Free Dental Health Care at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry

Each year, the University of Michigan School of Dentistry Student Council sponsors Dental Health Day for kids ages 4-18. This free dental clinic will be offered on March 31, 2018 to Ann Arbor and surrounding communities.

Because of the increasing cost of dental care, lack of information about dental services and changes in insurance coverage, many people refrain from seeking dental evaluation and service until they are experiencing pain, or find themselves in and emergency situation. Dental Health Day was designed to allow more people, who would otherwise refrain from seeking dental treatment, to receive basic dental health care, free of charge, reducing risks of emergencies.

This year, Dental Health Day will be held March 31, at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, 1011 N. University in Ann Arbor. Individuals regardless of income can participate in the program. An appointment is not necessary, however, patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Treatments will not be provided. Registration will start at 7:30 and will continue until noon or until 100 patients have been evaluated. All participants will receive FREE oral exams, FREE oral cancer
screenings, FREE dental x-rays and FREE oral hygiene instruction. Please enter the School of Dentistry at the North University Avenue entrance. Parking will be available at the Fletcher Street parking structure.

If you have further questions or seek additional information, please contact U of M School of Dentistry (989) 787-0712, e-mail them at gkasumsod@gmail.com or visit the School of Dentistry's website.

Ann Arbor Summer Camp & Day Camp Expo

Find details on Ann Arbor Summer Camps
and Summer Day Camps during the Summer
Camp Expo at Briarwood Mall.

It may be cold and the sun may not be shining much, but I know many Ann Arbor parents are beginning to plan what to do this summer when the sun DOES come out; Ann Arbor parents are already considering summer camp and day camp experiences when the kids are out of school for summer vacation! I know, I have already started looking too...

I am in the process of updating my annual list of Ann Arbor summer camp and summer day camp options for parents, but if you are anxious (and I know many of you are based on the e-mails I have received) then I have a solution for you!

On March 3, 2016, noon-4:00 p.m., Briarwood Mall will once again host its annual “Spring into Summer” Camp Expo. This year’s event will hist more than two dozen camps and will address a wide range of interests for children and young adults up to age 18. Some of the camps already slated to attend include Oz’s Music, Go Like the Wind Montesorri, Summer’s Knoll, and several YMCA day camps.

Attendees at the free event will also enjoy entertainment from Colors the Clown and various kids activities. Do you have a fun kids activity to include in the event? Be sure to register for this free camp expo event.

Ann Arbor summer camps that wish to send me updates on their summer camp programs can contact me at tmayrend at gmail dot com - This year I will also have openings for sponsorship and special advertising deals for Ann Arbor summer camps and those in the surrounding communities!

Support Beginning & Struggling Readers with Circus Vowels

A few years ago I wrote a blog post about a book called Circus Vowels. My children and I really did enjoy reading the book, and even today I still use some of the analogy even though my kids are in middle school.

Now, author and creator Jodi McMaster, is launching a Kickstarter campaign for Circus Vowels: Empowering Beginning and Struggling Readers. Through the campaign she is hoping to bring awareness to the interactive teaching tools she has created that get children up and moving while working on phonics skills. 

Her book includes reading strategies that give children the power to get up, move around, and act out the story while wearing letter vests. The book is called, Circus Vowels: The Long and the Short of It. It makes learning to read easy, fun, and simple. It is for parents to read with their children or teachers to read to their students. Basically, it teaches any beginning or struggling reader a trick that helps them understand which vowel makes which sound within a word. 

The Circus Vowels interactive reading strategies have already helped over 100,000 children learn to read and are being used in thousands of classrooms across the country. You can check them out at www.circusvowels.org. 

For individuals who become Circus Vowels Kickstarter backers, they will receive awesome rewards and feel good knowing that books/kits will be donated to children and schools in need. 

Ann Arbor Spring Break Camp Programs

With spring break rapidly approaching, area parents are beginning to plan for the big question: “What will I do with my child when they are out of school on break?” If you haven’t done so already, following is a list of spring break camp programs in and around Ann Arbor. I will add to the list as additional camp opportunities are brought to my attention!

Ann Arbor Art Center Spring Break Camp
Kids ages 5-12 get creative at the Ann Arbor Art Center. Before and after care is available. Cost $360+.

Leslie Science & Nature Center Spring Break Camp
Kids in grades K-5 can experience the great outdoors with a walk in the woods, frolic in the fields, or poke around local ponds, filling spring break with natural wonders - Other activities include outdoor games, survival skills and explorations on the wet and wild side. Register online, drop off or mail-in form at 1831 Traver Road (Ann Arbor, MI 48105) or call 734.997.1553. Cost: $250.

Peachy Fitness Spring Break Camp
Yoga and fitness camp for kids ages 5-14 runs daily 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.. Cost $175.

Summers-Knoll School Spring Break Camp
Kids in grades pre-k through 8th grade should plan to join in on a week of spring break adventures at Summers-Knoll School (2203 Platt, Ann Arbor, 48104). The program offers engaging and educational programs for children ages 4.9 years through 13 years. Campers are divided into age-appropriate groups for daily art, science, and outdoor activities. Pre and post camp care is also available for an additional fee. Register online and contact Rachel Goldberg (rgoldberg@summers-knoll.org or 734.971.7991734.971.7991 with questions. Cost $255.

WideWorld Sports Spring Break Camp
Experience an indoor soccer camp during spring break for half or full day. Before care starts as early as 7:30 a.m. with a late pick-up up until 6:00 p.m. Cost: $135/$195

If you have additional spring break camp information, please list it below in the comments of contact me at tmayrend (at) gmail dot com.

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Valentine's Day Craft Projects for Kids and Teens

Kid's can make their Valentine a salt-dough 

heart or create other personalized craft 

creations this week at several events 

throughout Ann Arbor.

Photo courtesy of Kaboose.

When I think of Valentine's Day, I am reminded of a Valentine's Day school party in fifth grade. I passed out the typical handcrafted Valentine's Day cards to classmates and even got crafty with salt-dough, shaping it into a Valentine heart that I gave to Hank, my fifth grade crush. Unfortunately for me, even though I didn't label who the heart was from, he knew, and proceeded to tell the entire class I didn't know how to cook. Explaining that it wasn't a cookie was a fruitless effort and quite embarrassing!

Creating Valentine's Day gifts, though, became a tradition of sorts and one that I have passed to my children — everyone loves a good treat, be it baked or crafted, and this week throughout Ann Arbor, there are many opportunities for your children and teens to craft their hearts out!

Michaels Crafts is always a good location for free or low-cost "Make-it Take-it" craft projects, and this week they are not failing to deliver. On Saturday, Feb. 3 from 10:00 a.m. - noon, kids ages 3 and up can drop in to create their own Valentine's Day Love Bugs for $2. Then on February 10, from 10:00-12:00 p.m. Kids can make a Valentine's Day Card for $5
Sign up in store or online, or just drop in. Parent or guardian must remain on premises.

The Ann Arbor Library has a couple events for children and teens to create sometime sweet for their sweethearts. On Saturday, Feb. 3 at 2:00 p.m. at the Traverwood branch, try creating your Valentine a felt flower. Then on February 10 at 2:00 p.m., stop by the Mallets Creek branch to make a Valentine card. Be sure to log into your Ann Arbor Library account to register!

Do you know of other Valentine's Day events to add to the calendar. Please share them in the comments below!