Education

Ferguson kids study reading with YSL website

Kids at Ferguson Middle School are using the Young Saint Louis.com website in their summer reading classes.

Ar'Terrance Hall said he likes to read. But, the 15-year-old added, "I like to read when it's about something that's real. There's a lot of stuff that's real on the website."

He said the news stories about St. Louis-area kids "make reading a lot more interesting."

He is among 50 seventh and eighth graders who need to pass these special summer reading classes so they can move on in their schooling. Hall is planning to start at McCluer High School in the fall. He hopes to play football in high school and become a professional football player.

Hall said he also likes the crossword puzzles on the website. The puzzles include words from the stories in each month's edition.

Teacher Jennifer Weir got permission from the Ferguson Middle School administration to base her intense, four-week reading classes on the YSL.com website. She teaches five classes a day, using exercises based on the website.

Fourteen-year-old Candice Evans said some of the class lessons require the students to write summary paragraphs about a website story. "Writing the summaries helps me think about the stories more," she said.

Evans expects to start at McCluer North High School in the fall.

Fourteen-year-old Ashley Green said the summary writing helps her understand the stories. "But, it also helps me with my writing skills," she said.

Ashley likes the idea of having a locally-produced website to use in her classes. "When I see a website like this, I know that people are trying to help. That motivates me to learn," she said.

She is planning to attend McCluer High School in the fall. She hopes to be a psychologist when she finishes her schooling. "I like to talk to people and help them," she said.

Fourteen-year-old Denzel Bishop said he likes to read mostly adventure stories. But, he said he likes website stories because they are "about what kids can do around St. Louis."

He said having the stories based on local kids helps him with his reading. Then, having to write reports on the stories "helps me even more," he said.

Bishop is planning on attending ninth grade at Gateway Middle School this fall. He hopes to become an outfielder on a professional baseball team. He said, "I have a good arm but I need to work on it more."

Asked about his hitting, he said, "I can hit most of the time."

Teacher Weir focused each of her first classes on a single story on the website. She asked the students to follow a lesson plan similar to the one which comes with each website story. That has the students do things before they read, while they read and then after they read.

The written summaries are based on discussion questions at the end of each lesson plan.

After the first week, Weir let the kids branch out a bit. She gave them a work sheet titled "Young Saint Louis.com Scavenger Hunt."

This asked a series of 10 questions. The students were supposed to work on their own to surf the website and find the answers. Questions ranged from finding a specific story in a past edition to picking their three favorite jokes in the Fun and Games section.

Candice Evans said she liked the chance to check out the website on her own. "I like to explore a lot. I also like the links to other websites," she said.

She said her work on the website has been helped because she's known how to type since she was in fourth grade. She hopes for a career as "a person who deals with computers."

Weir said school principal Tracy Rohlfing is "very supportive" of her plan to use the website to teach reading classes. One of the things the principal did was buy several copies of the Garfield Dictionary for use in the classes.

In May, 2000, Young Saint Louis.com featured a book review on the new Garfield Dictionary. The dictionary was written especially for kids and features the cartoon character, Garfield the Cat.

Weir said she won't just stress how to find words in the dictionary. She also will show how the dictionary helps kids learn how to pronounce words. She said many students like to read but don't always understand what they have read.

The website lesson plans help kids identify difficult words. That way, they can look up the meanings of those words before they start to read the whole article.

Weir plans to conduct "in-service" training this fall for other teachers in the school to show them how to use the website in their classes.

Entertainment

St. Peters' girl will star in movie at 12

Twelve-year-old Kayla Doeren is glad she found out early she wasn't an athlete. She likes her chances at singing, dancing and acting better.

The seventh grader will be starring in a movie to be filmed in St. Louis this summer. The producer of the film is a start-up company called River City Films.

She already is featured in a music video that's being used to interest potential film investors. The video was used last month at a luncheon for 225 at the Cardinals' Stadium Club downtown.

Kayla originally thought she was going to be an athlete.

"I was in soccer from kindergarten until I was in third grade. I never scored a goal in all that time. I can't run; I'm so slow," Kayla said.

But, her soccer coach took the whole team to a play put on by Young People Theater in St. Charles.

She said, "As soon as I saw the play, I knew that was what I wanted to do. My mom and dad were so happy that I found something I liked and was good at."

