A National Parks Road Trip

August 3rd, 2015

Hey Coach, what’s up? Where ya’ been?

Just got back from a road trip. I visited two national parks.

Niagara Falls in New York

http://www.nps.gov/nifa/index.htm

and Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.

http://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm

What’s a national park Coach?

A national park is very special place, set aside and protected so everyone can see them, and their children can see them, and their grandchildren can see them, and so on. Places for all of us, forever.

They are places where very big events in history took place, like Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. It can also be a place of natural beauty, like Niagara Falls in New York.

Are there any parks like that near us?

You bet!!

To find a national park near you:

http://www.npca.org/exploring-our-parks/parks/

To learn more about our national parks, you can visit the PBS site: “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” (A PBS-Ken Burns documentary)

http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/

If you don’t happen to live near a national park, there are still many other state and city parks to enjoy.

To find the parks near you, visit Discover the Forest at http://www.discovertheforest.org/

Article by: Ned M Campbell is the head coach of James Madison High School’s wrestling team in Brooklyn, NY, and is a USA Wrestling nationally certified coach. He is a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army Officer, who also teaches history at James Madison High School. Prior to teaching, Ned M Campbell worked with children and adults with disabilities during summer programs with IAHD and Southeast Consortium, and volunteered time supporting a therapeutic horseback riding program for youth and adults with disabilities.

Campbell is a published writer, and a contributing writer to the “Can Do” Street blog for kids and parents. In addition, he is the voice of Coach Campbell in “Can Do” Street programs.

Editor’s Note: Be sure to check out Coach Campbell’s co-article for parents, on this subject, featured on the “Can Do” Kids Parents blog at http://candostreet.com/blog-parents/

Pocket

Tags: Can Do Kids, Coach Campbell, Gettysburg, Good Choices, life skills, national park service, national Parks, Niagra Falls, road trip
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The”Can Do”s Volunteer to Help with Crafts in Summer Camp

July 29th, 2015

“Boys and girls,” said Miss Hattie, ” I need volunteers to help me with my preschool crafts classes here, at the Community Center.

I need two volunteers for the morning crafts session from 10 until 11 am and two volunteers for the afternoon session from 1 to 2 pm.”

Everybody, except Hector looked up from their crafts projects and gave Miss Hattie their attention. Hector kept his head down and kept working on his crafts project. Willie poked Hector saying, “Hey Hector, that’s my grandma you’re ignoring!”

“Sorry Willie; sorry Grandma Hattie, I mean Miss Hattie, I am sorry for not paying attention,” said Hector. It’s just that I don’t want to help with little kids. I’ve got a little brother and I have to help him all the time and that’s enough helping to have to do”! Miss Hattie smiled and said, “I understand how you feel, Hector, but maybe you could help in another way. How about you hand out crafts materials before class? Maybe you would rather collect the craft materials after class and put them away. I always need help with sweeping up after class.”

Hector thought for a moment and then said, “Put me down for sweeping up after the morning crafts class. I like to sweep. It’s fun.” Before Miss Hattie could thank Hector, Jay raised his hand and volunteered to sweep after the afternoon crafts class. Then Bobby volunteered to set up for the morning class and the afternoon class. Miss Hattie said, “Thank you. That will be such a big help! Now, who wants to work with the preschoolers”?

Orrie, Nellie, Kathy and Arthur Jay raised their hands. “That’s wonderful,” said Miss Hattie.

“Okay, here’s the fun part,” said Miss Hattie, “Who has ideas for crafts that the preschoolers might like”? Orrie was first to raise his hand. When called on he said, ” I have a no mess paint craft.” Miss Hattie nodded and said, “I’m all for that.” Nellie raised her hand and said, “I can make jewelry you can eat.” That got everyone’s attention, but before they could ask how the crafts projects were done the bell rang signaling that crafts class was over.

As the “Can Dos” got up to go t0 their next activity, Miss Hattie called out, “Thank you all for being so generous with your time!”

