Grand Canyon South Rim Junior Ranger Raven Award

So I would like to start off by explaining that this National Park has two Junior Ranger Programs, North and South Rim.  Our adventures will only take us to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon this trip.  The Grand Canyon Junior Ranger Booklets are not available online you must pick them up at a ranger station once you arrive inside the park.  Another piece of information is that the South Rim does not provide or have any books for the North Rim Junior Ranger Program, but they do have North Rim badges.  So while you are able to end your North Rim Junior Ranger adventure at the South Rim, you cannot start your adventure here.  We started our visit at The Grand Canyon Visitors Center picked up our book and then proceeded straight to the theater to watch the park film.  During your visit you have to either attend a park ranger program or watch the park film, Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder.  We actually did both.  The film was a great introduction and also gave Jaxon a quick history lesson about the park before embarking on our adventure

To begin our journey lets discuss how the program is broken up by ages.  The Grand Canyon Junior Ranger Program is broken into three age groups, you can find listed below, which is also located on the inside of Junior Ranger Activity Book.  We will be walking you through what we did to complete the Raven level designed for ages 4-7 years old.  This is one of the few National Parks that offers a patch for each age group.  This makes it wonderful because I can now return to the Grand Canyon two more times with Jaxon and he will earn a completely new patch still filled with as much excitement as the first.  

As we made our way down the road towards the center of the village Jaxon was able to keep himself busy playing Canyon Bingo.  There is such an abundance of wildlife featured in the park that we completed almost the entire page prior to our arrival during our five minute drive.

There are so many magical views of the canyon I do not feel that I could ever choose a favorite.  No matter what angle I have ever seen it from it's awe inspiring beauty never ceases to amaze me.  To complete this page we choose the Lookout studios for a couple reasons.  Mostly location, it was literally directly in front of our cabin at Bright Angel.  It also had a nice walk down a couple of staircases leading you below the canyon rim giving Jaxon an alternative view.  This excited Jaxon as through out our entire visit to the Grand Canyon he envied all of the visitors who were brave enough to climb over the fence at the south rim trail and perch themselves on rocks for the perfect backdrop to any vacation photo.  Of course, having a mother who is terrified of heights this was never going to happen.  So by descending down the stairs of Lookout studios and allowing him to perch himself on a safe ledge provided by the studio it satisfied his craving of adventure for the day.  Lastly, it was fully equipped with a telescope which Jaxon found extremely fascinating to have the ability to examine each layer of earth down the canyon walls.

Daily between the hours of 11:00 - 3:00 pm located in front of the El Tovar backporch, right on the south rim trail with the most amazing backdrop was a Junior Ranger table.  Set up with brochures, Junior Ranger Booklets and an entire table full of items to explore with a different theme daily.  Jaxon loved exploring the table with the many hands on items they had available for the children.  The volunteers and rangers that were at the table handled the children exceptionally well answering every questions, patiently listening to their current adventures through the park, all while encouraging them to explore the items on the table the entire time.

After we completed our fossil walk we stayed in the area, located right next to the trail view overlook to the right of Hermit Road, to explore and find the perfect rock to study and complete page six of our Junior Ranger book.  It was one of the few areas that had loose rocks we could explore and examine.

During our early arrival for our Nature Walk with Ranger Ronnie we explored the Grand Canyon Head Office and found the most amazing blocks that went perfectly with the Stratigraphic Column.  The blocks were an exact replica and made completing this page so easy and enjoyable.    Later after our visit I found the Grand Canyon Nesting Blocks to purchase so that we could continue our education after we returned home.

We have taken approximately a dozen junior ranger oaths since our recent endeavor into our National Park adventures.  By far may I say this was the most beautiful backdrop for any Junior Ranger ceremony.  The access that gives the rangers the ability to perform such a special ceremony for each junior ranger is amazing.  The crowds near by cheer on the children giving them such a feeling of pride and accomplishment for all of their hard work in completing their ranger books through out the park.  I personally have not come across any other National Park yet that is able to hold such a powerful display of achievement for the children by not only the park rangers encouragementthemselves but also the by-standers observing the ceremony taking place.  

The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon

Since we booked our trip to the Grand Canyon so late we ended up staying outside the park for a couple nights.  The Grand at the Grand Canyon is located right outside the South Rim gate in a town called Tusayan.  The hotel was highly recommended and rated one of the only three star hotels in the area.  The bellman was absolutely fantastic and did not complain once about our two carts full of luggage.  The Grand was located right next to a bus service that we could conveniently take directly into the Grand Canyon Village if we chose to.  

As you entered the lobby of the Grand Hotel you felt as if you had been transported to a wilderness hunting lodge deep in the forest.  As the piano music serenades you to relax and enjoy your evening without having to leave the comfort of your hotel.  The fireplace would be the perfect place to cozy up to during cold winter months with a nice hot cup of cocoa.  The walls are filled with trophies of all the native animals you would expect to see in a hunting lodge to show of the accomplishments of the hunter.

We booked a standard two queen beds for our stay and were extremely comfortable.  Each room was equipped with a wet bar including a refrigerator, microwave and keurig coffeemaker. The rooms had a nice spacious balcony so after we got Jaxon settled in bed for the night we were able sit and relax on the balcony.

During our stay I happened to glance out our patio and saw the amazing sight of elk grazing in our parking lot.  Jax's and I rushed outside in our pajamas like crazy tourist to take pictures and just observe in pure enjoyment their beauty.

The hotel is one of the few in the area with an indoor pool to enjoy after a long day of hiking in the area.

Jaxon always seems to find a small sanctuary for himself no matter where we visit.  Here it happened to be our porch where he could work on his Junior Ranger program while we packed up for our next adventure.  

Bearizona Wildlife Park

After a long drive across Arizona this was the perfect stop to stretch our legs and explore before heading to our hotel for the evening.  We weren't sure what to expect only that it had been recommended to us by a friend.  When we arrived at Bearizona Wildlife Park we were greeted at the drive through window by an amazing employee, with who we communicated that we would like to begin our adventure at the Wild Ride bus tour.  At this time she got on her walkie talkie and asked the bus to wait for us.  To find customer service of this level now days is unheard of so anytime I experience it I have to praise them.

