD 21108 Millersville, 9693 HOME FOOD ALLERGIES Summ er Camps Story begins on page 24 CHECK Highway 7101 Ritchie MD 21061 Glen Burnie, 0183 ild.com PHOTOS I J FEBRUARY 2019 Candle Lighting: 4:45 p.m. A LIFE IN $1.00 With govt. closed, National Photo keeps some turn Lev the art Bar-Av’s of image-making alive to study by Netany ahu dogged looms inquiry as election 3820 Pasadena, Ste G • PAS 410-25 | washingtonjewishweek.co By Jared Foretek Staff Writer Paul morning and t’s Thursday inside the Yeshiva Werner is sitting with the Book of Greater Washington not a student He’s of Esther open. this isn’t a normal but is at the yeshiva federal government Thursday. The Werner employees like shut down and he works Davis was the young- only say that ack when Judy been growing up in — who would branch — have est of four children played in the executive she swam and Bakersfi eld, Calif., furloughed. its up- but never competitively, shutdown has badminton — his For Werner, the her siblings counts. more time with unless vying against 13 years ago. “My week- sides. He can spend an otherwise lazy Th at changed about at the family and use was the Maryland learn Torah. But fi rst time competing 79-year-old says. day morning to back to the he wants to get Senior Olympics,” end of the day, prospect Center. Th ey possible as the medaled in swimming at Father McKenna D25 day of Now, having work as soon as kitchen Maryland the in 2018 looms. Center’s in the Kalb work I of a missed paycheck left , and Sarinah DC Jewish Community and badminton he says, “and the longtime Rockville Jaron Bourke, 700 volunteers for the Edlavitch Wolf “I have six children,” Photo by Lloyd Senior Olympics, of Tikvat Israel were among 25. See page 25. tuition.” pay private school of about 400,000 resident and member ahead to compet- service on Dec. looks on Werner is one set Congregation federal employees Senior Olympics “non-essential” Trump ing in the National N.M. — her as President Donald from Albuquerque, in furlough for June “It’s my than $5 billion the nationals. demands more border second trip to ribbon a wall on the home a national Congress to build hope to bring fi rst in Re- It would be her with Mexico. or a medal.” Democrats and It appeared that able to narrowly to an- the nationals. be decided to wait golds were in publicans would Trump Mandelblit has Her 2018 Maryland mixed doubles in the cases known shutdown of the and Oster nounce his decision 4000 until aft er the avoid the third women’s doubles in two By Marcy 2000, and took silvers page 13 gen- as 1000, badminton; she breast See SHUTDOWN, Israel’s attorney events, women’s ERUSALEM — er na- 15 50-yard swim wait until aft ELECTION, , page She’ll compete See ELECTION eral likely will whether stroke and freestyle. and at least one to announce events tional elections Benjamin in those swim Prime Minister indict will he inves- badminton event. in the three corruption 0 74470 19778 generally stiff er Netanyahu in could be Competition is the allegations older age tigations, but will be in an elections. nationals. She 80 to 84, central to the early be close to Avichai recent years — to bracket than in “Every Sources reported in her favor. includ- Hebrew media which may work Mandelblit told broadcaster that national ing the KAN Year AS FEATURED Road 21122 3820 Mountain , MD • Pasadena Suite G 5-0099 | Tevet 26, 5779 work Many hands, light B Toys CEM & Doug Melissa customer. Expires 1/31/19 Limit 1 Pharmacy 5:44 4:41 | Havdalah By Andrea F. Siegel Special to WJW % OFF DY 25 STU HABITS macy om Phar armacy.c mikesph | Candlelighting Senior athlete looks to national Olympics PASADENA 2018-2019 WINTER % 25 OFF serving www.my Vol. 55, No. 1 3, 2019 $0.75 e er’ s Ey Consum FAMILY.com January 11, 2019/5 Shevat 5779 Page 35 Page 6 washington E COUNTY Consumer ’s Eye M a g a z i n e Keep your eye on your mailbox for the next issue! PUBLICATION EST. Baltimore Jewish Times ...................................... 1919 Washington Jewish Week ................................. 1930 Baltimore’s Child ........................................................ 1983 Baltimore Style ............................................................ 1989 Consumer’s Eye Magazine ................................ 1991 Washington Family ................................................... 1992 Mid-Atlantic Custom Media .............................. 2004 Home Services Magazine ................................... 2018 301-230-2222 410-902-2300 midatlanticmedia.com 36  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 20 mailed zones in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard and Montgomery Counties and York, PA. Call: 301-230-2222 ext. 4 or email: advertising@consumerseyemagazine.com CAMP GUIDE OVERNIGHT CAMPS DAY CAMPS CAMP HORIZONS Ages: 6-16 camphorizonsva.com  camp@horizonsva.com 540-896-7600  3586 Horizons Way, Harrisonburg, VA Residential Camp, Boys & Girls, Teens, Sibling Discount, Arts and Crafts, Cooking, Dance, Drama, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Music, Overnight Camping, Photography, Swimming MARYLAND 2019 Camp Directory W ith each new milestone that our children reach comes the need for information to guide them (and us) through this stage. This is particularly true when our children are old enough to attend summer camp. How do we know which camp is right for them? In an education-centered community like ours, there can be a lot of options — where do we even get started? Right here, actually, with these listings. Read about these camps, what they offer and the ages they serve. Then visit their websites to learn more. On our website, WashingtonFamily.com, you can find even more listings to help you in your search. Be sure to check back on our website and in our magazine in upcoming months for more stories and helpful tips. Good luck! Here’s to a great summer. RANDOLPH-MACON ACADEMY SUMMER PROGRAMS Ages: Rising sixth through twelfth grade for residential  rising fifth through twelfth for day 540-636-5484 rma.edu/summer  admission@rma.edu 200 Academy Dr., Front Royal, VA Residential Camp, Teens, Educational Activities, Field Trips, Music DAY CAMPS WASHINGTON, D.C. HOME RUN BASEBALL CAMP 4410 Massachusetts Ave NW 125 Washington, District of Columbia 20016 homerunbaseballcamp.com tim@homerunbaseballcamp.com (202) 726-8311 Ages: 12-Apr Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Sibling Discount, Extended Day, CIT Program, Sports - Extreme LINDAMOOD-BELL 4900 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. lindamoodbell.com/ contact.us@lindamoodbell.com 800-233-1819 Types: Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Educational Activities THE THEATRE LAB SUMMER ACTING CAMP FOR KIDS Grades: 1 - Grade 8 theatrelab.org  contact@theatrelab.org 202-824-0449  733 8th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. Extended Day, Drama BARRIE CAMP Ages: 4-14 barrie.org  camp@barrie.org 301-576-2815  13500 Layhill Rd., Silver Spring, MD Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Teens, Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Transportation, Arts and Crafts, Boating, CIT Program, Drama/Theatre, Educational Activities, Field Trips, Horseback Riding, Martial Arts, Overnight Camping, Swimming BRETTON WOODS Ages: 4-17 BWRC.org  camp@BWRC.org 301-948-3357  15700 River Rd., Potomac, MD Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Teens, Sibling Discount, before and after care, Transportation, Arts and Crafts, Boating, CIT Program, Educational Activities, Hiking, Extreme Sports, Swimming, adaptive programs, primitive skills,zip lines, lunch included BOWIE BAYSOX YOUTH BASEBALL CAMP Bowie Baysox 4101 Crain Highway Bowie, Maryland 20716 milb.com/bowie/fans/baseball-camp info@baysox.com (301) 805-6000 Ages: 7-16 Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Teens, Needs Sports CAMP ARISTOTLE AT THE AUBURN SCHOOL Grades: Rising K-Grade 8  theauburnschool.org 301-588-8048  9545 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD Teens, Extended Day, Arts, Computers, Educational Activities, Special Needs, Sports CAMP KAH Various Elementary Schools in Rockville, Bethesda & Silver Spring, VA kidsafterhours.com bob@kidsafterhours.com (301) 933-6888 Ages: Entering K-7 Swimming WashingtonFAMILY.com  37 PHOTO AND ART COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES CAMP TALL TIMBERS camptalltimbers.com info@camptalltimbers.com 301-874-0111 1115 Reflection Ln., High View, WV     Residential Camp, Teens, Sibling Discount, Transportation, Arts, Boating, CIT Program, Dance, Drama, Educational Activities, Field Trips, Gymnastics, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Martial Arts, Overnight Camping, Swimming AVENTURAS SUMMER CAMP Whole Kids Academy 6006 Executive Blvd. Third Floor North Bethesda, MD wkasummer.com aventuras@wholekidsacademy.com (240) 242-4957 Ages: Rising Kindergarten - 5th Grade Categories: Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts and Crafts, CIT Program, Computers Cooking, Field Trips, Sports - Extreme, Swimming CAMP GUIDE CAMP OLYMPIA 5511 Muncaster Mill Rd. Rockville, MD camp-olympia.com alingwood@comcast.net 301-926-9281 Ages: 3.5-15 Types: Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Teens, Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Transportation, Gymnastics, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Swimming CAMP SHEEO – SHEEO ACADEMY Ages: 7-16 beasheeo.com/camp contact@BEaSheEO.com Check website for various locations in Maryland 866-697-4336 Girls only, Teens, Educational Activities German International School Washington, D.C. Summer Classes giswashington.org/glc 8617 Chateau Dr., Potomac, MD Educational Activities COMMOTION DAY CAMPS COMMOTION DANCE STUDIO 13097 Wisteria Dr. L1 Germantown, Maryland 20874 commotiondance.com/camps/MASDI.html info@commotiondance.com (301) 515-8908 Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Teens, Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts and Crafts, CIT Program, Dance, Drama/Theatre, Educational Activities C-UNIT SUMMER CAMP C-UNIT STUDIO,LLC 4507 Stanford St.Chevy Chase, MD c-unitstudio.com/summer-camps carlye@c-unitstudio.com 301-664-7900 Dance Arts, Educational Activities, Hiking IMAGINATION STAGE SUMMER CAMPS Ages: 3 ½ -18 imaginationstage.org/camps/summer- camps  registration@imaginationstage.org 301-280-1660  11325 Seven Locks Rd. Ste. 255, Potomac, MD Drama, Theatre INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MUSIC Ages: 3-12 ismw.org info@ismw.org 301-365-5888  11325 Seven Locks Rd. Ste. 255, Potomac, MD Drama, Music DELAPLAINE ARTS CENTER Ages: 6-16 delaplaine.org  40 South Carroll St. Frederick, MD KIDS AFTER HOURS kidsafterhours.com 2122 University Blvd. West, Wheaton, MD 301-933-6888 bob@KidsAfterhours.com Ages: 5-12 GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL giswashington.org/glc 8617 Chateau Dr., Potomac, MD Educational Activities. GLEN ECHO PARK AQUARIUM Ages: 4-7, 8-12 gepaquarium.org; info@gepaquarium.org 301-955-6256  7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo, MD KIDS FIRST SWIM SCHOOLS Ages: 2 months-Adults kidsfirstswimschools.com contact@kidsfirstswimschools.com Check our website for a list of all 35 locations. Educational Activities, Sports, Swimming MID-ATLANTIC SUMMER DANCE INTENSIVE /MASDI In association with James Madison Universities School of Theatre & Dance James Madison University 800 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807 commotiondance.com/camps/MASDI.html info@commotiondance.com (301) 515-8908 Ages: 13-21 Residential Camp, Sibling Discount MAD SCIENCE AGES: 6-11 dc.madscience.org 301-593-4777, 703-536-9897 Educational Activities. SILVER STARS GYMNASTICS Ages: 3 ½-15 gosilverstars.com classregistration@gosilverstars.com 301-589-0938 2701 Pittman Dr., Silver Spring, MD 301-352-5777 14201 Woodcliff Ct., Bowie, MD Gymnastics The Center for Ballet Arts Register Now Summer Dance Camps Summer Intensive Programs July 8-August 10 Ballet . Pointe . Modern . Jazz Tap . Pilates . Kinderballet Ages 3 thru Adults 3955 Pender Drive, Suite 105 Fairfax, VA 22030 • 703.273.5344 • thecenterballetarts.com CAMP ACHVA 2019 Explore. Learn. Create. Experience.  