Books

How it is possible to be a jock
and a jerk at the same time

John Coogan is one of those guys that was just born to be a football player. When he was so young that he couldn't remember, he got a football helmet for Christmas. With the helmet on, he head-butted his cousin Bridgett and knocked her out the front door. So that's where the name "Crash" came from. He was always crashing into people and things - with or without a helmet.

Crash tells the story in his own words. He was always big for his age. His best friend from sixth grade on was Mike Deluca, who also was big, loud, and loved to push other littler guys around - just like Crash. They both had a target in Penn Webb, a quiet little guy in the neighborhood, who didn't seem to mind having the two big guys making fun of him all the time.

In seventh grade, Crash has become a football hero. He really likes the new girl in class. When he tells her that he is willing to take her to a school dance, she tells him to buzz off. He can't believe it! He thought she would jump at the chance to go to the dance with a big, important football hero. To make things even worse, he finds out she hangs around with Penn Webb, the little nerd. Can you believe it, Penn not only doesn't play football, but he's a member of the cheerleading squad!

It is different to read a book where the main character is really "a bad guy" and doesn't even realize it. Does he ever come to realize what a jerk he is? Can he bring himself to do the right thing, instead of being crude, loud, and bullying? What would it take to get the prettiest girl in class begin to really like him? You have to read the book to find out.

"Crash" was written by Jerry Spinelli and is available in paperback.

Can the movie be as gross as the book?

As you may know by now, we don't just review "good" literature. "Revenge of the Scorpion King" is based on the story line for the movie coming out in May 2001, titled "The Mummy Returns." Just as the movie is unlikely to be viewed as a great movie, the book based on the script definitely is not going to be an award-winning book for kids. But, it might be enjoyable reading for any of you who like a story with unbelievably evil and gross villains who are all intent on killing the "hero" of the story.

The hero is 12-year-old Alex O'Connell, who is living in Egypt with his archeologist parents in 1937. As the story takes place, Alex's parents are off on an expedition, and Alex is in the care of Ardeth Bay, the leader of the Medjai, a group with the responsibility of guarding the tombs of ancient mummies. And the Medjai had good reason for guarding the tombs. The Scorpion King and other ancient monsters could be accidentally released by tomb robbers and be freed to terrorize the entire modern world for the next thousand years.

The Scorpion King and his monstrous long-entombed friends has reason to hate Alex and his parents. The O'Connells had almost freed the Scorpion King and his followers a few years before while researching a royal tomb, but they had sealed the tomb back up just in time.

If you like scenes of deadly scorpions crawling all over your body, waiting for nightfall, so they can bite you, you will like this book. If you like vile smelling mummies and skeletons chasing after you with ancient swords and spears, you will like this book. If you want to see how a 12-year-old defeats all these monsters as well as some Nazi soldiers who also happen to be there in the desert, you will like this book.

A horse story that is a mystery story as well

Ashleigh Griffin is only 11 years old and she had heavy responsibilities around her family's horse farm in Kentucky. But she really loves her work with the horses. She is excited because her dad has finally been able to save enough money to buy a beautiful thoroughbred. The three-year-old stallion even appears a good enough racer to be able to compete in the Kentucky Derby. Ashleigh didn't like the looks of the seller or his trainer, but everything appeared okay after the sale. The horse, Royal Renegade, appeared healthy, was reasonably gentle, and, best of all, began to win races.

Trouble began when Ashleigh came home one Saturday and saw a horse that looked just like Royal Renegade being hauled away in a horse trailer. But Royal Renegade was still in the barn, so Ashleigh put her concern aside. Over the next weeks, though, Royal Renegade seemed to have changed in temperament. He became hard to handle and, worst of all, he lost all his races, even though he would get off to fast starts.

Ashleigh knew that her family livelihood was in trouble if Royal Renegade kept failing to compete well in races leading up to the Kentucky Derby. When she uncovered additional evidence that their horse had been replaced with another lookalike horse, her parents just wouldn't believe her. After all, she's just a kid. How she gets to the root of the problem and secures evidence enough to make her parents take action makes up the rest of the story.

"Derby Dreams" is book number ten in the Ashleigh series. So if you like the characters and events in this story about a girl and horses, there is plenty more good reading.

Have you ever thought about volunteering
to work for a veterinarian?