Her acting career started at 8 when she appeared in a Christmas play at St. Charles Community College. It was titled "If Angels Were Mortals."

She also had the starring role in the Young People Theater's production of the Broadway hit, "Annie." She's been accepted in the Muny Theater's Muny Kids program. Kayla said she's supposed to appear in two shows this summer, "Wizard of Oz" and "A Night with Gershwin."

Kayla takes both dancing and singing lessons. It was her singing coach, Nancy St. James, who suggested her for the movie role. "Nancy knew Cindi Gormley and Tony Coleman who were going to produce the film," Kayla said.

Tony Coleman is a St. Louis County policeman. He and Ms. Gormley formed River City Films two years ago. They want to produce family films and keep their company in St. Louis.

Kayla said she started auditioning for the movie lead about a year ago.

Coleman and Gormley had to move slowly because they're on a shoe-string budget. They also handle the whole film production themselves.

Kayla said, "After a lot of auditions, Cindi and Tony finally took me out to lunch and gave me a check for $100. That was my signing bonus."

She said she knows this first movie isn't a "really big Hollywood deal." But, she added, "It's going to be perfect for me. I'm ready."

Gormley said production for the movie will start this month. They've been holding auditions for other starring roles in the movie and have a script roughed out.

Coleman said River City Films will make movies for the whole family. He said, "I'm a policeman and I see the type of films kids see these days. Parents can hardly find anything they could watch with their kids."

Kayla said it took quite a bit of time to stage the 3-minute video. It will be included as a part of the longer film.

She's the lead singer and dancer in the video, which is entitled, "My First Kiss." It was filmed locally in two schools, in a home and a west St. Louis County residential street.

Kayla said the singing was done in a music studio. Then, the dancing and acting were done on two different weekends. The studio singing was dubbed into the video. "We lip synched the singing so I didn't have to worry how I sounded while we were dancing and acting," she said.

Kayla said she hopes to go to college at New York University and go into show business. "I'd like to skip high school and go directly to college. But, that isn't going to happen," she said.

But, if her dream of getting on Broadway doesn't work out, she's got another career picked out. "If it doesn't come through, I want to be a doctor," she said.

Kayla is the daughter of Robert and Carolyn Doeren. She has a younger brother, Austin, who is 7.

If you want to know more about River City Films, you can log on their website at: www.rivercityfilms.com.

Books

The beginning of a war that your
grandparents may have lived through

"Air Raid - Pearl Harbor" tells the story of December 7, 1941. This was the day that the Empire of Japan sent several hundred airplanes to bomb Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It was a sneak attack, with no warning given to Americans that their country was to be the target of Japanese bombs. Some of your grandparents when they were children can remember turning on the radio on a quiet Sunday afternoon and hearing that their country was being bombed. The bombing of Pearl Harbor was the event that brought our nation into World War II, a war that involved more nations and people than any war in history.

During this summer of 2001, a popular movie called "Pearl Harbor" is playing in our nation's theaters. A number of special programs telling the story of Pearl Harbor appeared on television, especially around Memorial Day of 2001. Why? One reason is that those men and women who fought in World War II to defend our country are getting old and starting to die, just as veterans of all our previous wars gradually disappeared. Many believe that young people who did not experience the war need to learn about it and to understand the sacrifices that were made by their grandparents and great aunts and great uncles who did live at that time.

By December 1941, much of the world was already at war. Germany, led by Adolph Hitler, had already conquered much of Europe and was trying to defeat England with constant bombing attacks. Japan had already invaded parts of China and seemed determined to conquer other parts of Asia. The United States appeared to be trying to stay out of the war and was seen as a "sleeping giant." The U.S. did have a fleet of warships in Hawaii that could play a part in a war in Asia, if America decided to use these warships. Japan's military leaders thought that if they could destroy the American warships, The U. S. could no longer stand in their way and Japan could do whatever they wanted in Asia.

Japan did carry out the surprise attack and it was quite successful. Much of America's fleet was destroyed and hundreds of sailors were killed. However, Japan was the one that was in for an even bigger surprise. The "sleeping giant" was awakened and the call "Remember Pearl Harbor" helped bring the giant to life. The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, America went to war against the invaders in both Europe and in Asia, and, as you know, both Germany and Japan were finally defeated in 1945.