Pocket

Tags: Can Do Kids, community center, crafts, edible jewelry, Grandma Hattie, life skills, no mess painting, orrie, preschoolers, summer camp, volunteer
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The Ice Cream Social

July 20th, 2015

Each Year, in celebration of National Ice Cream Month, the “Can Do” Street Community Center holds an ice cream social on the third Sunday of July.

This year, choosing what ice cream to have was much tougher than last year. Why? Well last year, some of the “Can Dos” ate far too much ice cream at the ice cream social and were up most of the night with tummy trouble.

So, parents and staff of the “Can Do” Street Community Center agreed to limit the amount of ice cream each child could eat at the social. Since the ice cream was free, it was only natural that the “Can Dos” would want to try all the flavors they could in a cone or a dish or a sundae.

On the day of the ice cream social, just before it started, Miss Sue, Director of the Community Center, sat all the “Can Dos” down and explained how they could select their ice cream. First, she gave out a card that said:

This card entitles the holder to:

1. A teaspoon sampling size of several kinds of ice cream and one small cone or sundae

Or

2. A regular size cone or sundae, topping of your choice

Miss Sue suggested that they visit every ice cream stand first, to see what they had, and then go back and make a decision on what to choose. Once each of them chose either 1 or 2, their cards would be stamped and collected.

Well, some of the “Can Dos” were really disappointed that their ice cream choices were going to be limited, but the ones who had tummy trouble after last year’s social were secretly glad.

They set out as a group and visited each stand. Oh, there was so much to choose from! There was:

A table with tiny plastic spoons, small ice cream cups, cute paper napkins and several flavors of homemade ice cream. There also was sherbet and sorbet.
A table where the “Can Dos” could use their favorite flavors to fill either a small or regular size cone or make a sundae in small or regular size pretty parfait and sundae dishes, and waffle bowls. There were sprinkles, syrups, nuts, crushed cookies, coconut, whipped cream and other fun toppings.
A beverage center full of ice and bottled water, where the “Can Dos” could get as much water as they wanted to wash down their treats.

Well, no surprise, Hector, dropped off from the group as they walked around before making their ice cream choices. The next time they saw him he was almost finished eating a regular size cone with three different toppings on it!

No sooner had Hector joined the group again when he saw a ice cream stand he hadn’t seen before and there, right before his eyes were his favorite sundae fixings…vanilla ice cream with hot fudge sauce, walnuts and Oreo cookie crumbs!

Hector tried to get one of the other “Can Dos” to use his card to get a hot fudge sundae,and share with him, but no one wanted to do it. Hector soon finished his cone and had to spend the rest of the afternoon watching his friends make thoughtful choices about how to use their ice cream cards.

What would you have done, boys and girls? Would you have chosen to sample different ice cream flavors and then get a small cone or sundae of your choice? Would you have just walked around until you found your favorite flavor and made a regular cone or sundae with that flavor and your favorite toppings?

Pocket

Tags: Can Do Kids, chocolate syrup, community center, eating healthy, Good Choices, ice cream cone, ice cream social, ice cream sundae, ice cream tasting, strawberry topping
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The Way It Was

July 13th, 2015

The “Can Dos” were sitting around after music club with Mr. Dooley, otherwise known as Grandpa Dooley. Hector asked Mr. Dooley, “What was it like when you were growing up?”

Mr. Dooley smiled and said,”Very different than it is now. Why don’t you ask me questions about the way it was and I’ll do my best to answer.”

“O.K”, said Hector, “What was your favorite fast food when you were growing up?”

“We didn’t have fast food when I was growing up, said Mr. Dooley. All the food was slow.”

All the “Can Dos” laughed. “Seriously,” said Hector, Where did you eat?’

It was a place called “home,” Mr. Dooley answered. Mom cooked every day. When Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table. If I didn’t like what mom put on my plate, I was allowed to sit there until I did like it.’”

Then Annie asked, “Did you have pizza?” Mr. Dooley smiled and said, “Pizza didn’t come to our neighborhood until I was a teenager. But, there was the soda shop where we all went to have an ice cream sundae or a cone or an ice cream soda. We could even get a malted to have with a hamburger at the soda shop.”