Brenna Lake is a middle-grade student who really likes animals. She likes them so much she has volunteered to work for a veterinarian in her hometown in Pennsylvania. The vet likes Brenna's enthusiasm so much that she is getting to go on a trip to Florida to visit an animal hospital there. The hospital specializes in treating injured marine animals. These animals include manatees, large mammals with flippers, which live in the coastal waters around Florida.

Brenna tends to jump into things without thinking beforehand. This impulsiveness gets her into trouble on her trip. She jumps off a boat to help save an injured baby manatee and angers the two vets responsible for her.

Manatees are a highly endangered animal. Fast speeding motor boats in the waters around Florida frequently injure them. The environment in which they can survive is being taken over more and more by homes and businesses. Increasing pollution of the water is killing them off also. Brenna Lake becomes totally involved in trying to keep the hospital open that provides the main hope for keeping alive injured manatees. How her impulsiveness helps to finally save the animal hospital makes up the last part of the story.

If you love animals yourself, you will enjoy reading this paperback book.

Careers

Parkway kids design new motorized toys

Seventh-graders at Parkway Central Middle School got a taste of what it takes to bring a new line of toys into the marketplace.

Students in math, science and unified studies classes had eight weeks to research and build the new toys. They did everything but make the gears, wheels and electric motors to power their inventions. An engineering group supplied them.

First, the kids asked other kids and parents what sort of toys they liked and bought. Then, they made up a longer marketing survey and interviewed 500 other kids on specifics, such as toy color and speed.

Then, the Parkway kids divided into teams to build their own motorized toy models.

Finally, teams showed about 20 toy models to adult engineers from Mallinckrodt and Boeing corporations. Engineers rated the toys on how well they met project objectives.

One of the winning designs was by the team of 13-year-olds Jared Kohn, Malcolm DeBaun and Brian Schlansky. They called themselves JMB Toys.

Their winning entry was "Dash the Dalmatian," a motorized dog with a silver and blue coloring.

When reminded that Dalmatian dogs were colored black and white, DeBaun said, "We wanted our Dalmatian to stand out."

Kohn added, "Kids told us in the marketing survey they liked the colors silver and blue."

The survey also said kids liked fast toys rather than powerful, but slower, ones that climbed hills. Climbing toys had to sacrifice speed to get power to climb.

Schlansky said, "In the kids' survey, there was a big difference in interest in speed over power."

The design program was created by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Science teacher Debra Bruce said, "The SAE designed the special curriculum to give students an idea of what engineering is all about."

The study asked kids to design a new generation of motorized toys that would appeal to both boys and girls ages 6 to 10. The new toys didn't have to look like cars or trucks.

Parkway's marketing survey indicated kids liked toys that looked like animals. That's where the idea for "Dash the Dalmatian" came from.

The Stardust design team was made up of seventh-graders Esther Schweig, Katie Wendt and Scott Friedman. They decided on a toy in the shape of a dolphin. They named it "Echo 2006," after the sounds dolphins make when they're talking underwater.

Friedman admitted the team could have made their design more dolphin-like. He said, "Some thought ours looked more like a whale."

The "Echo 2006" toy also went for speed, rather than power. The job specs said speed toys had to be able to go at least three meters in three seconds.

That meant the kids had to use the right gears and wheels. It also meant they had to make sure the design was as light as possible.

For "Dash the Dalmatian," the kids used an empty Velveeta cheese box. It fit just right over the frame that held the engine, gears and wheels.

DeBaun said, "Our engine placement was unique. We made it so the engine could be moved closer or farther away from the gears. That way, you can vary the speed."

Esther Schweig of the Stardust team said she enjoyed working in a team on the project. "I liked it a lot better than if I would have worked solo," she said.

Her teammate Katie Wendt said, "I also learned that if something didn't work the first time, you can't just quit. You have to keep readjusting things."

Scott Friedman said he liked making the presentation of the finished model to the adult engineers. "We got a chance to make people think that our design was best," he said.

Jared Kohn said he liked the idea of working on a project "that was related to the real world." He also liked the creating of a new product. But, he wasn't sure he'd like doing that all his life. "I might get bored creating things all the time," he said.

Malcolm DeBaun liked the idea of lots of classes cooperating together on a big project. But, he said, "I don't want to be an engineer. I think I want to be a doctor like my dad."