The Wild Ride follows the same path as the drive-through area you can take with your own car.  So if you are uncomfortable driving your own vehicle through you can hop on the Wild Ride and sit back and relax.  There are a couple of advantages you get by taking the Wild Ride.  The entire ride includes an educational tour by one of the parks employees which gives you a great orientation to the entire park.  I found the best part of taking the Wild Ride is that I could take pictures of all of the animals through an open window.  When you drive your own car through your windows must be closed for a large amount of time.  The Wild Ride is also included in your admission to the park so it really all depends on how much time you have to spend in the park.

Our Wild Ride ended just in time for us to hurry over and catch the Raptor Free Flight Program.  As we have seem dozens of Raptor shows in the past I was not too excited about this part of our visit.  Jaxon chose the very last row in the back because he wanted to be able to see the raptors fly over our heads.  As we sat there and they repeatedly explained the safety rules for attending the show.  I was not prepared for our next experience as we listened and watched a Harrison Hawk take flight and head directly for our heads I actually ducked out of pure reaction.  It was an amazing show and my personal favorite moment of our entire visit.

We then walked the remainder of the park on paved paths that took us past a wide range of different animals from the area.  The animals were some of the most active I have ever seen even during my early morning visits to our local zoos.

As we strolled through the path we came to a large building that housed a gift shop and a well themed restaurant that I wish we had saved our appetite for.  The only picture I took is below, and it does not do the area justice.  We quickly passed through on our way to the outside patio that over looked the jaguar exhibit.  If I ever have the opportunity to return I will plan to spend a leisurely lunch or dinner here enjoying the atmosphere.

As we were exiting the restaurant area Jaxon caught an exciting opportunity out of the corner of his eye.  A women was walking around conducting a meet and greet with a resident Bearded Dragon.  For children to have the opportunities to meet animals up close, see all the details they would otherwise miss in the wild and ask questions about the animal is such an educational experience.  Not having to fight for a spot near a stage just to be lost in the crowd is so much more meaningful to a young child.  I truly wish more wildlife locations would incorporate this in their visits.

Once we returned to our car we decided to take the scenic route and drive the entire wildlife park in our own vehicle.  After taking the wild ride it just was not as exciting as I expected.  As you drive through the animals are separated by fences and gates.  Periodically throughout the drive they have stations set up for employees to be able to monitor the situation and make sure all the guests are following the rules.  The one advantage to driving your own vehicle is you are able to stop inside some of the enclosures to watch the wildlife.  As the bears are extremely active and mischievous you are not able to stop but must constantly be driving forward within their enclosures.

We have been to a couple drive through wildlife parks during road trips and by far this location had the most variety of activities offered.  It was a nice combination to be able to take a bus tour, catch a show and stretch our legs all in one location.  The animals were extremely active even in the afternoon sun which was wonderful.  So many times I find myself at a zoo in the afternoon wondering why I didn't come first thing in the morning so that I could actually see the animals and not another empty exhibit.  After a long drive this truly was our oasis waiting to entertain our tired minds.

Holiday Inn Express and Suites Barstow

The Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Barstow has a great location just off Interstate 15 right before the junction Interstate 40.  It is also conveniently located within walking distance of the Barstow Outlets.  Just in case you want to stretch your legs after a long drive.  During our stay we booked the 1 King Bed 2 room suite with whirlpool.  This was our first night on a long road trip and we left late in the day due to my son, Jaxon's, summer class he had attended.  It was the perfect room for us as he was able to stretch out while we organized ourselves for the next long stretch of our trip into Arizona.

Our King Bed was extremely comfortable while being located in a extremely spacious room. The room included a large desk area with an additional desk below on wheels that gave you the option to extend your work space area.  This is where I was able to set up my computer and work very easily with their amazing high speed internet.

The living room had a whirlpool in the corner which Jax's found extremely entertaining. 

The wet bar area was very tight and the new refrigerator did not fit under the counter as the original did but we survived the one night. 

We were conveniently located on the same floor as the laundry room.  Since this would be the only night we had a laundry room until the following week we took advantage of the proximity and washed what we had.  The washers and dryers were immaculate which is honestly a relief when you are able to find a hotel that gives you this opportunity.

Before we headed out in the morning we were able to choose from a large selection of hot and cold breakfast items from their continental breakfast included in our stay. 

In the end the hotel was just what we were looking for and anytime we travel through this area we will have no problem calling the Holiday Inn Express and Suites our home for the night. 

What's Cooking, Kids

When choosing summer camps this year I let Jaxon choose from what was available at the Walnut Creek Recreation and Center for Community Arts.  In the past I have really enjoyed the variety they have to offer along with the commitment to running well educated classes.  He has always had a passion for cooking and spends a majority of his time in the kitchen with his nana.  So I was not surprised when he decided to take cooking.  Nor was I going to discourage him when I found out that they taught him how to measure out ingredients during this one week camp.  We had touched base on it during our school year but he had not fully caught on to the concept so I welcomed any assistance in this area.  When we arrived on the first day his teacher was well prepared with letters for all of us to take home and examples of all the recipes they would be cooking during the week at camp.

Mrs. Josephine Evonc was an amazing teacher and if she offered a class every semester we would be there!  

Each day the kids would grab an apron and a hat that was designated to them for the entire week and get to work on their daily creations.  All the recipes she included were very basic, some even took me back to memories of my own childhood cooking experiences.

Mrs. Josephine Evonc succeeded in teaching Jaxon measurements in one week.  He was even administered a test and passed.  He now uses his new measurement vocabulary quite frequently when he is in the kitchen. 

At the end of the camp the children were sent home with a packet that included pictures taken of them through out the week and all the recipes they had created.  I would add that the recipes did not include the exact ingredients.  This is the one thing I found to be a problem once class had ended.  Jax's was so excited to cook his own food and expand his palate only to find out that he had no idea what tomato sauce was used on their pizza.  

At the end of the day it is such an amazing feeling to hear all the stories that come home each day and then be able to see pictures of your child enjoying themselves in moments just as you had hoped for. 

