Anyone who wants to see a live rock show and lives in the Camas-Washougal area knows the routine: Drive all the way into Portland, attempt to find free parking somewhere, and walk several blocks into sometimes sketchy venues. However, employees at Coffee Revolution, a non-profit business that donates a majority of its proceeds to the community, have come up with another solution.
Despite the decidedly un-spring-like weather last week, kids still found a way to enjoy their break by attending one of the local camps and activities held in the Camas-Washougal area. Choices ranged from free movies and crafts at the Camas Library to babysitter's boot camp, adventure camps for preschoolers, and creative camps for elementary school kids. East County Community Education offered a rarity for working parents: Full- or half-day camps. The full-day option ran from 7:30 to 5 p.m. and the half-day was for up to five hours, as well as a drop-in option.
When Washougal High School students finish Rachel Fouts-Carrico's child development class, one thing is clear. Becoming a parent is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. The class, which Fouts-Carrico has taught for four years, gives students an overview of topics including childhood developmental stages, working in early childhood education, childbirth, costs of raising a child, teen parenting, and even offers the opportunity to take home a mechanical baby for the weekend.
When now 17-year-old Kiersta Moore found out she was pregnant, the first emotion she felt was fear. "I had no idea how I was going to be able to take care of a baby," she said. In the way of most teens, Kiersta told her mom via a text message. "I was driving and she sent me one from the back seat," her mom, Dawn Holen said. "I pulled over and told her she had three options: Abort, adopt or keep, and I'd support her either way. She said she wanted to keep the baby and I said, 'Here we go.'"
Eighteen months ago, a group of parents and educators, saddened by the lack of arts education in local schools, decided to take matters into their own hands. From this has come the Metropolitan Performing Arts Academy, a non-profit organization for Vancouver and the surrounding areas. It offers students from elementary through high school opportunities to participate in acting, singing, dance, musical theater, music and art. The academy students, who hail from Vancouver, Camas, Washougal and other outlying areas, have participated in eight different productions since last April. "My Son Pinocchio," which will show at Washburn Auditorium in Washougal, will be the ninth show.
Spring break is just around the corner, and with it, the age-old question: What to do? While it sounds wonderful to just take off for a week in some sunny locale, or squeeze in some late-season skiing, it's not the reality for many families with tight budgets. In addition, many parents have to work during break. But never fear, this doesn't mean your child has to be parked in front of the television or computer all day. There are several local activities and camps available for kids at no cost or reasonable rates, as well as movies at the Camas library.
A Camas teen was one of 10 honorees from Clark and Cowlitz counties to receive a "Real Hero" award from the Red Cross last week. Tiffani Pekkala, 16, was honored for organizing blood drives and rallying fellow students at Hayes Freedom High School to join her. She and her grandmother, Bette-Jo Poser, started the annual drive in April 2009. Pekkala suffers from a very rare condition, primary immune deficiency disease, and requires daily immunoglobulin injections, a product derived from whole blood American Red Cross donors.
Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world. That is the principle behind Be the Gift, a local company created by four women who wanted to put their mark on the world and make it better. Products include unique gift cards, a table game and book. The gift cards are reminiscent of the "chore coupons," that children typically make for Mother's Day or Father's Day, but with an adult twist. A person can buy a gift card for $9.95, and give it to someone. "Gifts" include running errands, cleaning house, a night out on the town, pampering and several others.
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