Entertainment

Summer Fun Spots in St. Louis

By Ann Seebeck

(For more about her book, see sidebar below)

Summer is about here. School will be out soon.

This is the time of the year kids can think of all the fun places they'd like to go in St. Louis.

Some days are perfect to spend the whole day outside and enjoy the weather. Some St. Louis summer days can be so hot it would be nice to have some fun in an air-conditioned building.

Here is a "Top 12" from the latest edition of my book, "Some Favorite Places to Go with Kids in St. Louis." Some places are free and some have a small cost.

1. Grant's Farm, 10501 Gravois. (314) 843-1700. Days and hours May-August are: Tuesday-Sunday, opening at 9 a.m. Admission is free. Parking is $4.
   
   This is a very fun place to go! You ride a tram to the main part of the farm. But, first your tram passes a cabin built by Ulysses S. Grant, our 18th president. Then, you travel through 160 acres of open land where over 100 kinds of animals roam.
   
   When your tram arrives at the main farm, you get off and walk at your leisure. You can see the famous Clydesdale horses, monkeys, turtles, bears, kangaroos, pigs and even bottle-feed the goats. There is a free elephants and bird show. There are several refreshment areas with lots of hot dogs and soda. When you are done with your day, you board another tram to go back to the entrance.
   
   
2. Purina Farms, Gray Summit, Mo. (636) 982-3232. Reservations are required but admission is free. Days and hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
   
   Directions: This is a 45-minute drive from I-44 and Lindbergh interchange. Take I-44 west to Gray Summit exit, go north two blocks to Highway 100, turn left on County Rd MM and proceed one mile to farm entrance.
   
   This is a demonstration farm with various breeds of cows, horses, sheep, chickens, pigs and more. There is a petting area, a hayloft to play in with a rope swing and straw tunnels to crawl through. There are dog shows, a special dog and cat house and, at certain times of the day, you can milk a cow. There is a snack bar available.
   
   
3. St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park. (314) 781-0900. Hours and days: Open seven days, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Zoo parking is $7.
   
   Every part of the Zoo is fun! Visit Raja the elephant at The River's Edge. Walk through the Jungle of the Apes. Hear the lions roar in Big Cat Country. Ride the Zoo train ($4 per person) all around the zoo. Go into he Children's Zoo ($4 per person) and see the Koalas, feed the lorikeet birds, see the otters swim and play in Hip Hop Swamp.
   
   Go into the new Insectarium ($4 per person) and see lots of bugs and butterflies. There are two restaurants in the Zoo and several snack stands.
   
   
4. The Science Center, 5050 Oakland across from Forest Park. Hours and days: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free. Parking in Oakland lot is $5.
   
   The Science Center is spectacular! There are many hands-on exhibits, life-size dinosaurs, computers to work, an Omnimax Theater ($6.75 for adults; $5.75 for kids) and many more exhibits.
   
   The Planetarium is scheduled to re-open June 22, with a whole new look. See images of the night sky continually projected on the dome of the planetarium, including planets, stars, the Milky Way and other objects. The lower level will look like an airport of the future and also what it's like to live on a space station. Planetarium admission is free.
   
   
5. City Museum, 701 N. 15th Street in downtown St. Louis. (314) 231-CITY. Hours and days: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $6.
   
   This is a wonderful new museum with so many things to do and look at! There are cave tunnels to crawl through. You can walk into the mouth of a whale or wander around the root system of a tree. You can climb into a bird's nest or watch fish in a 35,000-gallon tank.
   
   On another level, you can watch a circus, watch hand-blown glass being made, see how shoestrings are made and see exhibits in a carnival midway. You can spend the whole day here! There is a snack bar available.
   
   
6. Amtrak Train Ride, from Kirkwood station to downtown and back. 1-800-872-7245. Adult tickets are $12 round-trips; kids under 12 are $6 round-trip.
   
   Train leaves Kirkwood station 12:36 p.m. daily, arriving at St. Louis Station, 550 S. 15th St., at 1:10 p.m. You can walk two blocks over to Union Station Plaza at 18th and Market, spend two hours shopping around and find great snacks! Then, at 3:30 p.m., catch the Amtrak back to Kirkwood and arrive at 3:59 p.m.
   