Hidden Talent Art

In choosing how we were going to spend our summer I decided to enroll Jaxon in some summer camps that interested him.  I began my search at Stratford School's Pleasanton location due to the fact that last year he spent the summer at their summer socrates camp.  I knew their classes had structure and were well instructed.  Since Jaxon has recently taken an interest in art when I saw their Hidden Talent Art class listed I knew it would be the perfect fit.  What I did not expect was that Stratford actually brought someone in from a company to teach this class. 

The company is based out of San Jose and after his completion of this course I can say I will have no problem traveling to San Jose for Jaxon to be able to attend classes at The Hidden Talent Art next year.

While attending art camp Jaxon learned about many artist tools such as chalk pastels, ink, charcoal, and paint.  

He learned all different forms of techniques while using these tools by creating two art projects daily.

The progression in Jaxon's ability to take his own creative ideas and apply them on a piece  paper has been absolutely incredible.

 This was a great introduction to art for him and he now looks at art in a whole new light.  I have noticed since taking this class it has given him the ability to look at a piece of art and not only have an understanding of how it was created and with what tools and techniques were used.   But he has now also gained the ability to hold a conversation to discuss all his acquired knowledge. Giving him the ability to have a better understanding of both sides of art.  

Star Spangled Banner

When I was planning our Fourth of July study I found that it was more important to lay a strong foundation of the United States History for Jaxon that would lead up to the celebration.  We have only touched on presidents in the past year during Presidents Day.  I began our study when I found a great section in one of my Thematic Unit Books, My Country,  focusing on what I considered an appropriate foundation for a 1st Grader.  The section I pulled out was "The Star-Spangled Banner"  based on an amazing book by Peter Spier.  It also complemented his Social Studies book, Time for Kids Reader Fourth of July, with accompanying worksheets.  During this study we discussed the history of the National Anthem, how it made people feel, and what it stands for.  Unfortunately I have to admit my son had never heard the national anthem until this moment, nor had we discussed the pride of living in the United States and what it meant to be able to live with Freedom.  I began by downloading and discussing the music from a site that is based on learning through music called Wee-Sing.  They have created an entire album on American history.  It is a great introduction for kids to hear patriotic songs.  

I also included a range of American Symbols that represent our Country.  We read F is for Flag while studying the history of our flag and what each star and stripe represents.  This also opened the door for an entire study on learning the countries through their flags. We also read A is for America.  This book introduced so many symbols, people, places and concepts that represent the history of America.  It was a great addition to our study and complimented our Safari LTD super toob USA.  We were able to match up close to all the figures included.

We decided to expand our lesson on symbols by visiting New York during the Fourth of July.  If you ever get the chance I highly recommend it.  To have the opportunity to visit some of the most famous symbols of our country at this time of year made for the perfect American History lesson.  During our trip to New York we spent time at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

When we happened to come acrossed  a re-enactment of a Colonial Band playing the National Anthem along with other patriotic songs at Castle Clinton National Monument on the Fourth of July it was a great addition to our studies.  

Another great opportunity also included in the thematic unit was to learn the Pledge of Allegiance.  I included a book we had previously bought during this time, I Pledge Allegiance.  This book recites the Pledge of Allegiance and then explains to the child why it was created and what the true meaning behind each word and phrase means .

Since I always try to keep all of our lessons in a theme I ordered the Lego Architecture New York City Skyline Collection. This also gave Jaxon an activity when we were in the hotel room waiting for fireworks.  I was a little concerned since they suggest ages 12 and up.  Jaxon had no problem completing it on his own and loved making the connection between what he was seeing on his trip and the buildings they included.  

To try to teach a child the understanding of emotions that people feel about America is extremely challenging.  I don't think many children as young as Jaxon can appreciate or truly understand the meaning of patriotism and all it stands for.  Sometimes we as adults take for granted the country we live in and all it offers us.  I strongly believe that a child will first learn patriotism by their parents, leading by example.  As most of our children will learn a great majority of their behavior by following our example.  Our ancestors understood what freedom meant because a large majority of them experienced what it was like to lose that freedom or lived through the fear of having someone take their freedom away.  This gave them the gift of patriotism for their country.  A country that gave them the freedom to start a new life, a better life.  They also have had to fight to keep our freedom so that our children could be raised in the freedom of the United States.  I feel that most of us learn patriotism as we grow and experience things during our lifetime.  For me I always thought I understood what it meant and then on September 11, 2001 my world was turned upside down.  I had always had a false sense of safety and security in America because I had been allowed to feel that way.  We were America the country of freedom how could anything every happen to us.  Anything could happen to us any day any time.  Yet we choose to give ourselves the freedom but that does not always mean that other countries will give us the same respect.  That is when you realize so many lives people we didn't know but could so easily have been our mother, father, brother or friend are lost because someone tested our boundaries.  On this trip we visited the 9/11 memorial and I cried.  I cried for all the mothers, fathers, children and patriots who lost their lives that day.  I did not know one person personally but they were Americans who lost their lives and that is what patriotism is about.   As my son looked up at me and said "Mommy, why are you crying I had to explain to him that a lot of people lost their lives that day because someone didn't agree with our freedom!"

Statue of Liberty National Monument

We saved the best for last.  This was also Jaxon's highlight of our entire trip.  Our entire trip was planned around the Statue of Liberty Crown Access tickets.  We had tried to make a quick stop months prior on our way to Florida and quickly learned that Crown Access sells out months in advance.  Learning our lesson we actually booked our Crown Access tickets before our flights this time.  The Crown Access tickets give you access to everything you could possibly want to see the pedestal, museum, audio tour and grounds area.  These tickets are only available online.  I suggest planning way in advance to get your tickets here.  This is the only official provider of Crown Tickets.

To prepare for our trip to the statue of liberty we read L is for Liberty.  My favorite part of this book is that towards the end they celebrate the Fourth of July which really relates to our entire journey to New York.  For Jaxon's reading assignment he read The Statue of Liberty, a Step up to reading book.  I find it really takes Jaxon's reading to another level when the book focus's on something we are learning in another subject.  It then takes the focus off the fact that I am asking him to read but, that we are taking an adventure to learn about something new.