JUN. 24–AUG. 16 9AM–4PM GRADES K–10 JCCNV Camp Achva  JCCofNOVA  jccnv_jcamps ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN. JCCNV.ORG/CAMP WashingtonFAMILY.com  39 CAMP GUIDE SPRING BILINGUAL MONTESSORI SUMMER CAMP Ages: 2½-6 spring-bilingual.org info@spring-bilingual.org 301-962-7262  3514 Plyers Mill Rd., Kensington, MD Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts, Educational Activities SPRING BILINGUAL MONTESSORI SUMMER CAMP Ages: 2½-6 spring-bilingual.org info@spring-bilingual.org 301-962-7262  3514 Plyers Mill Rd., Kensington, MD Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts, Educational Activities BASIS INDEPENDENT SUMMER Affiliation: BASIS Independent McLean 8000 Jones Branch Dr. McLean, VA 703-854-1253 mclean-summer@basisindependent.com basisindependent.com/summer Ages: 2 - 18 Camp Type: Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Teens, Arts and Crafts, Dance, Drama, Educational Activities, Field Trips, Music SPRINGDALE PREPARATORY SUMMER PROGRAM Ages: 6-16 springdaleps.org  johnny.graham@springdaleps.org 855-405-8600 500 Main St., New Windsor, MD Residential Camp, Teens, Sibling Discount, Transportation, Arts, Computers Cooking, Dance, Drama, Educational Activities, Field Trips, Hiking, Music, Overnight Camping, Photography Special, Sports – Extreme, Swimming, Travel GLEN ECHO PARK AQUARIUM Ages: 4-7, 8-12 gepaquarium.org info@gepaquarium.org 301-955-6256  7300 MacArthur Blvd. Glen Echo, MD Arts, Educational Activities, Hiking TEENS TO GO Ages: 8-15 TeensToGo.ORG  manish@TeensToGo.ORG 301-540-4356 14 Flints Grove Dr., Gaithersburg, MD Day Camp, Teens, Sibling Discount, Field Trips, Travel 40  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 YOUNG ARTISTS OF AMERICA’S SUMMER PERFORMING ARTS INTENSIVES 16923 Norwood Rd. Sandy Spring, MD Camp Type: Residential Camp, Boys & Girls, Teens, Transportation, Dance, Drama/Theatre, Music VALLEY MILL CAMP INC. AGES: 4-14 valleymill.com; valleymill@valleymill.com 301-948-0220 15101 Seneca Rd., Darnestown, MD Day Camp. YOUNG ARTISTS OF AMERICA’S SUMMER PERFORMING ARTS INTENSIVES 5301 Tuckerman Ln. North Bethesda, MD Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Dance, Drama, Music DAY CAMPS VIRGINIA ART CAMP AT THE ART LEAGUE Ages: 5-1,8-11, 12+, Teens school@artleague.org theartleague.org/content/art_camp 703-683-2323 305 Madison St., Fairfax, VA Day Camp, Teens, Arts and Crafts ASHBURN ICE HOUSE Affiliation: William Day 21595 Smith Switch Road Ashburn, Virginia 20147 www.ashburnice.com info@ashburnice.com (703) 858-0300 Ages: 3-15 Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Extended Day BRITISH SWIM SCHOOL britishswimschool.com/dmv swimdmv@britishswimschool.com 833-486-3250 Virginia Ages: 3 months and up Boys & Girls, Teens, Sibling Discount, Swimming BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP Ages: 3-10 brooksfieldschool.org camp@brooksfieldschool.org 703-356-5437 ext. 2  1830 Kirby Rd., McLean, VA Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Extended Day, Arts and Crafts, CIT Program, Field Trips, Swimming Congressional Camp CAMPERS AGES 4-14 JUNE 17 TH TO AUGUST 30 TH 40 ACRE CAMPUS SWIMMING, HORSEBACK RIDING, ARCHERY AND MORE... FALLS CHURCH, VA LUNCH AND SNACKS PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE A DIVISION OF www.congocamp.org •Fun and hands-on! •Uniquely interactive! •Eight different week-long programs! •Great for ages 6-11! Spring and Summer Programs Voted Best of D.C. Camp locations throughout the area! dc.madscience.org Ages 4-14 301-593-4777 703-536-9897 It's our 25th Anniversary! Transportation Provided Thank you! To show our appreciation we're offering a Special: $315/week MAD SCIENCE OFFERS EXCITING: AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS • ASSEMBLIES • BIRTHDAY PARTIES • PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS SPECIAL EVENTS • VACATION & SUMMER PROGRAMS • WORKSHOPS “my growth as an actor was immediately evident” T R a Ve l iNg AT THE GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL WASHINGTON D.C. - Classes for children and teens of all language proficiency levels: age 3 & up - Diploma classes (DSD) - Adult classes for all levels - Literature classes - Conversation classes Register now for Summer Camp (4-12 year-olds) www.giswashington.org/glc P L ay eR s Valley Mill Day Camp www.valleymill.com -15 s 8 Age Our Sum 32nd mer What Kids Want To Do!! Join Teens To Go & enjoy a new adventure EVERYDAY! 3-Day Excursions! Cedar Point, Busch Gardens, WCUSA, and Kings Dominion for Grades 3–12 Beginner-Advanced Actor Training Perform Greek Myths, Shakespeare or Slapstick Comedy! Transportation included • Amusement Parks • Water Parks • Zip-Line Adventures • Rafting/Tubing • Overnight Trips • Beach Trips ...& Much More! from MD, DC and VA Anybody can come up with a set of trips, but our EXPERIENCE cannot be matched! www.travelingplayers.org 703-987-1712 WWW.TeensToGo.ORG 42  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 301.540.4356 Find us on CAMP GUIDE THE CAMPAGNA EARLY LEARNING CENTER’S SUMMER SAFARI The Campagna Early Learning Center campagnacenter.org/ programs/early-childhood pshannon@campagnacenter.org 571-982-3924 5140 Fillmore Ave., Alexandria, VA Ages: 2 1/2 to 5 Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Arts and Crafts, Educational Activities, Field Trips 3800 Concorde Pkwy., Ste. 500, Chantilly, VA Extended Day, Special Needs CAMP ACHVA POWERED BY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA Ages: K-10 jccnv.org/camp 8900 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 703-537-3091 Teens, Extended Day, Transportation, Arts, CIT Program, Dance, Drama, Field Trips, Gymnastics, Martial Arts, Music, Needs Sports, Swimming, Yoga CAMP ARISTOTLE AT THE AUBURN SCHOOL - FAIRFAX CAMPUS Grades: Rising K-Grade 9 theauburnschool.org 703-793-9353 CAMP GRIFFIN AT WESTMINSTER SCHOOL Ages: 3-14 westminsterschool.com campgriffin@westminsterschool.com 703-340-7268  3819 Gallows Rd. Annandale, VA Ages: 3-14 Years Day Camp DREAM AND DISCOVER CAMP 14153 B Paris Court Dr. Chantilly, Virginia 20151 www.idea-res.com camps@idea-res.com (571) 758-4436 Ages: 7-11 Day Camp CAMP MSNV - MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA     msnv.org/page/programs/summer-camp 703-256-9577     6820 Pacific Lane, Annandale, VA Extended Day CAMP SHEEO – SHEEO ACADEMY Ages: 7-16 beasheeo.com/camp contact@BEaSheEO.com Check website for various locations in Virginia 866-697-4336 Girls Only, Teens, Educational Activities CAPITAL GYMNASTICS SUMMER CAMPS 10400 Premier Ct. Burke, VA capitalgymnasticsntc.ntc Capitalgymnasticsntc@gmail.com 703-239-0044 Ages: 3 and up CARDINAL FENCING ACADEMY 44900 Acacia LN STE 108 Sterling, Virginia 20166 cardinalfencingacademy.com/camps info@cardinalfencingacademy.com (240) 424-0749 Ages: 7 to 12 Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Sibling Discount, Fairfax Collegiate Summer 2019 Have Fun and Learn! • Rising Grades 3 to 12 Math Science Engineering Programming Gaming Minecraft Writing Public Speaking Art Design Filmmaking Test Prep Free 28 Page Catalog Alexandria • Annandale • Ashburn • Chantilly • Dulles • Fairfax McLean • Reston • Tysons • Vienna www.FairfaxCollegiate.com WashingtonFAMILY.com  43 CAMP GUIDE Educational Activities, Martial Arts, Sports - Extreme THE CENTER FOR BALLET ARTS thecenterforballetarts.com ctrbalarts@aol.com (703) 273-5344 3955 Pender Dr., Ste. 105Fairfax, VA Ages: 3-Adult Day Camp, Girls and Boys, Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts & Crafts, Dance, Musical Theatre, Yoga COMPETITIVE EDGE SPORTS CAMP 14849 Persistence Dr. Woodbridge, VA competitiveedgeva.com info@competitiveedgeva.com 571-398-2813 Ages: 6 to 13 Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Extended Day, Field Trips, Needs Sports, Sports - Extreme CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL Ages: Infants-Grade 8 congressionalschool.org  gherbst@ congressionalschool.org 703-533-1064  3229 Sleepy Hollow Rd. Falls Church, VA Educational Activities ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO - IT’S ELEMENTARY Ages: 4-9  encorestage.org  info@encorestage.org 703-548-1154  5800 Washington Blvd. Arlington,VA Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Drama ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO – SCENES FOR TWEENS Ages: 8-12 encorestage.org info@encorestage.org 703-548-1154  4000 Lorcom Ln.Arlington, VA Extended Day, Dance, Drama ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO – STAGE DOOR & TECH CAMP Ages: 11-15 encorestage.org info@encorestage.org 703-548-1154  200 S. Carlin Springs Rd. Arlington, VA Teens, Extended Day, Dance, Drama FAIRFAX COLLEGIATE SUMMER PROGRAM Ages: 8-14 fairfaxcollegiate.com 703-481-3080  722 Grant St., Ste. J DANCE. LEARN. SHINE. 2 019 Mid-Atlantic Summer Dance Intensive July 14-27 NO M E IN E Guest Teacher Amelia Lowe from “So You Think You Can DANCE” Washington FAMILY Camp Registration Now Open Empower your Summer with Excellence! Ages 3-14 Professional Instruction Free T-shirt with Registration Before & Aft er Care Free! with mention of this ad Children & Adult Classes 301-515-8908 info@commotiondance.com commotiondance.com At James Madison University 44  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 Herndon, VA Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts, Computers, Educational Activities, Photography HARMONIA SCHOOL OF MUSIC & ART Ages: 4-18 harmoniaschool.org harmonia@harmoniaschool.org 703-938-7301  204-F Mill St., N.E., Vienna, VA Teens, Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts, Drama, Music KENWOOD SUMMER DAY CAMP 4955 Sunset Ln. Annandale, VA 703 256 4711 Sports/Art N Crafts camp.kenwoodschool.com KIDS FIRST SWIM SCHOOLS Ages: 2 months-Adults kidsfirstswimschools.com contact@kidsfirstswimschools.com Check our website for a list of all 35 locations. Educational Activities, Sports, Swimming LINDAMOOD-BELL 10201 Main St. Fairfax, VA lindamoodbell.com 800-300-1818 Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Educational Activities CAMP MSNV Ages 3-12 msnv.org/page/programs/ summer-camp (703) 256-9577 Montessori School of Northern Virginia 6820 Pacific Lane Annandale, VA Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Drama, Field Trips MASON COMMUNITY ARTS ACADEMY George Mason University masonacademy.gmu.edu academy@gmu.edu 703-993-9889 4260 Chain Bridge Rd.Fairfax, VA Ages: 18-May Day Camp, Residential Camp, Boys & Girls, Teens, Extended Day, Arts and Crafts, Drama, Educational Activities, Music, Photography Special MASON GAME & TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY – GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY Ages: 9-18 mgta.gmu.edu  mgta@gmu.edu 703-993-7101 10900 University Blvd., Bull Run Hall 147 MS 1J2, Manassas, VA Teens, Computers, Educational Activities MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF MCLEAN Ages: Primary Age : 3 – 6 Years (must be potty trained) mcleanmontessori.org; (703) 790-1049 1711 Kirby Road, McLean, VA Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Educational Activities MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA - CAMP MSNV Ages: 3-12 msnv.org/page/programs/summer-camp 703-256-9577 6820 Pacific Ln., Annandale, VA Day Camp, Drama/Theatre, Field Trips NATIONAL JAZZ WORKSHOP George Mason University College of Visual and Performing Arts College of Visual and Performing Arts Fairfax, VA nationaljazzworkshop.org mattniess@mac.com 703-732-2638 Ages: Raising 8th grader to attend overnight, younger may be accepted for day camp if they can read music and play an instrument. Day Camp NATIONAL JAZZ WORKSHOP Shenandoah Conservatory 1460 University Dr. Winchester, VA nationaljazzworkshop.org mattniess@mac.com 703-732-2638 Ages: Raising 8th grader to attend overnight, younger may be accepted for day camp if they can read music and play an instrument. Residential Camp PERFECT POINTE DANCE STUDIO Ages: 3-11 perfectpointe.com staff@perfectpointe.com 703-533-8830  2499 N. Harrison St. Ste. I-LL, Arlington, VA Dance, Drama, Gymnastics PERFECT POINTE (FORMERLY HEARTBEATS) MUSIC & DANCE STUDIO Ages: 3-16 hbeats.com   staff@hbeats.com 703-440-9000  8060 Rolling Rd. Springfield, VA Teens, Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts, CIT Program, Dance, Drama, Gymnastics, Martial Arts, Music PINECREST PAVILION AT PINECREST SCHOOL Ages: 4-12 pinecrestschool.org camp@pinecrestschool.org 703-354-3446  7209 Quiet Cove Annandale, VA Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts, Computers, Cooking, Drama, Educational Activities, Field Trips RANDOLPH-MACON ACADEMY SUMMER PROGRAMS Ages: Rising sixth through twelfth grade for residential  rising fifth through twelfth for day rma.edu/summer admission@rma.edu 540-636-5484 200 Academy Drive, Front Royal, Virginia Residential Camp, Teens, Educational Activities, Field Trips, Music RESTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL Ages: 3-9 restonmontessori.com office@restonmontessori.com 703-481-2922  1928 Isaac Newton Sq. West Reston, VA Extended Day, Arts, Field Trips ROBOTICS SUMMER CAMPS Ages: 6-16 robotworksacademy.net robotworks@cox.net 703-364-5418  8992 Fern Park Dr. Ste. 2, Burke, VA Sibling Discount, Computers, Educational Activities SPORTS CAMP 14849 Persistence Dr. Woodbridge, VA 571-306-3285 competitiveedgeva.com info@competitiveedgeva.com Ages: 6-13 Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Extended Day, Dance, Field Trips, Needs Sports SPORTROCK CLIMBING CAMPS - SPORTROCK CLIMBING CENTERS Ages: 6-16 sportrock.com/camps  jeff@sportrock.com 