Oct. 21-22 is the height of the Orionid meteor shower — an opportunity for an educational trip for the whole family. It’s nearly impossible to know what the school scene will look like through this month because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some school campuses might be open for in-person lessons, at least part of the […]
Keeping Connected with Grandkids
How grandparents and grandkids can stay close from afar during the pandemic. One of the most painful aspects of the pandemic lockdown has been the separation of grandparents from their children and grandchildren. We’ve all seen the photos of families on either side of a window, touching their hands to the glass because it’s as […]
Must-Try Hikes for August
Get some fresh air and exercise with the family this summer at these local scenic hikes. Planning for school is always nerve-wracking, for sure. And by now, many parents feel as though they have pulled out all the stops on finding creative activities in the home and backyard. Maybe there were some trips to a […]
Create a DIY Summer Camp for Your Kids at Home
With a little research, you can design a fun, enriching and free summer camp experience for your kids this summer. Now that social distancing has moved from spring to summer, parents have shifted, too, from their school-year roles as academic tutors during a time of remote learning, to summer camp counselors. That wasn’t an easy […]
Backyard Camping with Dad
Camping at home as a family. It’s time to go camping. Time to get out of the house, sleep under the stars, get a change of scenery and have a family adventure — with all the comforts of home. No poison oak, no need for non-perishable foods and even better, no crowds when you go […]
Science and Craft
Take this time at home to create these educational and fun science projects with the kids. With schools closed, the kids have been home for weeks now and you’re running out of ideas for them. Remote learning might be going well but in any case, children are antsy and looking for new activities. The best […]
Marine Life and Coastal Adventures in Orange County
We don’t have to go far to experience marine life and coastal adventures in Orange County. This might not be the time of year to take a cooling swim in the ocean waves. But it’s definitely the right season to appreciate living along the coast in ways that are just as fun. February and the […]
Creating a Garden of Creature Comforts
Planting a native garden can benefit the family as well as local wildlife. Have you ever seen the cedar waxwing bird, with its crest, black mask, clear shades of yellow and rust, and feathers so smooth they don’t look like feathers? If not, you probably haven’t been hanging around toyon bushes in the late fall […]
Getting Inspired in Israel to Build Real-World Relationships
A summer trip to Israel brings inspiration for building real-world relationships as we begin the back-to-school season. Our recent trip to Israel and Jordan was filled with landmark sites. I could show you gorgeous photos of the Ottoman-constructed Old City of Jerusalem, the astonishing building façade carved into a cliff face at Petra, our family […]
Creating Family Memories Over Summer Break
Take some time during summer break for fun projects the whole family will remember. Do any teachers still assign that September cliché, the essay on “What I did during summer vacation”? Whether or not they do, it’s worth thinking about what your children would write or say in response to that prompt. Chances are that […]