We pre-printed our Statue of Liberty Junior Ranger Activity Book.  When downloading the Junior Ranger Program this park actually has two choices. The first one is a short double-sided page meant for visitors wanting to earn their badge.  The second one was created for teachers to utilize during field trips to the Statue of Liberty.  Since we were including the book in Jaxon's "Time for Kids" Social Studies curriculum we chose to utilize the field trip based Activity Book.  We also included a short educational video by BrainPOP Jr.  Jaxon loves to watch  Annie and Moby bring topics to life through short cartoon clips.  Prior to our visit we were able to complete Activities 5,6,7,8 and 10 at home.  This gave Jaxon a great foundation of understanding the history and meaning behind such an important monument to american history. Below you can see how I took Activity 8 and expanded the topic into a small science project for a better understanding of how copper ages.  I found this great activity with the worksheet included by Buggy and Buddy. 

At the top of every Activity Page they give you a Hint where to find the answer which made it much easier to maneuver as we walked around the monument.  

Activities 1 and 2 we actually saved for last since both pages are to be completed in the information center at the same location that we would complete our Activity book and turn it in to a Ranger.  Activity 1 includes watching a video.  I would highly recommend leaving a good amount of time for these two activities, the information center is extremely small and tight.  Once you get more then one family trying to complete the same activities and meet with the rangers to sign off on the books it becomes cramped very quickly.  

The monument has an amazing children's audio tour that I highly recommend for children and adults.  It takes you on a tour through the gardens and then continues on around the entire outside grounds of the Statue of Liberty.  These tours are done at your own pace.  So you are able to listen in one area and then take your time walking until you reach the next stop.

After we returned our audio tours we quickly walked to the pedestal area where we were directed to leave all of our backpacks in a locker and only proceed with cameras that you have the ability to carry.  At this point you enter the pedestal and museum area and must proceed immediately to either the elevator or stairs during your selected tour time. We choose to take the stairs just to rule out the idea of us missing anything.  We didn't miss anything it is literally a corridor of stairs that lead you to the same location as the elevator.  At this time we met up with a Ranger who then told us how long we would need to wait before proceeding to the crown stairs.  

As we made our way to the top of the crown we were completely alone and able to climb at our own pace. 

The crown itself was so much smaller then I expected but, we have no regrets and would do the entire thing over again.  It was absolutely amazing being able to walk up the stairs and see all of her features from the inside.

After we made our climb down we headed to the museum to explore more on the history of the Statue of Liberty.

In the end after a long day of exploring the monument we all enjoyed an ice cold fresh made cup of Statue of Liberty Lemonade.  

Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration

Jaxon's First grade study of Immigration took us on our journey to Ellis Island.  This was another trip inspired by Jaxon's "Time for Kids" Social Studies curriculum.  I decided when planning this trip to split up the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island so we could take our time and do both Junior Ranger Programs and not be in a hurry.  Honestly,  the last thing I wanted to happen was for all of us to be exhausted and not enjoy the exploration.  That ultimately was the best decision we made by the end of our day on Ellis Island I couldn't wait to get back to our hotel and relax.  I could never imagine doing it any other way now.  

I would like to first discuss the Junior Ranger Program.  If I could go back and do things differently that would be the one thing I would change.  I attempting to be prepared printed the Junior Ranger Booklet at home.  Which I printed immediately after booking our trip in March.  The Junior Ranger Book I printed was at least ten pages long and by the time we had made it to the third floor we were exhausted, hungry and could not easily find any of the answers.  Once we completed the third floor questions we took a break and went and grabbed lunch in the cafeteria. We then returned to the last two pages which was all located in the main entrance area.  After still having major difficulty finding the answers I opted to go to the ranger desk and ask them how many pages needed to be completed.  When I questioned the ranger he notified me that the Junior Ranger book I had printed was out of date and meant for teachers use.  The now Junior Ranger Program was two pages.  So lesson now learned going forward I will always visit the ranger desk prior to beginning our day.

One of the reasons that I always try to print the Junior Ranger Book out ahead of time is so that we can do as many of the pages ahead as possible.  This helps us lay a strong foundation for our trip and allows us a little more time to enjoy the monuments at a more relaxed rate.  On this trip we were only able to complete the first page before arriving.  The entire packet is designed to be completed at particular exhibits.  Below is an example of one page of the packet.  I then went to plan b and organized our entire day by floor and exhibit which made it much easier while traveling through the museum.

In preparation for our trip we utilized BrainPOP Jr.'s short video on Ellis Island. If you have never heard of BrainPOP Jr. you absolutely need to look into it.  We pay $1.99 a month to have unlimited access to their app.  BrainPOP Jr. has six different categories science, health, reading and writing, social studies, math art and technology.  Within each of these are subcategories with endless subjects full of short educational videos that appeal to children.  There are times I can explain the same topic to Jaxon over and over and he still just stares at me completely lost.  This is when I pull out BrainPOP Jr. and all of a sudden a lightbulb comes on in his head.  There are times when he is honestly just tired of hearing my voice and that is completely understandable.  For this reason I try to incorporate all forms of education in his curriculum including educational movies and videos.

The page below was the only time I assisted Jaxon in writing in his Junior Ranger Activity Book.  I knew that this would be a huge challenge for him to sit down and write his own manifest so I interviewed him as if he was entering a real legal inspection and wrote all his answers below.  It actually made for a fun change of dramatic play during our tour of Ellis Island.

We also took the children's audio tour while on Ellis Island.  My first suggestion is to bring the children their own headphones.  They do not come with headphones and the rooms are small and can get quite loud.  We actually went back to the audio tour counter and asked if they had any we could borrow due to the volume of noise in the rooms.  The audio tour was absolutely perfect for children, a mouse who lives on Ellis Island takes you on a journey to meet some of his friends and explore their journey to the new world.  

Another great feature of the audio tour is it is enjoyed at your own pace.  Each room the tour leads you to has a plaque on the wall and the children just follow the mouse footprint numbers when they are ready to begin.

