Fri, August 6th - Sun, August 8th

1. Watch FLICKA 2 under the stars at Gibson Ranch.
2. Take a GUIDED NATURE WALK at the gorgeous Cosumnes River Preserve.
3. Make a SCHOOL BUS PENCIL ORGANIZER at the Home Depot Kid’s Workshop.
4. Learn about the sun with fun activities at Discovery Museum’s SUN AND FUN.
5. Make PEAR ICECREAM at the Courtland Library.
6. Play games and earn prizes at Arden Mall’s ROCKIN’ WALK WITH RADIO DISNEY.
7. Learn how to make beautiful ORIGAMI crafts at the Franklin Library.
8. Check out the inside of cool planes at the Aerospace Museum’s OPEN COCKPITS.
9. Enjoy historical STREET THEATRE in Old Sacramento.
10. Pet the cute BARN ANIMALS and ride the STEAM TRAIN at Hagan Park.

*Please note that details about each event are available on the ‘Upcoming Events’ calendar.

Happy Friday!

Have you been to the TrailMix.Net store in Old Sacramento yet?  If not, add this to your summer to-do list!  I am kicking myself that we have not gotten over there sooner.  My kids and I were in awe of all they have to offer…and instantly in love!  Mike & Sara Barlow opened it about a year ago and this store is more than just a store.  TrailMix.Net “helps parents create family outdoor learning and adventure experiences” with their outdoor gear, educational toys and all the nature resources you need.  If you are already an outdoorsy family, then this is where you will find all of things you need to enhance your experiences with your kids.  If you are not already outdoorsy, then this is where you will be inspired!

While wandering the store we found Animal Watching With Kids, Backyard Safari Gear, Hiking With Kids, Geocaching With Kids, Birding With Kids, Gardening With Kids, Astronomy, and more.  So once you pick a type of outdoor adventure…you’ve got the gear, the maps, and the books all in one place.  To top it off, you have friendly owners that are more than happy to provide the information you need.  I’ve been wondering for a long time where the best hikes are and where the best spots on the river for kids are.  Mike helped me out with that and so I’ll share our adventures in the near future.  On the TrailMix.Net blog, you can download a FREE e-book called Educational Expeditions that helps you plan your outdoor adventures with kids.  I’m telling you, they are a plethora of information!

Besides offering awesome products, they have an activity center which really turns the store into an outing destination.  Their Activity Menu has craft projects for kids of ALL AGES that start at just $2.00.  You can have fun with a 15 minute Paint-A-Critter like we did or you can spend more time and do something like building a birdhouse or painting a fossil necklace.  My kids loved picking out their critter, painting, gluing eyes on and then being able to take their creation home.

TrailMix.Net also holds FREE workshops for parents and children each month.  Click here for their calendar.  This Saturday Culture2Classroom is presenting Before Sacramento, Life for the Nisenan Maidu.  Along with learning about the Southern Maidu tribal group, kids will have the opportunity to make a craft with a Native theme.

Check it out and gear up for some incredible adventures with your kids!

TrailMix.Net
116B I Street
Sacramento, CA  95814
888-95-TRAIL
Open daily: 9:30am - 5:30pm

*Located right across from the California State Railroad Museum.
*Parking validation provided with minimal purchase.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about a weekly event called Art Safari that is held at the Valley-Hi North Laguna Library.  It’s presented by the Crocker Art Museum and geared for school-age kids.  You can see the post with the details here.

Last Tuesday we checked it out for ourselves and had a great time!  The theme for the day was animation.  Employees of the Crocker read a story and led two art projects that helped the kids to better understand how animation is created.  The kids were serious about their projects and pleased with their results.   This new library branch is very cute and updated.  I am looking forward to attending Art Safari when the weather is better because the kids are dying to try out the new park in front of the library.  We’ll head over there right after school, play on the playground and then go inside for the activity.  Fun and free!

Art Safari is held every Tuesday at the Valley-Hi North Laguna Library.  Click here for all the details and the bonus is each participant receives a FREE family admission pass to the Crocker Art Museum!