703-212-7625 5308 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria, VA Day Camp, Teens, Extended Day, Educational Activities, Field Trips, Sports – Extreme, Travel STEAM IN SPACE Affilation: Academy of Christian Education 10800 Parkridge Blvd., Ste. 150 Reston, VA 703-471-2132 info@myschoolace.com myschoolace.com Ages: 3 year olds - 6th grade​ Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Sibling Discount, Extended Day, Arts and Crafts, Educational Activities, Field Trips, Music THE ST. JAMES ULTIMATE SPORTS CAMP GO.THESTJAMES.CO 6805 Industrial Rd. Springfield, VA 703-239-6870​ Ages: 3-18 Type of Camp: Sports Camp SUMMER ARTS AT MASON Affiliation: George Mason University Fairfax, VA 22030 Day Camp, Boys Only, Girls Only SUMMER CAMPS AT CAPITAL GYMNASTICS NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER 10400 Premier Ct. Burke, VA capitalgymnasticsntc.com capitalgymnasticsntc@gmail.com 703-239-0044 Ages: Ages 3 and up SUMMER DANCE CAMP/INTENSIVE AT THE CENTER FOR BALLET ARTS Ages: 3-Adult thecenterforballetarts.com ctrbalarts@aol.com 703-273-5344  3955 Pender Dr. Ste. 105, Fairfax, VA Teens, Sibling Discount, Arts, Dance, Drama TRAVELING PLAYERS ENSEMBLE In residence at The Madeira School Great Falls, VA ; travelingplayers.org info@travelingplayers.org 703-987-1712 Ages: 9-17 Day Camp, Boys & Girls, Teens, Sibling Discount, Transportation, Drama/Theatre, Hiking, Overnight Camping, Swimming, Travel, Yoga YMCA FAIRFAX County Reston Ages: 3-15 ymcadc.org/locations/ymca-fairfax-county- reston  Ben.runyon@ymcadc.org 703-652-8006 12196 Sunset Hills Rd., Reston, VA Extended Day, Arts, CIT Program, Drama, Field Trips, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Needs Sports, Swimming, Travel  ■ WashingtonFAMILY.com  45 2 019 NO M E IN E Washington FAMILY Registration Now Open at homerunbaseballcamp.com YOUNG ACTORS SUMMER INTENSIVE 44900 Acacia Ln Ste 108 Sterling VA 20166 (240)-424 0749 • info@cardinalfencingacademy.com Fencing lessons • Summer camps REGISTER AT 202.232.0714 OR VISIT STUDIOTHEATRE.ORG PLACEMENT AUDITIONS: JUNE 15 SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE 2nd Annual Autograph Experience and Sports Card Show Also Appearing: Rich Gannon, Fred Biletnikoff, Taysom Hill, Terrell Edmunds, Randy White, Sterling Sharpe, Johnny Rodgers, Mike Rozier, Derrick Henry, Tim Brown, Mike Singletary, Daryl Johnston, Ty Detmer, Andre Ware, Josh Doctson, Derrius Guice, Jerry Rice, Charles Woodson, Victor Robles May 17 - May 19 July 29 - August 2 August 5 - August 9 www.c-unitstudio.com/summer-camps 46  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 Dulles Sportsplex, Sterling, VA For Advance Autograph Tickets and Schedules: Drew Brees (Saints # 9), Juan Soto (National # 22), Cal Ripken Jr. (Orioles # 8) www.gtsportsmarketing.com THE PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO CAMPS AIRY & LOUISE! SUNDAY, JULY 14 JULY 22-28 OR JULY 29 - AUG 4 Camper In Training Day gives prospective campers a taste of the fun during the summer. Campers In Training partake in lots of great activities and live life as a real camper for the day. Parents enjoy tours, meet staff and even get to participate in an activity or two! Open to any elementary school-aged child. Rookie Camp is the perfect introduction to finding your inner awesome. Our special week-long session gives soon-to-be 2nd and 3rd graders their first taste of individual freedom and the fun experiences of summer camp. Campers are guided by dedicated staff who have been specially trained to work with younger campers. 45 acres of @ SPECIAL INCENTIVES AVAILABLE FOR RUSSIAN-SPEAKING JEWISH FAMILIES. CALL US FOR DETAILS - 410.466.9010 TWO GREAT OPTIONS - ONE AMAZING EXPERIENCE! REGISTER TODAY CIT Day: airylouise.org/citday Rookie Camp: airylouise.org/rookies Ages 4-14 Barrie Camp is an extraordinary environment for summer learning, exploration, and fun with on-site swimming, horseback riding, coding, archery, musical theater, and more! Come see for yourself! Contact Us for a Tour 301-576-2815 camp@barrie.org NEW Bus Routes in Olney! barrie.org/camp 13500 Layhill Road, Silver Spring, MD • Minutes from the ICC & Glenmont Metr o • Transportation and Extended Day Available 190319 Wash Family Camp.indd 1 3/19/2019 3:30:49 PM WashingtonFAMILY.com  47 MONTESSORI GUIDE Discovering Montessori DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Montessori children discover: • Learning creatively and spontaneously • Learning at their own pace • Developing to their greatest potential • Encouragement to choose work and make decisions THE CHILDREN'S HOUSE OF WASHINGTON thechildrenshouseofwashington.com chowdirector@gmail.com 3133 Dumbarton St., N.W. Washington, D.C. Toddler: Nearly 2-3; Primary: 3-6 202-342-2551 WATERFRONT ACADEMY waterfrontacademy.org info@waterfrontacademy.org 60 I St. S.W., Washington, D.C. Ages: Toddler-Early Adolescent 202-484-0044 THE BETHESDA MONTESSORI SCHOOL bethesdamontessori.com admissions@bethesdamontessori.com 7611 Clarendon Rd., Bethesda, MD Ages: 3-6 301-986-1260 BUTLER SCHOOL butlerschool.org amy@butlerschool.org 15951 Germantown Rd., Darnestown, MD Ages: 18 months-14 301-977-6600 CHILDREN'S HOUSE AT HOLLY HILL MONTESSORI hollyhillmontessori.com hollyhillmontessori@gmail.com 19137 Mateny Hill Rd., Germantown, MD Ages: 2-5 202-246-0547 MONTGOMERY MONTESSORI INSTITUTE montessori-mmi.com pamela.montessori@hers.com 10500 Darnestown Rd., Rockville, MD Montessori Teacher Education (Adult) 301-279-2799 VIRGINIA BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL brooksfieldschool.org brksfield@aol.com 1830 Kirby Rd., McLean, VA Ages: 2-6 703-356-KIDS CARDINAL MONTESSORI cardinalmontessori.com cardinalmontessori@gmail.com 1424 G St., Woodbridge, VA Ages: 3-12 703-491-3810 ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS / FATCAMERA • Learning that lasts a lifetime AIDAN MONTESSORI SCHOOL aidanschool.org admissions@aidanschool.org 2700 27th St., N.W., Washington, D.C. Ages: 18 months-12 202-387-2700 MARYLAND 48  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 CHILDREN'S HOUSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL montessoriofarlington.com office@chms-arlington.com 2425-A North Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA Ages: 2-6 703-276-1360 MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CEDAR LANE preschoolmontessori.com info@cedarlanemontessori.com 3035 Cedar Ln., Fairfax, VA Ages: 3-6 703-560-4379 HOLLY