Once we had completed our Junior Ranger Program and our audio tour I took Jaxon on a more personal tour of Ellis Island.  We wandered the American Immigrant Wall of Honor in search of my Great Grandfather's name.  My Great Grandfather had traveled to Ellis Island from Belgium to start a new life for his family in America.  I wanted Jaxon to understand that Ellis Island is a historical landmark for many reasons and it is personal to every person who has had an ancestor pass through.  For if it was not for our ancestor's coming to America to start a new life we would not be here today.

Jaxon came to Ellis Island with very little knowledge or understanding of the concept of immigration and coming to america.  For a young child to learn history is one goal during most National Monuments but, to understand a concept of how we all came together to become what is now the United States of America is a little more difficult.

Ritz Carlton Battery Park

When we began exploring the nearest hotel to the Statue of Liberty we found the Ritz Carlton Battery Park.  

What caught our attention is not only were they located right in Battery Park, so we could easily cross the street to catch our ferry to the Statue of Liberty.  They also have an amazing Statue of Liberty view.  The Statue of Liberty view rooms come fully equipped with telescopes.  Which entertained Jaxon the entire stay.  Also conveniently located near by was the hop on and off bus, Castle Clinton National Monument, The National Museum of the American Indian, Seaglass Merry-Go-Round, and the Korean War monument to list just a few things that kept us busy during our stay.

In addition to Battery Park, located directly in front of our hotel was the beginning of the 9/11 Memorial walkway that took you directly to the site of the Memorial and Museum.  I was not sure how I would feel about visiting this site especially with a small child in tow who really doesn't understand the meaning of living through such a tragic event.  Sadly, it would be foolish of me to hope or wish that he never has to experience such tragedy.  In the world we live in today it is more common then generations before.  Yet I can now say I visited the site and cried as many people have done before me remembering all of the brave people who lost their lives on 9/11.

Since we were visiting during the Fourth of July all guests of the Ritz Carlton were invited to join the hotel on the 14th floor to relax and watch the fireworks from their outdoor terrace.  We made sure to get there early so that we could have a front row seat for the Fourth of July event.

Our stay at the Ritz Carlton Battery Park was absolutely wonderful.  We could not have asked for a more convenient location in this area and having the opportunity to watch the fireworks without fighting the crowds on the street made for a wonderful Fourth of July holiday.

Clinton Castle National Monument

During our recent visit to New York we wanted to be able to do as much as we possibly could in walking distance of our hotel located in Battery Park.  While exploring Battery Park we found ourselves inside Castle Clinton National Monument.  

Castle Clinton does not have their Junior Ranger Book online so you have to pick one up once you arrive.  The rangers are walking around so you just have to stop and ask one of them.  They do not have an official area that you are able to talk to them except their private office which is the door to the left as you pass through the arch.  The book is designed for ages 4-7 to complete three pages and ages 8 and up must complete all the activities.  Jaxon was able to complete the book with little to no problems.

As we began filling out our book we did lose sight that there was an outside so I would suggest walking around outside to see the plaque at the entrance which answers some of the questions on page nine.  

When it came to the Cannons on page three we had to ask the ranger for assistance that is when we discovered that at some point in time someone had stolen their signs.  That is why we were having a difficult time finding the answers we needed to complete the book.  This is when I am happy we have technology today that gives us the ability to sit down and look up the answers.

The one area that was located inside is set up with dioramas of Castle Clinton so that you have the ability to see the transformations it has gone through over the years.  This is where we found a majority of the answers for pages 7 and 10.  The history of the building and all it has been used for was astonishing.  Technically by right it was the first Ellis Island for our country and yet somehow we never hear much about it during our Nation's history.

As we wandered around Castle Clinton Monument completing our junior ranger book we noticed out the corner of our eye that a group of men dressed in colonial day attire had arrived.  Sparking our interest we walked over to admire their amazing attire.  It was at this time we came to find out that they were going to be re-enacting a colonial band by performing patriotic songs in spirit of the Fourth of July holiday.  After studying the history of the Fourth of July prior to our visit this was an exciting opportunity for us.  To not only read, listen and discuss but now to actually see what it was like in the past to witness a colonial band playing such patriotic music was a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

In the end Jaxon was very excited to receive his Junior Ranger Badge and Patch.  When we come across a location that has the opportunity to collect a patch it makes the experience extra special.  

Clinton Castle National Monument is an under appreciated National Monument that is sadly shadowed by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Islands who have taken over the gift shop, ticket stands and will call in the center.  I highly recommend taking the time to visit the location next time you are in New York.

Edgar Degas

After our visit to the Legion of Honor to see Monet was so successful, I was eager to return.  This visit would add another impressionist to his education, Edgar Degas.  We introduced Edgar Degas by reading Getting to Know the World's Artists Edgar Degas.  This book series is wonderful for children to read because they speak to a child from the lives and works of the artist while incorporating jokes along the way to keep them interested and entertained.  They are not just a biography but written more along the lines of what the artists vision and talent was that made them such a great artist.

After reading the book and discussing him as an artist we watched Art with Madi and Dada before we began our next project.  Madi and Dada have a series of videos put together for children on many different artists.  During each video they travel back in time and meet the artist in person to a share an adventure together.  Jaxon loves these videos and will even watch them when we are not doing an art project.   Anytime we are learning art history I always check their website to see if I can include a short video.  We then started on our project with a little more knowledge of the artist.  Rose found a great project using Chalk Pastels and focusing on how to draw a ballerina just like Degas.

In preparation of our visit to the museum we sat down as a family and watched The Artist's Special as Seen on HBO Degas and the Dancer. HBO has done an amazing job with their Artist's Special Series.  It captured all of our attention and held our interest through the entire movie.  It was such a great addition to what we have done in the past for art history that I found myself in search of the other five videos in the collection.  So when the time comes to study the other artists we will have them at our fingertips.

For further technique classes we turned to Young Art for a lesson, as we had previously for our Monet study.  When we arrived at young art in the Stoneridge Mall we were greeted by an amazing employee who was very excited to show Jaxon all his choices for a Degas study.  While browsing her cell phone he decided upon a portrait of Edgar Degas.  I left him in her capable hands and returned to this amazing portrait. His techniques have improved so far recently that he absolutely amazes me in his abilities to capture the artwork.

