Science Saturdays

Did you know that Ogden has a planetarium? I didn't until about a year ago, but I had no idea how I could visit it. Apparently, you can make reservations for a small fee or you can attend an upcoming special event. Check the website for more details.

The best way to visit is on Science Saturdays. Science Saturdays is an awesome, free program offered by the Science Department at Weber State University. It is usually held once a month year-round, but, thanks to R.A.M.P., will be held every other week through the summer. The fun starts at noon and goes until 5pm. The activities are held in the Lind Lecture Hall, which is the home of Ott Planetarium and the Museum of Natural Science.

I had the chance to take my daughter last week and loved it. We started out with a show on Spring Constellations in the planetarium. Then, we walked through the Museum of Natural Science. It is very small, but it has a replica of the Allosaurus (my daughter's favorite), stuffed native animals and rocks and minerals.

Lastly, we checked out the hands-on science activities. There were four available. In the first one, we made an atom with beads and a balloon. Eleanor didn't quite care that it was an atom, she just liked the balloon. Then, we made 3D tectonic plates and learned about earthquakes, used geometric shapes to create buildings and watched kids try to make boats made out of aluminum foil float.

The program is really great for kids of all ages. My toddler enjoyed the museum and planetarium show. But, the activities are definitely more appropriate for school-aged kids. All in all it's fun, educational and free! So, check it out this Saturday, June 11.

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Wacky Foundation

I just wanted to share a few words today about my cousin, Nicholas William Raitt, who passed away last Thursday, June 2. After a 4-year-long battle with a rare cancer and three chemotherapy treatments, he lost his life at the young age of 22-years-old. Although his illness caused him to give up my of his dreams, he never lost hope and always turned his determination to new goals. While still battle cancer and being in and out of the hospital, he started a foundation called WACKY. It stands for Warriors Against Cancer in Kids and Young Adults. You can read more of his story on his blog, My War With Cancer.


WACKY uses athletics events, like marathons and sports tournaments, to raise awareness of and money for young people battle cancer by being, well, wacky. 100% of every dollar donated goes in equal parts to two organizations.

The first is called First Descents. This is a wonderful program my cousin was first a participant in and then a volunteer with. The program gives young adults battle cancer the chance to explore the outdoors through kayaking, rock climbing and more.

The second organization is Cure Search. This organization raises money to directly benefit childhood cancer research by the Children's Oncology Group.

WACKY is my cousin's legacy and if you are looking for a local charity to support check out their website, http://www.wackywarriors.org/, where you can find out about upcoming events and donate money.

Nick, you will always be remembered for sharing your strength and experiences with family, friends and peers. We love you!

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Free School Lunch

Photo from: http://jonathanturley.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/lunch_tray.jpg

Free school lunch at local schools and parks started today. Lunch is available at no cost for all children under the age of 18. Lunch for adults cost $2.00.

Lunch will be offered in Ogden School District from 11:30am to 12:15pm.
Schools with an asterisk also offer breakfast on operating days from 7:45-8am.

These locations offer lunch Monday through Friday until July 29:
Bonneville Elementary, 490 Gramercy Ave.
Heritage Elementary, 373 S. 150 W.
*Lincoln Elementary, 1235 N. Canfield Dr.
*Odyssey Elementary, 375 Goddard St.
Jaycee Park, 25th St. and Fillmore Ave.
Liberty Park, 21 St. and Monroe Blvd.
Lorin Farr Park, 17th St. and Gramercy Ave.
*Marshall White Center, 222 28th St.
Monroe Park, 30th and Monroe Blvd.
Mount Ogden Park, 32nd and Taylor Ave.
West Ogden Park, 24th St. and E Ave.

These locations offer lunch Monday through Thursday until July 21:
*Ben Lomond High, 1080 9th St.
*Dee Elementary, 550 22nd St.
*Madison Elementary, 2563 Monroe Blvd.

For more info, call Ogden School District @ 801-737-7700.

Other school districts offer free school lunch, too. Call for more info.

Weber School District @ 801-476-7838
Davis School District @ 801-402-5261
Box Elder School District @ 435-734-4800

Free Summer Activites, part deux

There is sooooo much going on this week, I'll keep my intro short and sweet. I hope everyone has the chance to get out and have some free family fun. Don't forget to register your kids for the summer reading programs at the library. They have an awesome program planned out.

Monday, June 6
10:30am- Discovery Time @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
Stories We Tell: Children’s Summer Reading Event @ Main Library Branch

Tuesday, June 7
10:30 am- Discovery Time @ Main Library Branch
1:00pm- It's only 25 cents to swim at Marshall White Center on Tuesdays. Thanks Finding Life in O-Town for the tip.
4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
7:00 pm- Magic Show @ North Library Branch

Wednesday, June 8
9am- Weber Pathway’s guided Wildflower Hike in Ogden Valley.
10:30am- Stories We Tell: Children’s Summer Reading Event @ North and Pleasant Valley Library Branches
2pm- Ultimutt Readathon @ Main Library Branch
After School Program @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch
4:15pm- Youth Chess Club @ Main Library Branch
7:00pm- Jazz at the Station @ Union Station

Thursday, June 9
10:30am- Discovery Time @ North Library Branch
6:00pm- Bilingual Storytime @ Main Library Branch
7:00pm- Family Fun Night @ Pleasant Valley Library Branch

Friday, June 10
8:00pm- Movie at the Fort (note: Last time I checked Fort Buenaventura was flooded, so I have to make sure this event is still going on. I'll give you an update asap.)