"Air Raid - Pearl Harbor" is a 191-page paperback account of the December 7th attack that was written especially for children. Just because it is a book for kids doesn't mean that it is easy reading. The author, Theodore Taylor, clearly respects his young readers and does nothing to "sugarcoat" his account of the events prior to and during the sneak attack. The young persons who read his book will come away feeling that they have been given a clear and fact-filled description of that historical Sunday of December 7th, 1941.

A story about a really fat boy, an aspiring
country singer, and a soldier in Viet Nam

The story in "When Zachary Beaver Came to Town" takes place in the small town of Antler, Texas in the summer of 1971. The storyteller is Toby Wilson, whose mom has just gone to Nashville's Grand Ole Opry to compete in a talent contest for country singers. Toby and his dad are lonely but trying to make the best of the situation. They suspect that Toby's mom is not ever coming back.

The biggest excitement in town is the arrival of a trailer that has Christmas lights around it and a sign advertising "The Fattest Boy in the World." Almost everybody in Antler is lined up on a hot summer day to pay two dollars to see the unusual boy. Toby and his closest buddy, Cal McKnight, are in line with the rest of the town. The key characters in the story are introduced in this early scene.

Characters include Zachary Taylor, the fat boy, who gradually is befriended by Toby and Cal. There is Scarlett Stalling, the girl that Toby and every other boy in junior high has a crush on. Scarlett has a bratty little sister named Tara that none of the boys like, but they would never let Scarlett know that. Scarlett seems to favor the handsome Mexican boy, Juan, the biggest guy in junior high. There is Miss Myrtle May, the town historian and librarian, who has a face wrinkled like an unironed shirt.

We find out that Toby's father raises fishing worms and markets them to fishing spots around the area. We also find out about Cal's well-liked older brother, Wayne, who is a soldier fighting in the war in Viet Nam. The book's author, Kimberley Willis Holt, takes all of these colorful characters, along with some others, and weaves them into a story that, once you start it, you can't put it down.

Raccoons are cute, but do you
want them on your roof?

Mandy is an English girl from Yorkshire who comes along with her grandparents when they visit old friends in Florida. She is an animal lover and comes from a family of veterinarians. But she had never seen in England the variety of wild animals that she saw all around her in Florida. One of her early encounters is with a really large alligator when she is out canoeing with Joel, a new friend she has just met. Luckily, most of the other animals she runs across are not nearly so frightening.

The family friends that Mandy is visiting are animal lovers also. They help out with an animal rescue group that helps cure animals than have been injured and then returns them to the wild. Unfortunately, the wealthy neighbor next door has just built a large new house with a swimming pool, and he wants a landscaped lawn around his home. He hates wild animals and thinks they are the worst kind of nuisance. He hires exterminators to trap and kill the raccoon family that Mandy has been observing.

When a baby raccoon is caught in one of the neighbor's animal traps, a series of mishaps leads to the neighbor's daughter falling off a roof and breaking her leg. Will the girl be able to continue with her dancing lessons? Will the angry father hate animals even more, or will his daughter's concern for the baby raccoon soften his heart? Will he let Mandy and Joel keep on being friends of his daughter?

"Raccoons on the Roof" is just one book in a list of about 25 books called the Animal-Ark series. The books feature pre-teens that encounter various obstacles in their efforts to help a variety of animals in different parts of the world. If you are an animal lover, this is another series for you.

What does it take to make a book a "classic"?

One definition of a classic is a book that has been around a long time and that everybody seems to have read at one time or another. These books tend to be made into movies more often than other books. Also, because they are famous and tell good stories, their plots are often copied and rewritten in shorter and easier to read form. The two books reviewed here are examples taken from a long list of classics that have been rewritten and shortened so kids can read them. One is "Robin Hood" and the other is "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer."

"Robin Hood" tells a story of a young Englishman who has become an outlaw because of the injustices of Prince John, the brother of King Richard the Lion-hearted. Prince John has tried to seize his brother's kingdom, while Richard is away fighting in the Crusades. Robin Hood and his band of outlaws hide in Sherwood Forest and come out to rob the rich and give much of the money to the poor peasants. These faithful subjects of King Richard have many difficulties with Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham before their King returns to reclaim his throne.

