Homer Alaska - News

Safe Kids Fair

10am-2pm Homer High School

235-7712

Information booths on wellness and safety for children; application for many summer youth sport activities. Co-sponsored by Safe Kids South Peninsula and Haven House.

Sunday April 22

Little Boppers Dance Class

10-10:45am (0-3 yrs); 10:45-11:30am (3-5 yrs) Off the Wall Studios, lower level of the Kachemak center. 235-1506 or (907) 738-5249

Get moving and have fun exploring a variety of dance and music with little ones and their grown-ups. Co-sponsored by Sprout.

Earth Day Fairy House Building

2-4pm Raspberry Lane Preschool, 6 miles out East End Rd., right on Birch Park Dr., little green school house all the way at the end!

Miss Red 399-1567 redasselin@hotmail.com Facebook: Raspberry Lane

In honor of Earth Day, come build fairy houses out of natural materials for the fairies who help make our world so magical! Co-sponsored by Raspberry Lane Preschool.

Monday April 23

Intertidal Discovery Program

10-11 a.m. Homer Spit - park at Pier One Theater.

226-4617

Intertidal life discovery walk - dress for the weather, wear rubber boots, be prepared to walk on slippery surfaces. Open to Families - any age. Co-sponsored by Kachemak Bay Environmental Education Alliance & Pratt Museum

Toddler Playgroup

10:30am-12pm Boys & Girls Club

235-6090

Parents and their children 0-5 years old are welcome to run, romp, and play. For this week, it is free for first time attendees! Punch cards are available for future attendance: 10 punches for $20, 20 punches for $40. This playgroup operates during the school year. Co-sponsored by Community Recreation.

City Council Presentation & Mayoral Proclamation

6p.m. City Council Chambers, 491 E. Pioneer Avenue

435-7101

Come share your support for early childhood education in Homer! You are welcome to speak during Public Comments at the start of the agenda for 3 min. max. Join us for pizza beforehand from 5-6p.m.,

Tuesday April 24

Sprout Playgroup & Imagination Library Enrollment

10-11a.m. (1 yr olds); 11:15-12:15p.m. (2-3 yr olds); 2-3p.m. (non-walking children)

3691 Ben Walters Lane, Suite #4

235-6044 | info@homerilp.org || www.sproutalaska.org

Please call ahead for a reservation!

Playgroups for various ages (see times above) and information on the Imagination Library. Located in Homer, Alaska, Sprout is a nonprofit organization that provides support, education, and family strengthening opportunities to infants, toddlers, and their families. Co-sponsored by Sprout & Homer Public Health Center

Signs of Spring: Nature Crafts & Explorations

2:30-4:30pm CACS Headquarters Bldg, 708 Smokey Bay Way

235-6667| info@akcoastalstudies.org || www.akcoastalstudies.org

Come to CACS and explore our backyard! Do a fun nature craft to welcome spring and an outdoor activity to explore the signs of spring. Craft and activity for all ages. Co-sponsored by Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

Celebrating Resiliency: Parent to Parent

5:30-7:30 p.m. Kachemak Bay Campus, Rm 202

235-2558

For parents only. Come share your experiences and what has worked for you as a parent of a child with a developmental difference or challenge in learning or behavior, learn from other families and from the latest research about what has helped many families cope and even thrive in the face of challenges. Facilitated by Colleen Powers, MS, Child Development Specialist and Family Coach in conjunction with UAA's Leadership in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Program through the Center for Human Development and Kenai Peninsula College, Kachemak Bay Campus. Co-sponsored by Kenai Peninsula College-Kachemak Bay Campus.

Wednesday April 25

Homer Public Library Pre school Story Hour

10-11a.m. Homer Public Library, 500 Hazel Avenue

235-3180 || www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/library

Story hour for parents and children 3 to 5 years old. Preschool Story Hour features talented readers who are passionate about children's books - and they often sing and play instruments! After the reading, a related craft activity helps to reinforce the theme of the books read that day. This program is designed for children ages 3 to 5, but other children are welcome to use the Children's Room as long as they do not distract from the activities. Story Hour at the library means: kids getting together to enjoy books and reading; kids listening and participating in a group of their peers; parents and caregivers modeling appropriate storytime behavior; parents and caregivers sharing the love of literature with their children; parents, caregivers and children coming together to socialize in their neighborhood living room. Co-sponsored by Homer Public Library.