   
7. Busch Stadium, on Broadway, downtown. (314) 241-3900. Call for schedule of days the Cardinals are in town and times of games. Ticket prices vary.
   
   Everyone in St. Louis loves to watch the Cardinals play ball. What a great way to spend a summer evening. There is a special Kids Corner, where Fredbird, the mascot, will come out to visit you. There is also a special family section called Homers Landing, where you can try hitting a ball pitched by pros on a video.
   
   
8. Prologue Room, in Boeing Building 100, at McDonnell Blvd. and Airport Rd, adjacent to St. Louis International Airport. (314) 232-5421. Hours and days, Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
   
   This special display room is open to the public only during the summer months. This exhibit shows the history of flight with models from the earliest planes to the present. Some models are hanging from the ceilings and others are in cases. There is even a real space capsule you can look inside.
   
   
9. Aquaport, 2344 McKelvey Rd. in Maryland Heights. (314) 434-1919. Hours are daily, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For non-residents of Maryland Heights, admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 4 to 15.
   
   This is a great place to be on some of those hot St. Louis days! It is a waterpark with several kinds of pools to play in. There are five different slides, a lazy river to float in on a tube, a fountain area and a children's pool area. There are changing rooms and snack bar.
   
   
10. Family Golf Center, 3717 Tree Court Industrial Blvd. in Kirkwood, off Marshall Rd. (636) 861-2500. Summer hours, 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Admission $5 per person.
    
    This is a great 18-hole miniature golf course with waterfalls, fountains and fun little buildings to play through. Fun for the whole family. There is even a driving range and 9-hole par-3 course for parents and teenagers.
    
    
11. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, at 6726 Chippewa and 4224 S. Grand, both in St. Louis. Chippewa number (314) 481-2652; Grand number (314) 352-7376.
    
    This has been a St. Louis tradition for years! Great ice cream. The lines look long but it really only takes a few minutes to order.
    
    
12. Many Parks for Picnics.
    
    There are many, many local parks in the St. Louis area. Summer time is a great time to enjoy a picnic in the park. Before or after the meal, many parks feature special play areas and activities for kids. Make your own meal or just stop by a fast-food place. But, any way you do it, just relax and have fun!

Here are a few of my favorite parks:

• Suson Park, 6050 Wells Rd. (314) 615-7275. Take I-270 south to Tesson Ferry Rd. (Highway 21). Go west three miles, turn left on Wells Rd and go one more mile.
       There are playgrounds, fishing lakes, a petting farm and picnic tables.
  
  
• Faust Park, 15185 Olive Rd. (636) 537-0222. Highway 40 west to Clarkson/Olive exit. Turn right on Olive and park is a few miles down on the left.
       There are playgrounds, picnic tables, a wonderful merry-go-round ($1 a ride) and the Butterfly House.
  
  
• Turtle Park, Oakland and Tamm Ave., across from Forest Park Zoo.
       There is a playground and very large cement turtles for kids to climb on.
  
  
• North County Recreation Complex, on Redman Rd. Take I-270 north to Highway 367 north to Redman Rd.
       There is a playground, pool, ice skating, tennis courts and picnic tables.
  
  
• Pere Marquette State Park, in Illinois. It is past Alton and Grafton, Ill., on the Great River Road. (618) 786-2331.
       This is a wonderful state park with picnic tables, hiking trails and a lodge.

Games

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 click here to find the answers!

Young Saint Louis.com - May

Young Saint Louis.com - May #2

Month of May

How about some computer jokes?

Why did the chicken cross the web?
     To get to the other site!

Why did the mummy stop using the internet?
     Because he was getting too wrapped up in it!

What do you get if you cross an elephant and a PC?
     A computer with a really big memory!

How did the flea learn to use the internet?
     He had to start from scratch!

More school jokes (Please, teachers, don't get mad! We're only kidding!)

Why does the teacher wear sunglasses?
     Because the class is so bright!

Teacher: I told you to stand at the end of the line!
     Pupil: I tried, but there was already somebody there!

Did you hear about the cross eyed teacher?
     He couldn't control his pupils!

Teacher: I wish you would pay a little attention!
     Pupil: I'm paying as little as I can!

Teacher: I want you to tell me the longest sentence you can think of?
     Pupil: Life imprisonment!