"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" was written by Mark Twain, the famous author from Missouri. The story takes place in Hannibal, Missouri, and many of the locations talked about in the book can still be visited today. Of course the main part of the story concerns Tom's being lost in the cave along with Becky Thatcher, the girl he wants to be his girlfriend. The evil Injun Joe has made the cave his hideout. He wants to kill Tom Sawyer because Tom had witnessed a murder that Injun Joe had committed. Huckleberry Finn makes an appearance as Tom's friend in this book. Later, he becomes the hero of his own book by Mark Twain.

These books are just two of those in the "Bullseye Step into Classics" series. Other titles include "Black Beauty," "Treasure Island," and "The Three Musketeers," along with two or three dozen other classic titles. Here is a chance to read a shorter version of the great classics now and decide whether you want to read the longer original one later.

Sports

Twelve-year-old competes in national golf meet

Twelve-year-old Kelsey Meyer certainly likes golf. She played in her first tournament went she was five and she even remembers her score.

Two year ago, Kelsey broke her right arm. She had pins in the bone and a solid cast from her shoulder to her hand. But, she competed in a golf tournament in Columbia, Mo., and finished second.

She earned her way to the World Junior Golf tournament in Orlando, Fla., where she competed in the 13-14 age group. She competed with older girls because the regional tournament Belleville, Ill., didn't have a 12-and-under competition.

Kelsey had her hands full in the Orlando tournament against the older girls. But she did much better in two other tournaments in June. In those two meets, she was against girls her own age.

At Orlando, against the 13 and 14-year-olds, she finished ninth in the 36-hole finals.

But, in a Little Peoples tournament in Quincy, Ill., she was fourth out of 37 entries in the 12-13 age group. Although the meet is close to St. Louis, it has grown into a meet that attracts players from around the world.

Also, in play June 28 at St. Andrews Golf Course in St. Charles, Kelsey finished first in the 12-and-under bracket. That earned her a berth in the national US Kids Golf Tournament, which will be played at Jeykll Island, Ga.

Kelsey started playing golf when she was four, using kids clubs.

That first tournament at age 5 was a one-hole tournament. Asked how she scored, Kelsey said, "I had an 8. I was on the green in 2 and 6-putted."

She admits that putting is still the hardest part of golf for her. "I read the greens all right but the stroking is hard," she said.

Kelsey said she hasn't changed her putter to try for improvement. However, she admits, "I have tried putting cross-handed. But, it didn't make much difference."

Asked about the strength of her game, she said, "It's probably driving." She added that her short iron play "is normally okay."

The 5-foot-1-inch seventh grader said her best score has been 37, which is l-over par for nine holes. She now plays from the women's tees and uses "petite ladies" golf clubs.

As she heads into the summer, she's scheduled to play in a golf tournament just about every weekend. Then, she practices almost every day during the week at Forest Hills Golf Course. Her family has a membership there.

A typical practice session involves work on the practice tees and also shooting a round of golf. She starts by practicing with her short irons and then switches to driving.

Kelsey said she doesn't hit any set number of practice balls. "I just hit shots until I get it right," she said.

She said golf gets easier as she gets older, taller and stronger.

Kelsey said she started beating her mother, Robin, at golf when she was eight. However, she admits she's got quite a ways to go before beating her dad, Jerry, or her older sister and brother.

Jerry Meyer is a former assistant pro at a St. Louis area golf course. Robin said Jerry plays more golf now than when he was a teaching pro. Jerry now builds houses for a living.

Her older sister, Haley, is 18. She just finished her freshman year at University of Dayton, where she's on the golf team.

Her brother, Jack, 16, is a member of the CBC golf team and plays in national tournaments himself. Last month, he played in a tournament in Lexington, Ky.

Players in that tournament included 13-year-old Morgan Pressel, the youngest player to qualify for the Women's Open Championship.

Asked about her future, Kelsey said, "I'd like to play on the LPGA circuit." LPGA stands for Ladies Professional Golf Assn., the group that runs women's professional golf.

If that doesn't work, Kelsey has a fallback position. "If I don't qualify for the LPGA, I'd like to be an interior decorator."

This fall, Kelsey will be a seventh grader in Ascension Catholic School in Chesterfield.

Lifestyle

Historic family fun at International Funfest

St. Louis kids will have a chance this month to take part in fun, games and music from St. Louis' varied past.

The Missouri Historical Museum will sponsor a two-day International Funfest on Saturday and Sunday, July 14-15. Hours are from noon to 4 p.m. each day. The museum is located on Lindell Ave. in Forest Park.

All activities both days will be free.