The kids looked puzzled and wanted to know why he didn’t have ice cream at home. “Simple,” he answered, “no refrigerators with freezers to keep the ice cream cold” The “Can Dos” were amazed…no freezers…no frozen treats…not even breakfast waffles.

“Tell us more,” said Yundi.”

“Okay,” said Mr. Dooley.

I had a bicycle that was probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed, (slow)
We didn’t have a television in our house until I was 19. It was, of course, black and white, and the station went off the air at midnight, after playing the national anthem and a poem about God; it came back on the air at about 6 a.m. There was usually a locally produced news and farm show on, which featured local people.
I never had a telephone in my room.
The only phone in the house was in the living room
Milk was delivered to our homes.
All newspapers were delivered by boys. I delivered a newspaper, six days a week. It cost 7 cents a paper, of which I got to keep 2 cents. I got up at 6AM every morning. On Saturday, I had to collect the 42 cents from my customers.
I walked or rode my bike to school.
I had chores to do when I got home from school; then I could go out and play ball with my friends.

The “Can Dos” were all looking at him in disbelief and Arthur J said, “What did you do for fun without computer games, TV, cell phones and fast food?”

Mr. Dooley laughed saying, “Why I played outdoors with my friends; listened to the radio with my family at night; played board games with my brothers, and read books. And that’s the way it was!”

Pocket

Tags: bike riding, board games, Can Do Kids, fast food, Good Choices, life skills, Mr. Dooley, radio, soda shop, TV
Posted in Do You Know? | No Comments »

A Fun 4th!

July 6th, 2015

The sun shone; it wasn’t too hot. It was a perfect day to celebrate the 4th and have fun at the “Can Do” Street Community Center.

The 4th of July celebrations started with foot races and games. Jay took first place in his age group for the track race. Willie and Bobby won the three-legged race. Kathy and Eulyn won the sack race. They all received $25 gift certificates to the “Can Do” Street sports store.

The “Can Do Kids Cooking Club, with the help of the seniors club, turned out a beautiful red, white and blue sheet cake. They also made blueberry smoothies that were the hit drink of the day and in keeping with the colors for the 4th of July.

The play about the signing of the Declaration of Independence was a huge success!

Everyone gave the “Can Do” Kids Chorus a big round of applause for their singing of: God Bless America, My Country Tis of Thee, America The Beautiful and closing with Happy Birthday!

Grandma Hattie won a prize for her strawberry pie at the barbeque supper. Grandma Maureen won for her potato salad and Grandpa Dooley won for the best spareribs.

After it got dark, fireworks professionals put on a beautiful show.

By 10 PM, it was time to head home. The “Can Dos” were tired but happy. It had been a wonderful 4th of July!

Pocket

Tags: "Can Do" Kids Chorus, 4th of July, barbeque, Can Do Kids, community center, Declaration of Independence, games, Good Choices, Grandma Hattie, Grandma Maureen, potato salad, races
Posted in 4th of July | No Comments »

A National Parks Road Trip

The”Can Do”s Volunteer to Help with Crafts in Summer Camp

“Boys and girls,” said Miss Hattie, ” I need volunteers to help me with my preschool crafts classes here, at the Community Center.

I need two volunteers for the morning crafts session from 10 until 11 am and two volunteers for the afternoon session from 1 to 2 pm.”

The Way It Was

The “Can Dos” were sitting around after music club with Mr. Dooley, otherwise known as Grandpa Dooley. Hector asked Mr. Dooley, “What was it like when you were growing up?”

“We didn’t have fast food when I was growing up, said Mr. Dooley. All the food was slow.”

A Fun 4th!

The sun shone; it wasn’t too hot. It was a perfect day to celebrate the 4th and have fun at the “Can Do” Street Community Center.

The “Can Do Kids Cooking Club, with the help of the seniors club, turned out a beautiful red, white and blue sheet cake. They also made blueberry smoothies that were the hit drink of the day and in keeping with the colors for the 4th of July.

By 10 PM, it was time to head home. The “Can Dos” were tired but happy. It had been a wonderful 4th of July!

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