Teacher: This is the third time this week that I've had to tell you to pay attention! What do you have to say about that?
     Pupil: Thank goodness it's Friday!

A few more, just for good measure

I'd tell you a joke about a pencil...but it doesn't have a point!

Did you hear about the fool who keeps saying "no?"
     No.
Oh, so it's YOU!

Why did the lazy man want a job in a bakery?
     So he could loaf around!

Did you hear about the little boy they named after his father?
     Oh yes, they called him "dad!"

Answers to Puzzles

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 click here to find the answers!

Young Saint Louis.com - May

Young Saint Louis.com - May #2

Month of May

Lifestyle

Kids prepare for 242-mile bike ride

A group of St. Louis city kids are in training to take part in a five-day bike ride in June.

The kids are in the BicycleWORKS program in the city of St. Louis. They began road training in April to build their stamina for the 242-mile Katy Trail Ride June 18-22.

They started with a series of 10-mile rides. But, this month, they'll move up to an weekend overnight trip to Babler State Park in west St. Louis County. That round-trip will be over 50 miles.

On the Katy Trail Ride, that's about an average one-day ride for the bikers. The ride starts June 18 from St. Charles and runs along the old Katy railroad right-of-way. The riders will camp out four nights and then end at Clinton, Mo.

The one-day legs are 61, 43, 53, 47 and 38 miles.

Eleven-year-old Anthony Scott is a sixth grader at the AAA Busch Middle School in the city. He thinks he's already in pretty good shape. He said, "I've ridden my bike on 20- and 30-mile trips by myself to visit friends in other parts of the city."

This is Anthony's first year in the BicycleWORKS program. He had an older brother in the program last year. "I helped around but I didn't ride last year," he said.

BicycleWORKS was started in 1988 in the Shaw Neighborhood. The goal was to use bicycle riding and maintenance as a way to challenge kids to develop their talents.

Twelve-year-old Aimee Blust also started in the BicycleWORKS program this year. She also had an older brother in the program. She's a student at St. Anthony Padua School in the Dutchtown area.

Asked about the Katy Trail Ride, Aimee said, "I'm going to try."

When Aimee joined BicycleWORKS, she brought something unusual with her--25 old bikes that had been dumped in her family's front yard last year.

For several months, the family didn't know where the bikes came from. The story finally came out much later.

A couple years ago, Aimee's father had been a Scout leader. That group had collected old bikes, repaired them and then gave them away. Aimee's mother took over the scouting group when her younger brother got involved.

But, Mrs. Blust didn't continue the bike repair program. However, that message didn't get around. The father of one of the scouts collected 25 bikes. Then, one night, he left them in the Blust's front yard but didn't tell anyone.

Now, Aimee has found a home for most of the old bikes at BicycleWORKS.

Manager Cindy Brown came over, striped off usable parts and disposed of the rest. One thing the kids in the BicycleWORKS program do is repair bikes. Then, the bikes are put on sale at the group's store. The proceeds are put back into the non-profit organization.

Fourteen-year-old Shaun Lane has been in the program for three years. The eighth grader lives in the city of St. Louis. But he goes to Hoech Middle School in the Ritenour School District in St. Louis County.

Shaun said he joined a month ago "to make new friends and for the exercise." He said he thinks the cycling will help develop his legs. "I want to run track and field when I get to high school," he said.

The current group of kids started in the BicycleWORKS program during the winter. They meet every Saturday at the group's storefront near Tower Grove Park. In the beginning, they worked mostly on learning bike safety and how to repair and maintain bikes.

But, as soon as the weather got better, they started their longer rides to build up their stamina. Their first 10-mile ride was April 8. The overnight ride to Babler State Park will be the weekend of May 19-20.

The big Katy Trail Ride is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The ride is for adults as well as kids. Most of the riders will pay fees that range up to $190.

However, for kids in the BicycleWORKS program, there are special scholarships.

For details about all aspects of the Katy Trail, log on at: www.katytrailstatepark.com.

Outdoor fun for young dog lovers

Young dog lovers get a chance at all kinds of fun activities in Queeny Park on Sunday, May 20.

The Children's Fun Day will be held on the grounds of the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog. The hours are 1:30 to 4 p.m.

There is FREE admission for kids 14 years of age and under.