Barnes Bradshaw is the program coordinator for the Missouri History Museum.

He said, "The International Funfest will be like taking a trip around the world without leaving St. Louis. We will feature music and dance that spans the globe. Also, we'll have toys and games from St. Louis' past and present.

"Kids and their families are invited to join in the songs, dance, and games. This is definitely a participation weekend for the whole family."

Kids will see and hear a wide variety of music and dance from several ethnic groups in St. Louis.

Irish music and dance will be performed by Milligan Stew. The Persian music will be by Ensemble Esphahan. Moja Moyo will perform African music and dance.

The Italian music and dance will be by the Trio La Violette. Bosnian music will be by Mensur Hatic and Friends while Latin music and dance will be by Intrigue Visual Music.

In addition there will be demonstrations of bocce ball, an Italian game, and cork ball. That's a St. Louis version of stick ball. Bradshaw said, "During World War II, St. Louis servicemen introduced cork ball around the world."

One of the hands-on treats for kids will be the Old Tyme Toys and Games table. This includes a number of historical toys and games from the museum's historical teaching collection. Kids will be able to play the Mill Game and Thomatrope (a string and button game). They'll also make and use hand puppets.

There's going to be two hula hoop contests each day. Kids from the audience will take part.

In addition, a group of St. Louis Girl Scouts will demonstration their Double Dutch jump rope abilities. The audience also will be invited to show their skills, Bradshaw said.

Dr. Tada and His Magic Spinning Tops will give demonstrations on both days. Dr. Tada is a Washington University professor who has developed an outstanding act featuring spinning tops. Some of them he juggles on a string.

Also on the program will be master illusionist Terry Richison, with his demonstrations of magic and sleight of hand.

Among other activities that will go on both days are face painting, hopscotch, balloon manipulation and a caricature artist.

The International Funfest weekend is just one of a series of special events sponsored throughout the year at the Missouri Historical Museum. The museum recently opened a large new building expansion while gives more room for special events and displays.

Bradshaw said, "We're particularly interested in showing kids the relationship between history and the present day. Much of St. Louis' current history is tied to its past."

For information about museum programs, you can go to its website at www.mohistory.org. Or you can call Bradshaw at (314) 454-3135.

You and your family might also like to become Friends of the Museum. That way, you'll get advance notice of all the upcoming events. Ask your parents to join.

Mighty Mud Mania is coming in July

Saturday, July 28, is one of those summer dates in St. Louis that kids love. But, maybe parents don't.

Mighty Mud Mania is a time that kids can get as dirty as they want. Kids from 5 to 15 are invited to Jefferson Barracks Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There's a 200-foot-long obstacle course filled with gooey, slippery, oozing Missouri mud. Also, there will be 10 other fun theme areas to explore.

Thousands of area kids show up for this event, which is now in its 18th year.

The St. Louis County Parks Department also sets up showers so kids can clean up after their fun. The department also has barrels available where kids can discard the clothes they wore.

Park officials recommend kids don't wear any clothes or shoes they want to wear again. That's because good old Missouri mud doesn't wash out very well.

Mighty Mud Mania is actually a two-day event. On Friday, July 27, the park is reserved for kids attending organized day camps. Those reservations are already filled.

Reservations for the open event on Saturday are recommended to insure you get a chance to play. Park officials only allow a certain number of kids to enter every hour.

For ticket information, call (314) 894-3089. Tickets are $6 per child with advance reservation. The admission price is $7 at the gate on July 28

Profile

South County girl is in National History Day

Fourteen-year-old Katy Connor represented Missouri in last month's National History Day competition in Maryland.

Katy won a trip to the nationals with her history exhibit about the first American woman in space. The exhibit was named: "Reach for the Stars: Sally Ride Leading Women into Space."

One of the highlights of the trip was the display of her exhibit in the Smithsonian's Aerospace Museum in Washington, D.C. "That was really neat," she said.

During that exhibit, she was interviewed by a television reporter. The interview was broadcast by Channel 4 in St. Louis. "My grandfather taped the interview so I could see it," she said.

It was natural for Katy to pick Sally Ride as a subject for her history display. Ride was an engineer for NASA in the 1980s and Katy plans on engineering as her career.

Ride made two space flights. One was in 1983 and the other in 1984.

Katy said she took about a year to put her history exhibit together. Much of the time was spent searching for information. She didn't just look at Ride's accomplishments. She also checked out the history of women in aviation.