We arrived early at the Legion of Honor with pure excitement.  This was the first time my husband was joining us at the museum.  The Degas, Impressionism and the Paris Millinery Trade exhibit is at the Legion of Honor for a limited time June 24, 2017 to September 24, 2017.  

When we purchased our tickets we included an audio tour to heighten our experience of the current exhibit.  The Legion of Honor's audio tours are always so well done and help to keep us focused on the art work and learn about each individual piece.

Westin SFO

We checked into the Westin San Francisco Airport the night before our flight to New York.  One of the reasons we enjoy this hotel so much is they are one of the closest to the Airport.  Not only do they include a 24 hour shuttle to the airport they are the last pick up.  So you do not have to worry about sitting on a shuttle as it stops at every hotel on the street estimating the amount of time it will take you to get to the airport.

We always try to reserve a larger room when we stay near the airport so Jaxon has the ability to run around before a long flight and we are able to organize our suitcases.  In this case we were actually upgraded to the Chairman's Suite.  All of the suites we have stayed in at this location have been very spacious and comfortable. 

While my husband and Jaxon spent a majority of their time at the pool.  My mother and I went to the gym to get one last work out in before our long flight.  Their gym is more then accommodating and was kept very clean and organized.  The Westin also makes workout clothes available for all of their guests.  I personally have never utilized this service but I will say has always made me curious.  

As we browsed the room service menu and found nothing I quickly called downstairs to the Grill & Vine Restaurant that was located in the lobby and asked if they could accommodate pick up orders.  They were more than accommodating not only did they take our order they also called us to notify us when it was ready for pick up.  Their menu was so extensive that it was actually hard for all of us to make decisions.  Once we picked up our food we opened a bottle of wine and relaxed enjoying the peace before the airport chaos would begin the following day.

Palm Springs Art for all Ages

When I heard about Palm Springs Art for All Ages I was curious to see how they were going to be able to appeal to so many different age groups.  The event is held during the museums Free Second Sundays.  I have visited the museum in the past for adult tours prior to having Jaxon and have always loved my visits to Palm Springs Art Museum.  The Free Second Sundays are possible with the support of H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation.  During this event they also have a pop up studio.  This month the artist who was present was Michael Parker.  

When we first arrived we were asked to pick a country out of a hat, then we had to draw it to fill the dimensions of the board and cut it out.   Of course Jaxon was very interested and thought it was fun.  Then when we returned the board to the booth set up we were explained in further detail that this creation was going to be used by the artist in his next project.  Still slightly perplexed we were led to his exhibit.  

Michael Parker is a sculpture artist who has recently spent months creating a giant arch made of cardboard.  The LA Times wrote an article about his achievement which I found extremely fascinating.  The entire room was full of arches made of all different materials and designs.  He took a 3-D printer and recreated his own sculptures. He then passed them on to friends asking them to make his arches personal.  It was a extremely amazing concept and it allowed my son to see how so many minds can see a piece of art in all different ways.  If you have been following us Jaxon has been struggling with the fact that art's imperfections are what make it so unique and it is a personal creation for ones self.  After browsing the exhibit we returned to the art tables to now create our own arch.  At this point Jaxon looked over at me and said I am so excited I was able to be a part of his next art piece.  I smiled what a feeling for a small child to have that he was trusted to create something that will be included in something so much bigger then he could ever imagine.

On our way out Jaxon saw the artist and asked if he could ask him a question.  As he approached him Michael got down on his knees to be at Jaxon's level.  As a mother that right there completely impressed me not many adults do that.  I wish more adults could take notice of this, you never know the effects a person has on a young child when they share their knowledge and passion of a subject.  The stepping stones you are laying for a child to empower them to be greater then they could ever imagine.  These are the most important moments in life that are so often ignored or pushed aside because their opinions or questions are not of value in an adult world.  So I would like to say Thank you to Michael Parker for making my sons day, week and opened his mind to who knows in the future.

Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage

After finding such a great Ritz Kids program in Orlando, Florida we decided to start venturing to other locations when the opportunity arises.  Since we are studying Deserts we turned to the Ritz Kids at the Rancho Mirage Ritz Carlton for our next adventure.  Palm Springs has always held a special place in my heart. There is something about this area that has a sense of calmness to it.  Even through all the extremes of the desert habitat I still find peace here.

The cactus garden in the lobby immediately caught Jaxon's attention upon check in.  We arrived early to give ourselves enough time to enjoy the property for the day and experience some of the resorts activities.  The resort has nature walks, morning hikes, night hikes among many other activities scheduled through out the week.  

We choose a Terrace Firepit Two Queens for our visit as we love being able to spend time outdoors as an extension of our (living space) room.  This room exceeded our expectations.  It had an outdoor living room under a terrace where we spent most of our time.  The terrace had a fan and during the heat of the day patio misters would turn on to keep you cool.  Each night at dusk someone would come around and light our firepit.  The room was absolutely gorgeous and more comfortable than some suites we have had in the past. 

The hotel has two pools.  We never ventured over to the adult only pool.  The family pool was very comfortable and enjoyable. Even with a full crowd it never felt confining.

There was a wide range of extra curricular activities to do spread through out the entire resort.  Jaxon was drawn to the putting green as he was having withdrawals from his golf classes.

We found this Ritz Kids was set up much different than the other location we had previously visited.  The Ritz Kids program here is only available on Friday and Saturday's.  So we made sure to come into Rancho Mirage on a Friday and Saturday so Jaxon could take full advantage of the Ritz Kids program.  During the program they read books on the desert such as Way Out West Lives A Coyote Named Frank or How Jackrabbit Got His Very Long Ears.  Anytime we have visited Ritz Kids locations they always do a great amount of reading to the children on the specific topics surrounding the location. Of course Jaxon's favorite part of the Ritz Kids was Draco, the resident bearded dragon, that he was able to observe being fed daily.  

Here is an example of one of the crafts that were created during Jax's Ritz Kids visit. Anytime we are studying a topic I try to collect as many books as possible on the subject.  On this trip one of the books we brought along was The Storm on the Desert.  Then at night we use them for reading time.  Which makes for a perfect ending to an adventurous day. 