Kite-making crafts are included, along with the opportunity to fly your creations on the nearby Queeny Park grounds. There also will be coloring of pet portraits, solving pup puzzles and tours of several art galleries of dog history.

A Pedigree Hall of Fame gallery has been reopened after remodeling. The gallery includes pictures of such canine heroes as Lassie and Rin Tin Tin.

For information on this event as well as future Guest Dogs of the Week programs, call (314) 821-3647. The museum's regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.

News

Seventh graders offer advice to Fenton

Sperreng Middle School students are offering plans for redevelopment of Fenton's Olde Towne area.

In turn, the seventh graders are finding out tough it can be to run a city government.

Twelve-year-old Katie Kehlenbrink said, "It sure takes a long time to get something done in a city."

She and classmate Megan Bradford are working together on a development plan for a Family Entertainment area in Fenton. Their plan includes such things as a performing arts theater for live plays for kids as well as a water park.

Twelve-year-old Megan said city planning is difficult because "you have to know where the money is coming from." Also, she said it takes lots of time to get different groups to agree on a plan.

But, thirteen-year-old Christopher O'Keefe said he and partner Devin Scott are including all sorts of things they like to do. "We don't have to deal with the money issues," he said.

Devin has included some things that he's seen in other parts of the country. "We want to include a go-cart track. I saw one in Wisconsin which was 8-stories high," he said.

He admits that the Fenton development might not be able to support something that big. But, he said, "I can be pretty conservative about money if I have to."

He'd also like a roller coaster like at Six Flags but said he's sure it would have to be smaller. "Those rides at Six Flags take up a lot of room," Devin said.

Seventh graders in teacher Colleen Stein's classes have been working on the Fenton project since the start of the semester. They're expecting to make their reports to city officials later in May.

Their work on the Fenton is part of the Citizenship Education Clearing House's city government program. CECH is at University of Missouri-St. Louis' College of Education. (For another CECH story click here for a Hazelwood story in the March, 2001, edition.)

Earlier this semester, Fenton city officials came to Sperreng School to explain the development project. City officials have been working on it for eight years already.

The problem is that much of Fenton's new commercial development is away from the Meramec River, where Olde Towne is located. For instance, two huge new shopping centers are located on bluffs overlooking the older parts of the city.

Fenton wants to develop three new areas in Olde Towne. The Sperreng kids are working primarily on the proposed Family Entertainment area. But, there's to be a Historic area as well as a Marina.

The Historic and Marina areas are along the Meramec River.

In March, the kids took a field trip to Fenton to actually see the area to be redeveloped.

Katie Kehlenbrink liked the idea for the Historic area. "I think it's pretty neat what they've done with renovation of the Navajo Hotel and the old ice house," she said. "I like it when they renovate things instead of tearing them down," she added.

But, Megan Bradford is pretty sure she wouldn't want to live in those olden days.

"It's neat to know how people did things in the past," she said. She mentioned washing clothes and making clothes by hand. "That would be too hard for me," Megan said.

Devin Scott liked the chance to tour the Navajo Hotel. That pioneer hotel has been updated but with some of the early features still there. One thing he noted were the ropes in each room which were used in early days as fire escapes if there was a fire.

None of the four kids showed much interest in going into city government after they finished school. But, Megan said, "I think I'd be pretty good at city planning."

The kids asked city officials when the redevelopment might be completed. Jim Curran is the city's coordinator of economic development.

Curran said, "Nothing happens until the money comes forward." He outlined several places the city is looking for development money. But, he also emphasized the businesses established in the new areas have to make money to keep the areas going.

He urged the kids to include things in their entertainment plans that "you would support, that your family would support and that your neighbors would support."

Outdoors

Kids can get fishing lessons May 19

(For more fishing information, see sidebar below)

The school year is nearly over. Now's a good time to learn a new outdoor hobby so you can enjoy St. Louis' pleasant spring weather.

One way to kick-off the fishing season is by coming to the Missouri Conservation Department's Kids' Fishing Fair.

The event will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19th. It will be held at the Busch Conservation Area in rural St. Charles County.

What's neat about the fair is beginners can get free fishing lessons. Also, you and your family can learn about dozens of good fishing lakes and streams right in the metro area.