One research effort was a letter to Dr. Ride, who now teaches physics at Stanford University in California.

"I got two signed autographs from her. I used one in my exhibit but the other one is safe in my closet at home," she said.

Katy said the accomplishments of women in engineering, aviation and space travel make it easier for kids like her to look to professional careers.

"I heard a quote from Dr. Ride that about one-third of the engineers at NASA were women when she was there. I imagine it might be half by now," Katy said.

"That's good for my chances in engineering," she added.

This spring, Katy graduated from eighth grade at St. Raphael the Archangel School in South County. In the fall, she will be a freshman at Rosati Kane High School.

After high school, Katy wants to go to the University of Missouri-Rolla. That school's main focus is on engineering.

Although she gained the nationals in the history competition, her favorite contests are in math. "I enjoyed that the best even though I didn't place," she said. Katy also has entered speech competitions.

Her interest in math will be important as she pursues her engineering career. She wants to be a chemical engineer. She said her school grades are As and B+s.

Lots of kids at St. Raphael School enter competitions. Katy said 32 students entered the history competition from her school alone. She won her national trip during the National History Day competition last April in Columbia, MO.

About 2,000 kids from all over the country took part in the National History Day competition June 10-14 in College Park, Maryland. The University of Maryland hosted the event.

Each contestant made a 15-minute presentation to the judges. Katy said she didn't know her final ranking. "But, I know I didn't place in the Top 10," she said.

She was asked what she learned most about Sally Ride during her research project. "I learned how busy she was and how she kept up with everything," Katy said.

Those will be good lessons for her to remember as she goes after an engineering career.

Katy and her parents, John and Christy Connor, took eight days to make the trip to the nationals. They drove to Maryland and back. One of the days was a "free day" from the actual competition.

Katy said the family took in some nature sites on that day. "My parents are nature people so we went to Cypress Swamp, Flag Pond and Solomon's Island. Those are near Chesapeake Bay in Maryland," she said.

She spent part of her time looking for shark's teeth.

Although she didn't find any teeth, she did get a big surprise during her search. "I almost stepped on a big old female horseshoe crab. That about scared me to death," Katy said.

News

Camp kids get sneak preview
of new Planetarium

Robert Scobee, Will Rimel, Kristin Bengston and Jennifer Gaither were among local kids who got an advance look last month of the Science Center's new Planetarium.

The grand reopening of the James S. McDonnell Planetarium was held Friday, June 22. That was after completion of a $13 million remodeling.

The Planetarium has three inside levels. The ground level is called the "SkyPort." It's outfitted like an airport of the future. It has live theater productions and even a video/computer link to NASA's TV system.

The top two levels are the Boeing Space Station. The first of these levels is called the "StarBay." You can see a projection of stars as they appear above earth. Also, there are labs that show how astronauts live in space.

The top level is called "StarBridge." This is where you can do experiments based on problems astronauts face in space.

Scobee, Rimel, Bengston and Gaither got their look before the grand opening because they attended one of the one-week Science Center Summer Science Lab camps. They got a planetarium tour even while workmen still were installing exhibits.

Twelve-year-old Scobee said the exhibit he liked best was the robotic arm on the model space station. Astronauts can operate the arm from inside the space station. Scobee admitted he fumbled some of the pieces while trying out the model arm.

The seventh grader from Whitfield School was asked what he'd do if he were using a real arm and dropped something in space. "I'd probably panic," he admitted.

Although he enjoyed the exhibit, he said he wouldn't want to make a trip into space. "There are lots of dangers and things," he said. Rather than traveling in space, Scobee plans to be an architect.

But, fellow camper Kristin Bengston said, "I'd like to go to the moon and orbit the earth."

However, 12-year-old Kristin said she'd worry a little about food served in space. She did like the food exhibit, which showed most foods coming in tubes.

But, the Crestview Middle School seventh grader said, "The food didn't look very appetizing."

Kristin expects to have a career in biotechnology. She said she got turned on to that during a fourth grade class. She said she likes math and science.

Thirteen-year-old Will Rimel is an eighth grader at Hixon Middle School in Webster Groves. He said he liked the exhibit where he could put his hands into gloves attached to an air-tight box with a window showing the inside.