BROOK MONTESSORI SCHOOL preschoolmontessori.com info@hollybrookmontessori.com 2455 Gallows Rd., Dunn Loring, VA Ages: 3-5 703-573-7800 ONENESS-FAMILY SCHOOL onenessfamily.org admissions@onenessfamily.org 6701 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Chase, MD High School: 9411 Connecticut Ave., Kensington, MD Ages: 2-High School 301-652-7751 HUNTER MILL MONTESSORI SCHOOL preschoolmontessori.com info@huntermillmontessori.com 2709 Hunter Mill Rd., Oakton, VA Ages: 2 years 9 months-5 703-938-7755 MONARCH CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI kidslovemonarch.com kidslovemonarch@gmail.com 15120 Enterprise Ct., Ste. 100, Chantilly, VA Ages: 18 months-6 703-961-8281 RESTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL restonmontessori.com office@restonmontessori.com 1928 Isaac Newton Sq., Reston, VA Ages: 3 months-Grade 6 703-481-2922 SUNSET HILLS MONTESSORI sunsethillsmontessori.com office@sunsethillsmontessori.com 11180 Ridge Heights Rd., Reston, VA 703-476-7477  ■ Parenting isn’t easy, but there are strategies that can help. Parenting HelpLine: 800.243.7337 familytreemd.org/flip Find us on Does your child need… A place to make friends with support? A camp with structure & consistency ? A supportive & highly trained group of staff? A more understanding camp environment? A low camper to teacher ratio? A small camp environment? Camp Aristotle at The Auburn School a camp program that supports social development through fun and friendship! Fairfax, Silver Spring and Baltimore www.camparistotle.org Open House: December 6th from 6:30pm-7:30pm. WashingtonFAMILY.com  49 BOOK MARKED The Gift of Reading 8 Children’s Picture Books That Make Great Gifts BY WF STAFF It’s not always easy picking out a gift for someone, especially if that someone is your child’s friend. What current toys do they not already have? When in doubt, gift a good book. It’s a classic, fool-proof choice, and an essential great read never goes out of style. So, next time you’re in need of the perfect child’s birthday gift, pick up one of these must-have books below. Each one these titles are a wonderful addition to any child’s reading collection! “Llama, Llama, Red Pajama” “Press Here” by Anna Dewdney by Herve Tullet In this classic and infectious rhyming book, Baby Llama turns bedtime into an all-out llama drama! Tucked into bed by his mama, Baby Llama immediately starts worrying when she goes downstairs, and his soft whimpers turn to hollers when she doesn’t come right back. But just in time, Mama returns to set things right. Children will relate to Baby Llama’s need for comfort, as much as parents will appreciate Mama Llama’s reassuring message. “You Are My I Love You” by Maryann Cusimano Love This all-time family-favorite book describes a day in the life of a parent and child. It’s full of smiles and giggles, messes and meals, boundless energy and well-earned rest. Not to mention lots of love. It all comes together in simple rhyming verses accompanied by colorful, playful illustrations. “I Took the Moon for a Walk” by Carolyn Curtis When the day has ended and everyone else has fallen asleep, a young boy embarks on a magical adventure with his friend the Moon. Their unusual journey is described in lyrical verse, creating an enchanting story that celebrates the serene beauty of the world at night. “Giraffes Can’t Dance” “The Wonderful Things You Will Be” by Giles Andreae by Emily Winfield Martin Giraffes Can’t Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who wants nothing more than to dance. With crooked knees and thin legs, it’s harder for a giraffe to dance than you would think. Gerald is finally able to dance to his own tune when he gets some encouraging words from an unlikely friend. 50  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 Press the yellow dot on the cover of this interactive children’s book, follow the instructions within and embark upon a magical journey! Each page of this sur- prising touch book instructs the reader to push the button, shake it up, tilt the book, and who knows what will happen next! Children will giggle as the dots mul- tiply, change direction and grow in size — igniting creativity. This is a story that extends through life- times. From brave and bold to creative and clever, this book expresses all the loving things that parents think of when they look at their children. With beautiful illustrations and a clever gatefold with kids in costumes, this is a book families will love reading over and over. BOOK MARKED Happy Birthday, Blue Balliett! “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids” by Carol McCloud While using a simple metaphor of a bucket and a dipper, author Carol McCloud illustrates that when we choose to be kind, we not only fill the buckets of those around us, but also fill our own bucket! All day long, we are either filling up or dipping into each other’s buckets by what we say and what we do. This book teaches empathy, kindness and spreading around happiness. “The Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt This hilarious and fun story outlines the tale of colorful and hardworking crayons as they try to talk to their cre- ative owner from taking a break from their coloring duties. Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. What will make them resume their essential duties? “Little Blue Truck” by Alice Schertle Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up — that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue’s pack of farm animal friends are willing to do whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road. This book is full of truck sounds and animal noises that kids will love. And it sends a mes- sage about the power of friendship and helping others. “The Pout-Pout Fish” by Deborah Diesen Swim along with the pout-pout fish as he discovers that being glum and spreading “dreary wearies” isn’t really his destiny. Bright ocean colors and playful rhyme come together in this super fun and humorous fish story that aims to turn even the poutiest of frowns upside down.  ■ Each month, we celebrate a birthday of literary significance. “Any time you can get kids curious, they’re going to pay attention and focus in a different way,” writes Blue Balliett. Balliett is the American author of several bestselling and acclaimed mystery novels, including “Chasing Vermeer,” “The Wright 3,” “The Calder Game” and “The Danger Box.” Her work has the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Juvenile Novel, Chicago Tribune Prize for Young Adult Fiction, the Agatha Award for Best YA Novel, as well as a spot in the official White House library. Her book “The Danger Box” was given to President Obama in January 2011 as a gift from the American Booksellers Association. Book Worm Angels, a Chicago- based organization that continuously provides thousands of books to classrooms in public schools across the city, also honored Balliett with the 2012 Kermit W. Myers Achievement Award, for “extraordinary contributions to literacy.” Balliett’s books also stretch across many audiences, as her writings appear in more than 30 languages. Born and raised in New York City, she studied art history at Brown University. Now, she lives in Chicago and has taught at The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. These days writes full time, all from the comfort of the Hyde Park home that she shares with her husband and three children.  ■ WashingtonFAMILY.com  51 Register Now for Spring Session Classes! Summer Camps and Classes coming soon! Classes • Birthday Parties • Open Gym • Competitive Team • Camps formerly HeartBeats Music & Dance It’s Not Just Gymnastics, It’s Gymtastic! REGISTER NOW FOR CAMP! summer drama camps NO SCHOOL! DAY CAMP • SPRING BREAK CAMP SUMMER CAMP Register online at www.gosilverstars.com Two Great Locations! 2701 Pittman Drive, Silver Spring, MD 301-589-0938 301-589-1717 fax 14201 Woodcliff Ct, Bowie, MD 301-352-5777 301-352-8414 fax June-August Grades 1-8 theatrelab.org · 202-824-0449 733 8 th St NW, Gallery Place Metro SUMMER FUN ISSUE Register Now for Spring Session, Summer Camps, and Summer Classes - Don't Miss Out! June Highlights... WASHI NGTON + Summer Festivals + Travel & Weekend Away + Local Dad Spotlight · Summer Learning, Warm Weather Reads, Local Father’s Day Events AND Our Baby & Maternity Guide! washing tonFAM ILY.com June 2018 SQUASH THE SUMMER SLUMP TIPS ON TICKS How to keep your kids educationally engaged Expert Ways to Stay Tick-Free WELCOME TO Weekly WASHING Readership: TON G 147,000 UIDE 10 PICTURED: DR. CHRISTINA Page Views: JOHNS, PHYSICIA N AT PM PEDIATRIC S (SEE PG.13) 13,000 E-News Subscribers: 23,500 Facebook Followers: 6,117 CALL NOW TO ADVERTISE PACKAGE RATES AVAILABLE. 301-230-2222, EXT 4 OR ADVERTISING@WASHINGTONFAMILY.COM 52  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 FATHERʼS DAY EVENTS DMV FUN MOM’S DAY OUT! 9 Local Mother’s Day Events BY ADRANISHA STEPHENS S ure, Mother’s Day gifts are always a pleasant surprise, but this holiday isn’t about spending a ton of cash — it’s about spending quality time with one of the most important people in our lives: Mom. Instead of a flower display or a sweet card, treat Mom (or yourself!) to a day that’s extra special. Whether it’s getting out and exploring or relaxing and unwinding, our list of fun activities to do together will make this Mother’s Day one for the books. MOTHER’S DAY POT PAINTING AND HERB GROWING CLASS SAT. MAY 11 This Mother’s Day, take Mom to a pot painting and herb growing class. She will receive a hand- painted gift and a plant that you picked out just for her. Supplies are provided, along with tips and tricks on how to make this a memorable gift that keeps on giving. 910 Bladensburg Rd., N.E., Washington, D.C., 1-2 p.m., $26, cultivatethecity.com. MOTHER’S DAY KOMBUCHA WORKSHOP SAT. MAY 11 Take Mom out this weekend for an unconventional Mother’s Day Tea. Instead of your typical tea party, make a batch of fresh kombucha with integrative nutrition health coach Rachel Abbett. Guests will learn how to make this fizzy beverage as Abbett explains the do’s and don’ts of fermentation. You will leave with a mason jar full of starter kombucha, along with the knowledge to get brewing in your own kitchen. The workshop will conclude with an all-ages alternative to wine tasting, where patrons will sample various flavors as well as blend their own. 102 E. Fairfax St., Falls Church, Virginia. 11:30-1 p.m., Tickets start at $30, facebook.com/ luminousandgrounded. MOTHER’S DAY 5K, 10K THROUGH MAY Instead of brunching it up this Mother’s Day, why not run for a cause? Celebrate that special someone in your life with the sixth annual Mother’s Day 5K & 10K, hosted by Virtual Run Events. You choose the course and pace as you time yourself and report your finishing times to the organization. Of each registration, 15 percent will go to VITAMIN ANGELS, an institution that administers vitamins and minerals to mothers and babies that need them. Guests can complete their race any time in May, even better if it’s on Mother’s Day. Check website for location and time, Tickets start at $9, virtualrunevent.com. MOTHER’S DAY PICNIC SUNDAY, MAY 12 Spend the day with Mom at James Charles Winery and enjoy a picnic at the vineyard in her honor. As you indulge in a specialized meal, make sure to grab a seat out on the terrace to watch some live music. James Charles Winery and Vineyard, 4063 Middle Rd., Winchester, Virginia. Tickets start at $20, jamescharleswine.com. MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND AT MT. VERNON MAY 11-12 Stop by George Washington’s place to see a bit of American history, take in gorgeous views of the Potomac and grab a photo with Mrs. Martha Washington. She will be handing out lavender sachets to all moms on the Mansion’s piazza. 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Virginia, 9–5 p.m, Tickets start at $20, mountvernon.org. fingers and mac and cheese. 11920 Grand Park Ave., North Bethesda, Maryland, 10-4 p.m. Tickets start at $34 for adults, $15 for children ages 6-12, kids 5 and younger are free, pinstripes.com. MOTHER’S DAY CRUISE MOTHER’S DAY TEA AT GREEN SPRING GARDENS MAY 13 Guide the family aboard the Odyssey and treat Mom to an event full of food, live music and breathtaking views. Pick between a two- or two-and- a-half-hour cruise along the Potomac River, and take in historical D.C. landmarks from the water. The brunch buffet includes items like smoked salmon and a build-your-own Belgian waffle, while the lunch menu offers prime rib, salmon and a dessert station. 