Junior Biologist Badge Program

3:30-4:30 p.m. Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center

226-4617

Program for students who want to earn their Junior Biologist badge. For children 7+ (must be able to read) Co-sponsored by Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge.

Thursday April 26

Family Bird Walk

9:30-10:30 a.m. Beluga Slough trail - meet in the Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center lobby

226-4659

Families are invited to join naturalist Carmen Field for a morning hike through Beluga Slough to find spring migrants. Bring binoculars; but if you don't have any, don't worry ... Carmen will have binoculars for kids and adults to borrow at the beginning of the hike. You're likely to see Sandhill Cranes, a variety of ducks and geese, and perhaps shorebirds that have just arrived from far-off locales. Free. Families with children of any age are welcome. Co-sponsored by: Kachemak Research Reserve

Sprout Playgroup in Anchor Point

10a.m.-12p.m. Chapman School

Phone: 235-6044 | info@homerilp.org || www.sproutalaska.org

Playgroup for ages 0-5. Sprout is a non profit organization that provides support, education, and family strengthening opportunities to infants, toddlers and their families. Snacks provided. Co-sponsored by Sprout.

Homer Public Library Lapsit

11:30am-12pm Homer Public Library, 500 Hazel Avenue

235-3180 || www.cityofhomer-ak.gov/library

Storytelling for young children and information on Imagination Library. The Small Fry Lapsit program is for parents and children up to 24 months in age in the Joy Griffin Children's Room at the Library. Early literacy development is the focus of the Small Fry Lapsit. This program is arranged so that each young child, under 2 years of age, sits on an adult's lap. This way both children and parents can participate, following along with rhymes, movement activities, songs, fingerplays and stories. Small Fry Lapsit is designed especially for those younger children who, due to age and inexperience, will benefit from a more intimate storytime experience at the library, to help very young children become comfortable with a library storytime structure and yet allow for all those wonderful qualities that make toddlers special! During the Lapsit, each child should have an adult partner with whom to share the experience, which makes each storytime successful, to provide a lap on which to sit, to help model storytime behavior, to remember the words or actions to a favorite fingerplay or singing game so it can be played again (and again and again) at home! Co-sponsored by Homer Public Library.

Craft Projects at Timeless Toys

1pm Timeless Toys, 3657 Main St.

235-1359

Craft project for 3-5 yr olds: Option 1- Make your own sock puppet (limit 10 kids). Option 2- Handprint Kit (limit 9 kids). Pre-registration recommended due to limited space. Free! Co-sponsored by Timeless Toys.

Friday April 27

Swinging Family Play Time

9:30-11:30 a.m. Jeanne's Learning Yurt, 866 Linda Court.

235-6547jeanneslearningyurt@gmail.com

A place for kids of all ages to explore a wide variety of movement opportunities including climbing, swinging, balancing, eye-hand coordination, rhythm and tumbling. Neuro-physical development is vital for a healthy brain of any age. Free. Co-sponsored by Jeanne's Learning Yurt.

Pratt Play Date

10-11a.m. Pratt Museum, 3779 Bartlett St.

435-3322

Bring your toddler and enjoy hands-on activities in our Marine Gallery. This free family event is designed for babies and toddlers. You are never too young to start visiting your local museum!Co-sponsored by Pratt Museum.

Toddler Playgroup

10:30am-12pm Boys & Girls Club

235-6090

Parents and their children 0-5 years old are welcome to run, romp, and play. For this week, it is free for first time attendees! Punch cards are available for future attendance: 10 punches for $20, 20 punches for $40. This playgroup operates during the school year. Co-sponsored by Community Recreation.

Singing and Stories with Michael Murray

11am-12pm The Homer Bookstore

235-7496 | homerbookstore@ak.net || www.homerbookstore.com

Songs and storytelling with Michael Murray. Co-sponsored by Homer Bookstore.

Homer Head Start Open House

11am - 1pm 1266 Ocean Drive

235-4322

See our center, enjoy a snack, learn about our programs for children ages 3-5 years, apply for 2012/2013 program year. Children welcome, of course! Co-sponsored by Homer Head Start.

Saturday April 28

Community Cafe: Strengthening Families

11a.m.-2p.m. Christian Community Church / Kachemak Kids Early Learning Center, 3838 Bartlett St.

435-7101 or 235-6044

What does the Homer area need to support our youngest community members and our families? Provide your feedback! Information also provided on the Strengthening Families 5 Protective Factors. Lunch and childcare provided (free). Co-sponsored by Sprout and Kachemak Kids Early Learning Center.