This is the sort of box where astronauts can mix new medicines without getting any of the material on themselves. In the space exhibit, the kids use their gloved hands to fit different blocks together.

Concerning space travel, Rimel said, "I wouldn't mind taking the trip to Mars. But, I wouldn't want to actually get off on Mars."

Thirteen-year-old Jennifer Gaither is an eighth grader at Northeast Middle School in the Parkway District. As far as taking a trip in space, Jennifer said, "I'd go if someone really wanted me to. But, I wouldn't volunteer."

She said the planetarium exhibit she liked the best was "the big room with the projector which showed all the constellations on the ceiling." The projector rotates to show how the stars move around the sky in the course of a full day and night.

Jennifer said she hopes to be either a psychologist or a concert cellist when she grows up. She said she practices the cello just about every day.

Other exhibits these kids liked included:

• The bathroom that shows how astronauts take a shower in weightlessness.
• The exercise room which includes a stationary bike and then another gadget where astronauts exercise their arms.
• Displays that show how astronauts can figure out what's wrong if their head, arm or back hurt.
• How astronauts measure their height with a sonar device.

For further information about the Planetarium and other Science Center exhibits, just log on to the center's website at www.slsc.org.

Outdoors

Neat outdoor camps for "junior naturalists"

Babler State Park has three free "junior naturalist" camps coming up to help kids understand how Nature works. All the camps feature lots of hands-on activities.

The Junior Naturalist WET Week camp comes first, July 9-13. It's for kids entering third and fourth grades and the subject is water's effect on all life.

The Junior Naturalist WILD Week camp is next, July 23-27. It's for kids entering first and second grades. It focuses on animals of Missouri.

The Junior Naturalist Woodlands Week is Aug, 6-10. This camp looks at how trees influence our lives. It's for kids entering fifth and sixth grade in the fall.

All the camps are free but you have to phone in your reservations before the camps start. To make reservations, be sure to call (636) 458-3813. Reservations close on the Friday before each camp starts.

The hours for all three camps are 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. Babler State Park is located in western St. Louis County.

Jennifer Woods is the naturalist at Babler State Park. She said all camps feature "lots of hands-on activities every day."

Here's a brief description of each of the camps:

Junior Naturalist WILD Week, July 23-27, for first and second graders.

Jennifer said, "Our objective is to help children appreciate and understand native Missouri wildlife."

Two of the animals that kids like--and mothers usually don't--are bats and snakes.

Jennifer said, "I think kids like them because they are mysterious and also nocturnal." That means kids don't see them much because they usually hide from humans. Also, they operate at night when most of us are asleep.

One thing young kids will do is learn how animals use their surroundings hide from their enemies. In one game, kids invent new types of animals that can hide is a specific type of outdoor area.

Junior Naturalist WET Week, July 9-13, for third and fourth graders.

Jennifer said, "This camp will be a little more technical because the kids are older." The main object is to show how water is important to all animals and plants.

"We'll study how the water cycle works," she said. The water cycle starts with falling rain. The water is then absorbed by plants or used by animals. Some rain runs into creeks and rivers. Then, the sun turns it into vapor and it rises into the air. The vapor condenses and turns again into rain.

Some of the camp will be held in the park woods near a creek, Jennifer said.

Junior Naturalist Woodlands Week, Aug. 6-10, for fifth and sixth graders.

Jennifer said, "Again, subjects at this camp will be a little more complex because the kids are still older."

We'll look at how plants and animals need each other," she said. Trees provide a variety of food for humans and animals, she said. On the other hand, lots of animals help spread pollen and plant seeds.

For instance, bees make honey by taking nectar from flowers. But, at the same time, pollen from the flowers sticks to the bees and is taken to the next plant. That pollen then helps make new flowers.

Also, sometimes, plant seeds have burrs that catch in the fur of animals and then fall to the ground away from the original plant.

One of the hands-on activities at this camp will involve kids making their own sheet of recycled paper.

Reading

Library reading program starts
with fun and games

Twelve-year-old Jocelyn McLin and two of her friends started their summer reading program at a bowling alley.

Jocelyn, Brittany Griffin, 12, and Sydney Cross, 11, got to bowl free for two hours. All they did was sign up in St. Louis County Library's summer reading program.

The three were among the kids who bowled at the Dick Weber Bowling Lanes in Florissant. The county library reserved the lanes for the upper middle and high school kids.

Summer kickoffs for younger kids involved outdoor activities at three county parks.

