March Offers at a Glance

Adventure Day Camp. . . . . . $75 discount per child

American Swim Academy. . . . . . $20 off swim lessons

Kelly Maddox Riding Academy. . . . . 20% off your first lesson 

Diablo Valley Jumpers. . . . . . 15% off your rental 

Jenn Hoffmann Photography. . . . . FREE 5x7 print with your session 

Hayjac Jewelry. . . . . 15% off your order. Use promo code: BAMOMS15 

EllaK Jewelry. . . . . . FREE priority shipping with your order 

Esteller Martial Arts. . . . . . 20% off the first 3 months 

Simply Inspired Photography. . . . . . $50 off photography session 

Viva el Español. . . . . . FREE first time trial class! 

Utopia Tanning & Spa. . . . . . $10 off any service 

Gaels Summer Camp. . . . . . $25 discount per child 

Shear Adventures. . . . $2 off one childʼs haircut (1 discount per family) 

Mu Salon. . . . . . 15% off your first service 

College Nannies & Tutors. . . . . . Save $138 for limited time! 

Cupidʼs Tooth. . . . . . 15% off your total purchase 

Kids & Teens World. . . . . .10% off furniture & 20% off playsets 

Galileo Summer Camp. . . . . $15 off your camp purchase

Finding the Right Camp - Questions to Ask

By Ann & Hobie Woods

Owners - Roughing it Day Camp

1. What is the camp directorʼs experience? Meet and learn about the experience of the director who will be in charge of the camp. Find out how long they have been with the camp and what their experience has been in the recreation and/or education industry.
2. What is the campʼs philosophy in working with children? Ask specifically about how the camp handles competition, awards/recognition, discipline, and how the staff is trained in counseling and leadership skills.
3. Is the camp accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA)? An ACA accredited camp has gone through a review with up to 300 health, safety, staffing, and program quality standards. Accreditation assures parents that the camp is committed to meeting the standards of the industry and in fostering a safe and nurturing environment.
4. What is the staff to camper ratio? Knowing the staff to camper ratio gives you an insight into the supervision a camp offers. The number should include the total number of available staff (counselors, program and administrative staff). ACA recommends the following staff to camper ratios: 1:6 for ages 4 and 5 years, 1:8 for ages 6 to 8 years; 1:10 for ages 9 to 14 years; and 1:12 for ages 15 to 17.
5. Is adult supervision of your child CONSTANT? Some parents assume their will be constant supervision by adult staff members, however this is some- times not the case. Often times, teens or Jr. Counselors are used to super- vise the campers in non-structured periods of the day when there is no or minimal adult staff members present.
6. How is the staff selected? Check the campʼs website for an employment section and review the standards used in selecting staff. Find out if they check applicantsʼ references, submit background checks, and do face - to- face interviews.
7. Do the camp fees cover all the costs? Does the fee include specialty programs such as instruction in horseback riding, swimming, and waterfront activities? What about transportation to and from camp? At some camps, the camp fee is all inclusive.

Ann and Hobie Woods are the Directors of Roughing It Day Camp, the longest accredited day camp in the bay area. They met as summer camp counselors in college and founded Roughing It in 1972. Their own daughters, as well as thousands of children in the Bay Area have grown up through Roughing It. Learn more at www.roughingit.com or email Ann directly with questions: ann@roughingit.com

Home for the Holidays in Pleasanton, Ca

We love this event! Christmas Tree Lane presents Home for the Holidays, featuring four events spanning over three days. One of our favorites, the Wonderland Family Stroll, where children take photos with Santa, shop for their parents in Santa's Secret Shop, and finish by taking a stroll through Winter Wonderland. Yes, the holidays are amongst us. Events will be held at the Palm Event Center in Pleasanton. Find more details, here.

Wonderland Family Stroll
Thursday evening. Bring the whole family and stroll through the enchanted forest of Christmas Tree Lane. Enjoy a holiday treat. Kids can shop for their parents in Santa's Secret Shop, and visit with Santa Claus! 