Today at the Valley Hi-North Laguna Library there is an incredible program put on by the Crocker Art Museum!  I just adore the Crocker Art Museum and so I am thrilled that there is a FREE program we can attend that is most likely of the highest quality.  This will be the perfect after school activity so I am planning to take my kids today to check it out.  I will post our experience soon!

Art Safari

Spark your imagination with a journey through art and books!  Enjoy listening to storytime and creating art in this lively program for elementary-age children.  All safari participants will receive a family admission pass to the Crocker Art Museum! (How cool is that?!)

When: Tuesdays; 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Where: Valley Hi-North Laguna Library, 7400 Imagination Parkway, Sacramento (across from Cosumnes River College’s Bruceville Road entrance)
Cost: FREE
Info: Call 808-7000; www.saclibrary.org or www.crockerartmuseum.org

Click here for a map on the library’s website.  Mapquest and Google Maps do not have directions yet as it is a new branch.

I am in love.  My kids are in love.  We just met Art Beast.

This place is amazing!  Where else can you take your kids to explore different forms of art to their hearts content?  Where else can you let them make a mess with paint, glitter, glue, clay, sand, water and gravel?

Our Experience:

Our family went to Art Beast on a Saturday after lunch expecting to spend an hour…maybe two…of our afternoon there.  Little did we know it would suck us in and provide enough fun to last under dinner time!  My kids lit up when they walked into a room filled with every possible art medium they could imagine.  Where to start?  They painted, drew, glued, molded and built.  Even my 18 month old was able to participate and have a ball.

The kids got to use their imaginations in a room with a playhouse and a room that had a puppet theatre, stage and dress-up clothes.  My husband and I did not have to do much except guide them to the next thing so that they wouldn’t miss anything.  There were even musical instruments for them to form a band.  Our boys sat in a rocket ship while our daughter played in a coffee can castle.

Outside, there is this beautiful courtyard with hanging metal “instruments” to makes lots of fun noise.  The kids banged and banged until they eyed the gravel and water play area.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  They poured and scooped…and got wet!  They were fascinated and giggled that they were actually allowed to get wet and dirty.

The Expense:

Admission to the Art Beast is $8.00 per person.  They only charge for one adult per family and kids under 1 are free.  They offer a punch card and memberships at a very discounted rate.

An exciting fact I found out…every dime your family devotes to Art Beast directly supports and sustains Tubman House, a nonprofit serving young, homeless parents and their children!

Tips:

Be prepared for your kids to get messy!  The paints and other supplies they use are washable and so you can just let go and let them go crazy.

You may not want to bring in a big purse or diaper bag with you because you will want to be able to move around and be hands on with your child.  There are bins in their entry where you can hold your non-valuables.  Oh…and their bathroom has a changing table!

Art Beast also offers some really neat classes and birthday parties.

Go!  Make a mess!  Have a blast!

Art Beast
2226 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(916) 441-1233

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KidzArt, an international children’s art education company that has 60 plus franchises throughout the US, has been providing Sacramento area children with afterschool art education at over 70 local schools since 2005.  They are now expanding with the opening of a new art studio in Natomas.

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It’s the first annual Downtown Kid’s Week in Sacramento!  In an effort to highlight family-friendly activities and businesses within the central city, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership has invited families from around the region to explore local treasures.  This fun week will include events, activities, exhibits and special offers at participating museums, theatres and restaurants.

I am especially excited about IMAX  Theatre’s 10-year Anniversary Celebration tomorrow, Saturday the 11th.  They are offering FREE admission to see “Wild California”!  Click here for more information.

Click here to see Downtown Sacramento’s website for a full list of details.  Be sure to check out the list of restaurants offering free kid’s meals!

Check this place out!

I am always on the lookout for a great story time with songs and crafts…so when I saw that the Crocker Art Museum offers Wee Wednesday once a month, I thought…what a fun place to experience a story time!  What we came away with that day was so much more!!!

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