Ten-year-old Maddie Harris and her brother, 8-year-old Eddie, were among the kids at the Faust Park. There, kids took part in face-painting and story-telling. They also got free admission to park attractions and got free ice cream treats.

Activities also are scheduled weekly at the 19 branch libraries. The younger kids program runs from June 1 to Aug. 11. The older kids program is from June 1-Aug. 17.

In addition, teens will compete in local karoake contests. That competition ends with finals Aug. 17 at the county library headquarters. Prizes go to the winners.

Bianca Roberts is the county library's youth services manager. She said summer reading program encourages kids to continue their reading even when school isn't in session.

Last year, 18,000 St. Louis area kids enrolled in the county's program.

Jocelyn McLin was one of those who participated last year.

Jocelyn said she's read over 30 books in the last year. "I like mysteries. Each book takes me about a week," she said. She gets many of her books at the Jamestown library branch.

Sydney Cross said she was in the county program last summer but read only one book. She plans to do better this year.

For Brittany, this is her first time in the summer reading program. But, she said she likes Nancy Drew books and "sometimes I read comedy."

The three girls are classmates at Salem Lutheran School in Black Jack.

Thirteen-year-old Tyler Wesche and his 12-year-old brother, Trenton, also were among the kids at the Dick Weber Lanes.

While the kids were bowling, lights in the lanes dimmed while special spotlights showed up the pins. Also, loud kids' music was piped into the lanes by radio station Q95.5.

During the kids event, one adult bowler walked into the lanes, saw what was going on. He didn't say anything, just turned and walked away.

For Tyler and Trenton, reading comes naturally. Their mom is a librarian.

Both boys said their parents read to them just before bedtime when they were little kids. They both said they like mysteries and fantasy books the best.

Tyler is in seventh grade and Trenton, sixth at Our Lady of the Presentation School.

Maddie Harris was in the county reading program two years ago but not last year. Asked about her reading two years ago, she said, "I probably only read four books but I was only in third grade."

The fifth-grader said her parents read to all her brothers and sisters. "My mom reads to my younger brother (Will, 4). Before bed, he always says, 'Mommy, read me a book.'"

Maddie likes mysteries. She especially likes books by the author Willow Davis Roberts.

Eddie Harris is a second grader. Both go to St. Clare of Assisi School in Ellisville.

Eddie said he hasn't set any goal for reading this summer.

The county library's summer reading program lets the kids earn incentives for what they read. For the younger kids, the goals are set in minutes, not number of books. That way, kids get rewards for the time spent at reading, not the speed.

For older kids, the goals are set in numbers of three. They earn incentives pieces of reading, not just books. That's to encourage them to try other types of reading, such as magazines or even a special article.

For more information about the summer reading program, you can log onto the county library's website at: www.slcl.lib.mo.us and click on the Kids Page.

Fun and Games

Note that the words used in Young Saint Louis.com crossword puzzles are all taken from the articles appearing in this months issue. When you have completed the puzzles, you can look below to find the answers!

Young Saint Louis.com - July #1

Young Saint Louis.com - July #2

Summer vacation

July Fourth

A few computer jokes

"Did you turn your computer on with your right hand or your left hand?"
      "My right hand."
"That's amazing! Most people have to use the on/off switch!"

"I've been on my computer almost all night."
      "For goodness sake! Don't you think you'd be more comfortable in bed like everyone else?"

Customer: "The computer you charged me 500 dollars for doesn't work...and you said it would be trouble free."
     Salesman: "It is. I charged you 500 dollars for the computer, but the trouble is absolutely free!"

What do computer freaks do on a weekend?
     Go for a disk drive!

"What kind of ink do you put in your computer's printer? Black, red, or iced?"
     "Iced ink?"
"Well, yes you do, but I didn't want to mention it!"

Others, just as corny

Why is six scared of seven?
      Because 7-8-9!

What do you call the inept lion tamer?
      Claude Bottom!

Why didn't the skeleton go to the dance?
      Because it had no body to go with!

Why wasn't the girl afraid of the shark?
      Because it was a MAN eating shark!

Answers to Fun and Games

Note that the words used in Young Saint Louis.com crossword puzzles are all taken from the articles appearing in this months issue.

Young Saint Louis.com - July #1

Young Saint Louis.com - July #2

Summer vacation

July Fourth