In the past the Ritz Kids locations we had been to had a rigid activities schedule including daily themes.  Rancho Mirage was a much more laid back form of education then we were used to during our travels or even at home.  At first I was a little concerned as we had come to visit solely for the educational value of the Ritz Kids.  Since my mind is extremely structured I did not see how this was going to happen while they were playing games all day long.  Frank was the Ritz Kids counselor Jaxon interacted with during the majority of his time.  As our conversations continued we found out that Frank was a Joshua Tree Park Ranger in the past and his knowledge superseded anything you could read in a book or learn at a zoo.  His expertise on the local animals is what caught Jaxon's interest and even though he thought he was playing games the entire time his mind was soaking up all the grand stories of adventure Frank was sharing with him.  Again the Ritz Carlton has amazed me.  This location took education out of the norm and put it into a new perspective and method but was equally as successful in the knowledge Jaxon took away from the program.  

Borax Visitors Center

We are always looking for great roadside stops to make on long road trips.  It gives us the opportunity to escape the car and learn something new.  As we drove down Highway 58 we came to this roadside attraction, excited to stretch our legs and see what adventure they had to offer.  The Borax Visitors Center was so much more than I expected. Their website does not give enough information except that admission is free and they are open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  This stop is so much more!  We were greeted at the door by a wonderful woman who invited us in to watch a 10 minute educational video.  Following our video she greeted us at the door with samples of the mineral Borate and a coloring book to take home and explore.

Once we had finished touring the inside of the museum we ventured outside for more fun and an observation deck overlooking the mine. The visual impact alone was astonishing.

These type of stops are valuable for many reasons.  I find the greatest element is you are learning something new without realizing it in the spirit of fun.  This was a great educational stop for everyone involved.

Best Western Plus Taft

If you ever find yourself looking for a hotel in Taft I would highly recommend the Best Western Plus over any other hotel in town.  When I began my search to look for hotels nearest to Carrizo Plains National Monument I found Taft was the closest town.  Taft is located in the middle of oil fields.  Driving into town was such a sight all you could see was oil rigs for miles.  Our entire experience in Taft ended up being a diamond in the ruff.  The hotel was located directly behind the main street so it gave us easy access to be able to walk around town in the evening. Growing up in a small town it was a breath of fresh air when we walked up an down the streets.  The town was very quiet and has history lining the streets.  As you strolled up and down the sidewalks every couple feet you would come to a piece of the oil industry history.  At the time of booking the hotel I expected to use it as a starting point for our journey into carrizo plains I had no idea that we would become a part of our journey itself.  We found ourselves intrigued and drawn to the town itself.  It left us wanting to return to explore more.

This Hotel included free wifi and breakfast with our stay.  There are times I am at 5-star hotels and the wifi barely works.  The Best Western in Taft had such excellent wifi that I was able to work on uploading pictures with ease.  The Continental Breakfast had more variety than most and was prepared on site.  

The Hotel only has standard rooms which made me a little nervous, since this trip my husband joined us, it would be tight.  It ended up not being a problem at all as we spent most or our afternoons at their pool which was extremely well kept and comfortable.  The rooms were extremely clean and modern.  Each room was fully equipped with a refrigerator and microwave.  

The staff at the Best Western Plus is a great example of hospitality.  During our last day enjoying the pool we met a local man who's air-conditioning had went out and was using the hotel as an escape.  As our conversation took us to our current hotel location, he informed us that he was so delighted that they opened as it was the only hotel in town that did not have a green pool.  I'd say we made the right decision.

Carrizo Plains National Monument

I find through our travels and educational journeys that I too learn alot along the way.  When we began our Landform studies I foolishly assumed most of the central valley was a Plain.  Until I found out the only Plain left in the state of California was Carrizo Plains National Monument.  Once we arrived we explored using the Junior Explorer Field Guide.  This activity book can be picked up at the Goodwin Educational Center or printed from home.   I highly recommend printing out the Junior Explorer Field Guide prior to visiting.  We were able to complete pages 3, 7, 9 and 10 before we even arrived.  This laid a great foundation for what we were going to explore during our visit.  Another reason for printing it out ahead of time was The Goodwin Educational Center is located in the Center of the monument and we had half of the book completed before we even arrived.  

We woke up before the sunrise to be able to get to Carrizo Plains at first daylight, so we could avoid hiking late in the afternoon during the hottest time of the day.  Our drive to Carrizo Plain took about one hour from our hotel in Taft.   When researching the Monument we found that there are numerous entry points, some are even shorter drives from other hotels and cities.  We choose Taft due to it's proximity to Goodwin Educational Center,  the list of services that were provided in town and the level of accommodations available.  A majority of what needs to be accomplished to complete the Junior Explorer program takes place on the California Valley side of the Park. 

Equipped with our clipboard and binoculars we entered the park on the California Valley side off of Highway 58.  Throughout our entire drive Jaxon was kept busy with the Carrizo Plain Checklist.  As he searched for wildlife.  He even had the excitement of seeing a snake.

Our first Hike was up Overlook Hill to answer the questions from page Five of our Junior Explorer Book. All of the answers were all located on the plaque at the top of the hill.  This was a very short, steep 500 foot hike that left from a small dirt parking lot.  Overlook Hill gave us the opportunity to see just how large Soda Lake below us really was and our next stop.

Our next stop was Soda Lake Boardwalk Trail which, was located directly across the street from the road we turned on to reach overlook hill.  We started by taking a short dirt path to the edge of the lake where a boardwalk begins that runs along the lake.  The lizards kept Jaxon entertained the entire walk down the dirt path.

This walk was extremely easy and was under a mile round trip.  At anytime during your visit you can complete page twelve as it is a journal entry the children fill out about their experience in the park.  

This area gave us the opportunity to see some small wildlife.  While walking on the boardwalk we were able to not disturb their habitats.  During this stop we completed page six of our Junior Explorer.  