Saturday, June 11
All Day- Foursite Film festival and Ogden Arts Festival
2:00pm- Cinema Saturday @ Main Branch
3:00pm- Disney Adventures Film Series - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe @ Pleasant Valley Branch
12:00pm- Ogden Nature Botany Club @ Ogden Nature Center
12:00pm- Science Saturdays @ Ott Planetarium, WSU
R.A.M.P. Free admission all day

• Hill Aerospace Museum- Click here to read my post on this museum.
• Lorin Farr Pool
• Ogden Nature Center- Click here to read my post on ONC.
• Roy Recreation Complex
• Treehouse Museum- Click here to read my post about this museum.
• Union Station Museums

Also, Treehouse Museum is offering free admission everyday to all active duty military families now through Labor Day.

You can get additional information for all of these events on my calendar.

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National Drive-In Movie Day

Photo from: 1950 Chevrolet Blog.

On June 6, 1933, the first-ever drive-in movie theater opened in Camden, New Jersey. Thus Monday, June 6 is National Drive-in Movie Theater Day. The theaters rose to their greatest popularity in the 1950s and they also gained a disreputable image, because of all that teenage making-out going on. I know this, because I've seen Grease, of course.

According to a CNN article, during their peak popularity there were thousands of drive-in theaters across the country. Today, an estimate is there's only around 400 left. Amazingly, 6 of these endangered venues are in Utah. Of course, we have our own Motor Vu Drive-in in Riverdale.

Motor Vu opened in 1947 and today has 4 screens. Like many other drive-ins, the location now has swap meets on the weekends to make ends meet. This weekend, you can go see:

• The Hangover, Part II and Bridesmaids
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Tangled
  
• X Men: First Class and Fast Five


• Kung Fu Panda 2 and Thor

Hours: Friday - Saturday Box Office: 7:15 PM Show: 9:20 PM Sunday-Thursday Box Office: 8:15 PM Show: 9:20 PM Prices: Adults (ages 12 yrs. & older): $7.00, Children (ages 5-11 yrs.): $3.00, Ages 4 yrs & under: FREE.

Take your family out to a drive-in theater this weekend, we may be the last generation to enjoy this piece of Americana.

Ogden Nature Center

The Ogden Nature Center is one of our favorite places to visit. We like to go every few weeks just to enjoy the scenery, but love to attend the weekly educational classes.

The center has two main goals; the first is preservation. ONC sits on 152-acres of land that serve as a habitat for wild and rescued animals. With 1.5 miles of walking trails, you can spend a good day visiting the animals, the treehouse and the look-out point.

The second ONC goal is education. Their awesome staff teaches weekly classes, from yoga to scouting and hold summer camps for kids ages 2-12. See my post on summer camps for more info on these camps and more. Wild Wednesdays is a popular class for kids and adults that focuses on a different theme each week. Next week’s theme is Mamma Mia! where you will learn about mammals that live in Utah. The class starts with a hands-on lecture and ends with a guided nature walk.

Our last visit to the Nature Center was a blast, as always. Unfortunately, the trails were still flooded, but we had a picnic and Eleanor got to attempt her life-long dream of climbing a tree.

A great way to enjoy ONC year-round is by purchasing a membership. There are a variety of memberships to choose from, but the family pass is only $45. The family membership gives everyone in your household free admission every day, discounts on camps and special events and a 10% discount on your gift shop purchases. It doesn’t end there. As a bonus, you get free admission to Dinosaur Park and the Union Station museums during the weekdays, Tracy Aviary in SLC every first Thursday of the month and over 100 nature centers across the country.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit ONC, this summer is the perfect opportunity. Thanks to R.A.M.P. grants, the center is offering free admission every Saturday all summer long. The center will also host two outdoor summer concerts on June 30 and August 4 featuring popular bluegrass bands. You can find more information on my calendar and buy tickets on the ONC website.

Put on your walking shoes, pack a picnic and visit the Ogden Nature Center today!

Ogden Nature Center
966 W. 12th St.
Ogden, UT 84404
Hours:
Monday-Friday 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday 9 am – 4 pm
Cost:
Members enjoy free admission
Adults 12 and older: $4.00
Seniors 55+: $3.00
Children 2-11: $2.00
Children under 2: Free

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National Rivers Month

Oh, the irony. Today marks the first day of National Rivers Month and our rivers are too dangerous to visit. But never fear, we still have 29 days left to celebrate our beautiful rivers.

Plan a day this month to enjoy one of Utah's many rivers.

• Take your family fishing. You can catch brown, rainbow and brook trout, as well as, whitefish at the Ogden River. Check out this website for more information on fishing in Ogden.
• Try a family rafting adventure at Weber River and other locations. Visit this website for more info.
• Organize a family or community river clean-up day. Visit americanrivers.org for more details.
• Last, but not least, spend a day at Ogden's beautiful river parkway. It's a great place to walk or bike along the river and stop for a picnic. You can play at the Big Dee park or visit the Dinosaur Park. Stop by Ogden's skate park or enjoy the MTC gardens.

Do you know of any other ways to celebrate rivers this month? Share by leaving a comment.

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