Outing Club

The meeting for Outing Club takes place in Nicole's room after school today... OC has been a highlight for many FSP families... come check it out!

Primary fall projects include putting on the Harvest Dinner -- a local-food-fest that raises $ for OC and is really fun... ticket info to come!

Here's a little info about the upcoming rescheduled Rangeley Camping Trip -- it was rained out in the spring, but we're hoping for a beautiful (and mosquito free) fall weekend!

Here's a repeat of the original post, with some updates :

Outing Club takes our first trip of the year September 29-30, to Rangeley State Park.  On Saturday, we'll meet (optional) for an easier hike to Angel Falls (meet at 1pm).   On Sunday, we'll climb Saddleback.  

Sign-up for OC w/Nicole and sign-up for hike / activities on EventBrite!  

If the going gets too rough, here's Maine Magazine's ideas for 48 hours in Rangeley

It is a pretty long drive... for treats, consider Forage in Lewiston for morning bagels, or the Bread Shack in Auburn for fabulous sandwiches; Nezinscot Farm in Turner for veggies and tea...

Any tips for ice cream on the route back?

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After School

FSP's after school programs are awesome but sometimes there is a need to leave the island... The Telling Room just posted their fall workshops... none work for my family, but I sure wish they did - and they are free / by donation!

Also, several of us are coming together for a Portland Pottery class on Wednesdays... if your child might be interested in joining in, send Kim an email.

Anyone else find a gem to share?

This is newsworthy for kids - literally!

Check out this online resource Scholastic News Kids Press Corps!  It is current events and news reporting from a team of about 50 Kid Reporters from around the nation - "...reporting for kids, by kids."  Limiting violence and advertising and from a child's perspective - nice!  Check out the information/application on becoming a Kid Reporter too!

It Starts With You Training @ USM

The Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity is partnering with GLSEN Southern Maine (the local chapter of the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) to present an "It Starts with You" training:

Saturday, Sept. 8
1:00-3:30
USM/Payson Smith Hall, Room 1 (basement)

PLEASE RSVP to glsensomaine@gmail.com

The "It Starts with You" Conversation program encourages personal one-on-one conversations between supporters and the people they know -- our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, fellow congregants etc. 

It helps us identify people in our lives with whom we'd like to talk about marriage for same-sex couples, identify why this is sometimes hard and practice with others, and make a plan to engage them in friendly discussion about love and commitment, marriage and family, and how access to marriage  for same-sex couples impacts us and our community.

More than 80% of Mainer voters know someone who is LGBT or a supporter of marriage for same-sex couples, but less than half of those voters have had a conversation about marriage with a supporter.  Voters who have these conversations are TWICE as likely to vote with us! -- so it's a powerful way that supporters can help, just by reaching out in their daily lives.

This program gives people the tools to open peaceful, respectful  conversations that encourage sharing, not debate, and that deepen our understanding of each other.
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The video below features formal campaign activities rather than the ordinary personal conversations our training will help us to have with people we know.  But it shows why every conversation matters.

VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYX6H-2Tx9U&feature=share

Lunch

Curious how others are managing all the lunch-packing?

Are you PB&J every day or do you create amazing bento-boxes?  Do your kids actually eat lunch or show up ravenous in the car wondering if "snack" was remembered?

I know there are amazing cooks among us - what are your favorite lunches, lunch resources, blogs, etc?

Perhaps a free lunch for someone who comments?

Improv & Portland Playback

David LeGraffe has taught after school improv @ FSP for a while now, and his Wed night adult classes are equally awesome -- a new term starts soon - email him for more info!

We are also exploring collaborations with Portland Playback and all are invited to attend this coming Friday night:

PortlandPlayback 

September 7 -- First Friday in September 2012           

7:30 P.M.  

$7 suggested donation  

CTN5 Studio   516 CONGRESS STREET 

  

This  Event's Actors: Bob Bittenbender, Erin Curren, Sandra Sneiderman, Colin O'Leary, Andy Colvin; Conductor: David LaGraffe

Stories of Letting Go

I think I was sixteen when I first went water skiing. I was zipping along when I lost my balance and instinctively HELD ON instead of letting go. Ouch...ouch...ouch

It strikes me now that my inability to let go has dogged me all my life. Do you have a story of letting go, or holding on?