We then stopped and took a short walk up to Wallace Creek and the San Andreas Fault.  This walk can be made as a short walk to the plaque at the end of a short trail which then gives you the option to connect to other hikes that can last much longer during your visit.  We opted for the short walk up to the creek and were able to complete all of page eight during this stop.  This concept was very difficult for Jaxon to understand as we had never discussed or studied what an earthquake was.  I would highly recommend at least a one day discussion with activities just so they understand more of what they are observing at the fault line.

The last two pages can be completed at The Goodwin Educational Center. The Goodwin Education Center was a great ending to a wonderful day.  The Center is only open from December to the end of May.  When we arrived they were actually packing up to close for the summer months.  Their exhibits were extremely well kept and informational.  The Ranger that was there was a wealth of information and interacted with Jaxon.  He pulled out a Rattlesnake Rattler, Horns and Antlers showing him and allowing him to touch and ask as many questions as he felt necessary.  We ended our visit with Jaxon taking his oath and receiving his Junior Explorer Badge.

We were able to explore the Monument and complete the entire Junior Explorer Field Guide in just one day.  The only exception that was Painted Rock.  There are only two ways to visit Painted Rock.  During the months of July 16 until the end of February you have to obtain a permit to take a self-guided tour of the area.  During the months of March 1st until July 15th you have to take a guided tour which you must book ahead of time.  Everything for the time we were visiting was completely booked.   I was sad that we were unable to do the Painted Rock Tour and I hope to return next year to visit that area of the park.  

Feathers for Lunch

We actually had an unexpected head start on our bird study when we joined the Ritz Kids at their Grand Lakes location for a bird study day.  This was our first experience joining the Ritz Kids program.  The Ritz Kids is an amazing program where not only do the kids get some freedom from their parents but they have fun learning about the area.  For this specific topic Jaxon painted a bird house while they read books and played games all revolving around Birds.

Our Bird Study began with the book Feather's for Lunch.  Which was suggested to us through a Thematic Unit on birds.  Anytime I can find a Thematic Unit on a subject we are studying I love to include them as they have creative ideas on incorporating crafts, cooking, math and writing.  This was Jaxon's first time ever learning about birds and I was not sure if we would find the study exciting.  Inside the thematic Unit they provided one single page to be used as a Bird Watching Journal.  Since we travel so much I decided to expand our bird watching on our trips and purchased this Bird Watching Journal to do so.  I also picked up a couple books to learn more about bird watching and the birds we are observing.  Feather's for lunch introduces the children to some of the most common birds found across the United States.  The only deteriant of this book is that the pictures are paintings so they do not show the children a realistic picture of the bird they are studying.  To solve this problem since I wanted Jax's to have the ability to see a photograph of each bird I searched elsewhere.  I found that the National Geographic for Kids books does a wonderful job showing the children pictures and facts about the birds.  For this study I picked up Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Birds (National Geographic Kids Ultimate Explorer Field Guide) and National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America.  

Though the Thematic Unit suggested we raise an egg in an incubator I was not that dedicated.  So we opted to improvise by finding a nest in our yard and observing the birds through their entire cycle of life.  It added a sense of excitement each time we checked the nest.  From the beginning as we anticipated the eggs hatching all the way to the end as we were able to see the changes in the birds as they grew stronger and stronger.

So we found that sometimes nature needed some persuasion when it came to attracting the birds down to a level we could observe them better.  So we started on our adventure of making all types of bird feeders.  

As we continued our bird watching we began being able to identify birds by sight.  Jax's began enjoying the challenge of figuring out which bird was which.  As I searched for areas outside of our own yard to venture to I found a great program located just outside of San Francisco, at the Marin Audubon Society.  The Marin Audubon Society has a program for Junior Birdwatchers ranging from Kindergarten to Fifth Grade.  So we will see where this adventure takes us.  We've decided to start with the Kindergarten level so we do not miss any of the steps.  I always like to add any type of visual educational toy that can be used during our lessons.  I came across these great plush toys made by Wild Republic for the Audubon Society to help Jaxs in learning the different types of birds along with hearing their individual calls.

To end our bird study we attended the Annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival.  It is held annually at the Taylor Creek Visitors Center by many organizations in the community to educate visitors on the local birds that migrate to the Lake Tahoe area.

The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science leads bird watches through the Taylor Creek area the entire day.  It was a great opportunity for Jax's to bird watch with a group of people outside of our yard.

Following our Bird Watch we attended a Falconer presentation at the amphitheater put on by Marie Gaspari-Crawford.  Of course these birds of prey held Jaxon's attention.

There were a long list of organizations that set up booths to help educate visitors on numerous subjects.  The boy scouts caught Jaxon's attention since he was able to build his own bird house.

Again the Community in Tahoe has exceeded our expectations.  We love how everyone in the community always comes together to pull off amazing events for our youth.  We only wish more communities would do so.

Los Angeles Zoo Delving Deserts

We have been members of the Los Angeles Zoo for the past year.  This zoo is actually one of our favorites in all of California.  We had just began our study into the desert habitat, when the opportunity came that they were holding a children's class "Delving Deserts"  we signed up immediately.  This was the first class that we have taken through the Children's Discovery Center and it made us want to take more.   We have taken zoo education classes at a couple locations in northern california and were not impressed with the curriculum.  

When we dropped Jaxon off at the Children's Discovery Center the classrooms were set up for all different ages, just as if he was attending a school.  This alone topped anything I have seen in the past.  When we entered the classroom each child had a cubby to place all of their belongings and was given a backpack fully equipped for their day of adventure at the zoo.  

When I arrived to pick Jaxon up I was able to observe the class through the floor-to-ceiling windows that lined their classroom.  Through-out  the entire 15 minutes that I observed all the students sat quietly and gave the teacher their full attention.  I was impressed how after half a day of class they were still totally engaged in the activities.  The teachers were well organized and kept the class in order but still managed to get down to their level.  Which we all know is not always an easy task.

Once we picked Jaxon up he could not stop talking about his behind the scenes adventures with the Rattlesnake.  He was able to see a wide range of Reptiles and learn about how they adapt in the desert.  He came out with a wealth of information on the desert and the animals that live there.  We eagerly await more classes to come available .