600 Water St., S.W., Washington, D.C., Tickets start at $82.90/adult, $49.74/child for brunch and lunch; $109/person for dinner/ 9:15 a.m. boarding time for brunch, 2:15 for lunch and dinner, odysseycruises.com. MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH AT PINSTRIPES MAY 13 This Mother’s Day, what better way to celebrate than with a fun game of bowling and food? Dishes include custom omelets, carved prime rib, fresh shrimp, bagels, smoked salmon, waffles and a chocolate fountain. For the young ones, there’s even a Kids Corner with pizza, chicken MAY 13 Sip on some tea and listen to classic poetry, all dedicated to moms this Mother’s Day. Make sure to stroll through the wooded stream valley, layered with more than 20 thematic demonstration gardens before or after the event. There will also be prize drawings and favor bags available. 4603 Green Spring Rd. Alexandria, Virginia, 1 p.m., $45, fairfaxcounty.gov. MOTHER’S DAY GARDEN TOUR AT TUDOR PLACE HISTORIC HOUSE AND GARDEN MAY 13 Take a springtime tour with Mom this Mother’s Day as experts guide you through an expedition of the historic gardens at this 5.5-acre, 19th-century property. Learn about plants that were initially seeded a century ago, such as the Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow forget-me-nots, Florentine tulips and grape varieties ascending the North Garden Arbor. 1644 31st St., N.W., Washington, D.C., tudorplace.org, 9-10 a.m., Tickets start at $15 for members, $20 for non-member, tudorplace.org.  ■ WashingtonFAMILY.com  53 LAST WORD It Takes a Village How My Child’s Eating Habits Changed and I Had Nothing to Do With It BY KATHRYN STREETER T “I felt helpless as a mom, trying to balance what I knew was ‘normal’ while also agonizing that unlike most kids, my son refused carrots or grapes.” ­— KATHRYN STREETER GETTY IMAGES/E+/PINSTOCK he sun descended into the ocean, a fiery orange ball igniting disco-like flashes across the rolling waves. Sunburned, the kids were weary, beginning to fray. Parents faced the aftermath of a full day at the beach, involving lots of sand tracks through the house and messy baths because of said sand. The grandparents turned their attention to dinner: It was burger night. Unlike everyone else, my son’s burger was plain; he wouldn’t let lettuce and tomato ruin his hamburger. The cousins sat together at the bar, boys to one side, the giggly girls the other. Cough- ing and vomiting suddenly hushed all laughter and conversation. “Ewww! Gross,” the girls shrieked. A cousin had pranked my son, hiding a small succulent piece of lettuce in his burger. Every- thing in my kid’s stomach from the day now decorated his once-plain burger. I caught my weary head in my hands. This scene was a vivid reminder that our son had issues with vegetables. He started rejecting fresh produce as a wee toddler, but it wasn’t until he began gagging and throwing-up that I accepted his aversion wasn’t in his mind or a childish act of rebellion. With the exception of applesauce, he simply couldn’t tolerate the texture of produce. As he grew, he enjoyed junk food like any kid. Candy. Ice cream. Chips. When junior high arrived, energy drinks were the rage and my son’s friends introduced him to Monster. I felt helpless as a mom, trying to balance what I knew was ‘nor- mal’ while also agonizing that unlike most kids, my son refused carrots or grapes. He looked like the picture of health, but I worried a lifetime of bad eating habits would dog him. My admonitions that he re-try fruits and vege- tables every so often didn’t only fall on deaf ears, they deepened his resistance. All things consider- ing, I let go. I couldn’t fix this. Instead, I choose to prioritize my relationship with him. And then, one day, everything started chang- ing. My son was required to read Michael Pollan’s “The Omnivore’s Dilemma Young Readers Edi- tion” for his ninth grade English class. Using the question “What’s for dinner?” as a prompt, Pollan unpacks what is hidden in the everyday foods we consume. My teen’s curiosity was whet. What he learned appalled him. 54  WashingtonFAMILY  MAY 2019 “Do you actually know what we are eating, Mom?” His reaction was pure disgust as he learned what processed food is. Frowning, he read food labels. Around the dinner table, he singled out corn, but not in the way you may think. “Corn-filler is slipped into just about every- thing we eat. It’s terrible for you!” I was getting lectured, but I didn’t mind. Every fleeting anx- iety I’d had about his posture toward food vanished. Overnight, he had morphed into an advocate for health, urging me to quit buy- ing white rice. White rice, he explained, was stripped of all its protein and minerals so it had a longer shelf life. “Brown rice is loaded with protein. Get that.” Nodding, I listened in silence. This book was teaching him in ways I couldn’t. When he changed, I had to change, too. Whole- grain bread for sandwiches and protein-packed energy bars fill my grocery cart. For breakfast, granola fresh out of the grocery storage bins or oatmeal, the old-fashioned rolled oats kind, “Not the instant packets, Mom!” I had been regularly buying ice cream for my teens but suddenly it got freezer-burn. Sugary cereal got stale. He cut back on all of the processed foods I’d stocked the pantry with. He boosted his water intake. Gratefully, he had always liked fish and we stepped up our consumption. On an ordinary school night, I tap on his bed- room door. “Tea.” He’s quit dessert and instead, ends the day with hot tea. Taking chamomile back to his room also gives me a chance to say good- night to my high-schooler. In the morning, out of the corner of my eye, I see him remove a bag of Pringles from his brown-bag lunch. “That’s junk, Mom. Empty calories.” He reaches instead for almonds and cashews. “I’m still getting the hang of this!” Truly, I am. There may come a day when he reattempts a hamburger with lettuce. But even if he doesn’t, his foundational thinking about food and health no longer troubles me. I know I can’t take any credit for this vic- tory and honestly, it doesn’t matter. I long ago accepted that it takes a village to raise a child. Today, I recognize that books are influential members of this community as well.  ■ Kathryn Streeter is a D.C.-based mom and blogger. Discover the perfect resort experience with free activities and waterfront fun all summer long in National Harbor, Maryland. Visit July 2-6 for even more family fun! Book your stay at GaylordNational.com/SummerFest AQUAFINA is a registered trademark of PepsiCo, Inc. PRESENTED BY WashingtonFAMILY.com  55 DC Register for Summer Day Camp at the Y! The Y Creates Meaningful Summer Camp Experiences that Last a Lifetime. 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