 

   Bring your story of letting go or holding on and let our company of actor/improvisors ennact it for you. Or just come to watch and enjoy this unique community event in which the stories of our lives are honored through theatre. Bring a friend! 

     

Jenny Rowe!

Lady Gaga & Suffrage

Sunday is the anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendement - women's suffrage - in the United States.  SOOMO publishing offers a parody video of "Bad Romance" to introduce the idea to kids... their web page offers teaching tools once they get curious:

Join Rob, Sarah & Cedar on their home stretch Tues, 8/21!

Three People, Five Wheels, One Blankie
2012 Family Bicycle Journey through Maine, Atlantic Canada, and Quebec

 Hi Everyone!

We're having a wonderful re-entry into Maine this week after a sweet border crossing from Quebec.  Details and pictures, as always, are at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/biketrip2012. 

We've made it as far as Readfield, Maine, with stops planned in Litchfield Sunday, Pownal on Monday, and home on Tuesday afternoon, 8/21/12!   Cedar will be rejoining us for the end of the trip, after a fun stay with Sarah's parents and step-mom this past week.

It has felt as though you have been along with us in spirit for the entire ride, and we would love to honor your presence by inviting you to ride with us for all or part of the last day of the trip on Tuesday.  (We made the same offer for our ride out of Portland on May 1, but strangely, no one took us up on this idea.  Maybe the rain and mid-40's temps had something to do with that! :) Or, you could just meet up with us near the end, for an Ice Cream Social at Beal's Ice Cream at Veranda Street in Portland, where we'll be from about 4:30 to 6 p.m.  (If it's raining - bring an umbrella!  We can always retire to the nearby Thai noodle place if the rain is really bad.) 

Here's our itinerary for the afternoon:  Leaving Bradbury Mountain main parking lot at 1, after lunch.  Slowly working our way south on Rte 9 and then local roads, with various stops (playground, bathrooms, etc).  We'll definitely stop at the new playground behind the Falmouth Elementary School off Woodville Road, probably some time around 3:00 to 3:30.  Aiming to arrive at Beals around 4:15 or 4:30.  

And here's a map of the route, if you'd like to try to meet up with us on the way:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=216174221143604230130.0004c793b8c04be6f2ecc&msa=0&ll=43.735507,-70.247784&spn=0.075163,0.118275.

We have some family committments through the last days of the month and then will be headed back to work as planned on September 4th after the Labor Day weekend.  Much love and look forward to seeing you sometime soon either way! 

Rob, Sarah, and Cedar

Books, Books, Books

Last fall's Parenting for Peace program, Books As Bridges, yielded great ideas about using picture books to help kids (and adults) with perspective taking, deepen empathy, explore emotions, etc.  The range of possible books is endless... and sometimes overwhelming.  Here are a few book list sites I've come across, recently, that help me focus:

Rainbow Books : the American Library Association's selections of best LGBTQ books for kids and adults.

Amelia Bloomer : ALA's list of feminist books for kids

I'm Your Neighbor : a new list from Kirsten Cappy of Curious City, to encourage more integration and conversation among "New Mainers" and longer residing ones.  I think this has been listed before, but Cynthia Leitich  Smith's book lists are also fabulous resources for exploring new cultures through books...

Books That Heal Kids :  I've mentioned this blog before, but I'm always happy to get her recommendations about books that promote social and emotional learning.

And, an old favorite -- Katie's alma mater  Bank Street publishes monthly lists that always have great suggestions..
The Maine Book Award 2012-2013 nominees are available... older kids might choose to read a bunch and participate in the voting... past lists are also great guides to older-kid book choices.

Also for older kids, the Mixed Up Files of Middle Grade Authors... has book lists, teacher guides, etc.  and The Pirate Tree reviews books through a social justice lens.

For those of you who tweet, the #kidlit thread has tons of links and suggestions, too...

Any favorite books discovered in your houses this summer?