The Tinsel and Christmas Tea
Friday morning and afternoon. Features "almost high" teas. Walk through a magical indoor forest as you preview the sparkling Christmas trees and unique silent auction gift baskets. Purchase your chance-drawing tickets for the trees and spectacular china table setting. 

Silent Night Soiree
Friday evening. Featuring a silent auction of exquisite gift baskets, sit-down dinner, no-host cocktails and entertainment. Spend a relaxing evening with friends and delight in the sights and sounds of Christmas. 

Silver Bells Luncheon
Saturday Gourmet Luncheon. Enter the glittering wonderland of lights and colors. Visit the Merry Gentlemen to purchase tree tickets. Enjoy holiday fare and entertainment with friends around your table. Be the lucky winner of the exquisite china table setting, or your favorite tree - and the gifts under the tree!

This is the perfect holiday event for your family! Great holiday fun in Pleasanton.

Health Fair for Families in Livermore

Trick or Treat Safety Tips

Plan your route in advance: Parents should pick an area that the family is familiar with. Walk the route during the day to ensure there are no potholes, or unexpected bumps that will surprise your trick or treaters. Make sure the route you choose is well lit at night so you don’t have to approach dark, scary porch fronts.

Bring a flashlight or glow sticks: If your children are small, go out before it gets dark (and bring a flashlight just in case!). Glow lights or glow sticks are also a good option and fun for the kids to play with while enhancing their visibility for cars. 

Wear comfortable shoes: This doesn’t only mean shoes that won’t hurt their feet, but also shoes that are not too big or small, shoes that won’t slip off easily, and are realistic for walking. Avoid princess high-heels or large floppy boots. And on that note, try to find comfortable costumes too! Avoid costumes that drag on the ground, costumes that are made of itchy fabric, or that are just cheaply made.

Think practical when choosing goody bags: Although the Halloween themed bags will be the most popular amongst your children, think practically instead of cute.  Avoid bags that are too long and may drag on the ground, oversized bags that may bump into other trick or treaters, or heavy ones that you will end up carrying once it gets filled! Use totes that you can recycle for groceries, or a small pillowcase from your toddler’s bed. 

Pick costumes that are bathroom friendly: Especially for the little ones! You don’t want to struggle with tights, fancy shoes, or one-piece costumes. Also, make sure to use the bathroom before you leave the house; you don’t want any unexpected surprises! 

Do not eat candy while you walk: Walking in costumes will be challenging enough, so eating sticky candy and walking at the same time is just a no no. Save the candy for home so you can check it first! Look for old, worn, or torn wrappers, homemade treats, unwrapped candy, etc. Discard of any candy that looks like it has been tampered with. 

For more articles like this, view the entire issue of October Active Kids.

Events at Lindsay Museum in Walnut Creek

Autumn is Awesome. We really do appreciate Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek, and even more now that we have stumbled upon their many October events! Your children will engage and learn about everything from bats and insects, to owls and the great outdoors. Lindsay is such a great resource for children, and not to mention, a place for parents to learn as well! See their events below:
 
Mini-Monday: Interesting Insects
October 25th: 10am-noon  
Stories, arts & crafts, activities and animal encounters make this an exciting morning filled with many fun teacher-led activities for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers.  


Cool Class Alert: Terrific Tuesdays
Begins October 26th.
Eyes are for seeing and watching. And ears are for listening and flapping. See how Lindsay's animal ambassadors use their bodies in this series for 2.5-4 year olds. Visit http://bit.ly/preclasses for details

Cool Class Alert: Going Batty
Begins Oct. 27th.
Bats are incredible creatures and they are helpful in many ways. Kids 5-7 years old will learn about different bats and their unique adaptations. Visit http://bit.ly/kidclasses for details.

Halloween Weekend Parties at Pump it Up

Pump it Up in Pleasanton is offering Halloween weekend parties with FREE Glow Packages and 10 free goodie bags! Find out more here or book your party here.