Young Saint Louis.com asked conservation agent Dennis Cooke to give you an advance lesson on fishing. He's an outdoor skills education specialist and has worked with the St. Louis Urban Fishing Program for 10 years.

At the May fishing fair, he will teach the basics of casting a baited hook out into the lake.

The first thing you need is the proper equipment for fishing. He said you can get started with equipment that is good and still inexpensive. He said a rod and reel combination can be had for about $20. (At the fair, there will be some fishing tackle you can borrow.)

Cooke said, "I recommend a closed-face rod-and-reel combination for beginners. The closed-face reel is a lot more forgiving when your casting for the first time."

The closed-face reel is one that has a cover so you can't see the roll of fishing line. It doesn't get snarled as easily if you don't cast just right.

He recommends all kids use an adult-sized fishing rod. That's one about 6- or 7-feet in length, from handle to tip. "Unless they are very small, kids can handle adult rods. You don't need power to be a good caster," he said.

Then you outfit the fishing line with lead shot (for weight), a bobber and a "bait-holder" fish hook, he said. That hook has extra barbs to hold the bait more firmly. He said some fish can "suck the bait right off a (single-barbed) hook."

Once the rod-and-reel are fully equipped, it's time to cast the bait out into the water. For the beginner, the idea of casting is to get the bait far enough from the shore to reach where the fish are, Cooke said.

To do that, he uses a simple overhand cast. He used the image of a clock face to explain how to cast. When you're standing, your head is at 12 o'clock and your feet at 6 o'clock.

"When you cast, you start the tip of the rod at 11 o'clock, just behind your head. Then, you release the reel trigger and flick your wrist until it's at 2 o'clock. Then, stop the cast," he said. (You can see what that looks like in the two photos here.)

Cooke said young girls are often better casters than young boys. "Boys often feel they have to put all their energy behind the cast. But, it's all in a flick of the wrist," he said.

"You don't need to be big and strong. As long as your technique is right, anyone can cast," he added.

He said he favors the overhand casting technique for safety reasons. "If you go sidearm, it's too easy to hit someone nearby you," he said.

Then there's the question of what bait to use.

"I like to use big, juicy night crawler worms. But, if you don't like to handle worms, you can usually find something in the fridge to serve as bait," Cooke said. That something can be pieces of cheese or hot-dogs. Or you might use whole kernel corn from the can.

"I've had some kids tell me they fish with pieces of White Castle," he said.

He said you'll need other things besides your rod-and-reel. You should include a towel to wipe your hands, a pocket first-aid kit, a hat and sunscreen. You also need some extra hooks, lead shot and bobbers. Those are in case your line breaks, he said.

But, what do you do when you get a bite on your line?

Cooke said, "Think of the bobber as a telephone. When the phone rings, you answer the phone. When the bobber bobs, you lift your rod-and-reel."

For more help, why not learn more about fishing at the May 19th Kids' Fishing Fair. You can call (636) 441-4554 for directions and more information. Cooke and others will be on hand to teach now to cast, catch fish and reel them in.

Profile

Amazon rain forest attracts local kids

In 1998, seventh graders Alex Johnson, Anna Chollet and Jeremy Voss got their first look at a real South American tropical rain forest.

The experience was eye-opening. They vowed to go back when they were old enough to stay longer and do work as research assistants.

This summer, the trio will go back to the Jatun Sacha Research Station in Ecuador for a five-week work session. This time, they will be alongside scientists who are seeking ways to save the world's dwindling rain forests.

Sophomore Alex Johnson said, "The first visit completely opened my eyes to the rest of the world. The three of us decided we'd go back after we finished our junior year in high school.

"At 16, you can volunteer for a longer stay. Once we all got that age, we decided we couldn't wait any longer."

The Jatun Sacha biological research station is in the eastern part of Ecuador. It covers nearly 5,000 acres along the Upper Napo River. That's at the headwaters of the Amazon River basin. About 80 per cent of the station is covered by primary tropical wet forest.

The station has a St. Louis connection. It is affiliated with the Missouri Botanical Garden, which has several rain forest programs in South America.

Seventeen-year-old Jeremy Voss said, "This time, we'll be expected to work six to eight hours a day." He said they will work part of the time maintaining trails through the rain forest. Also, they will work in two special research projects.

One is the Amazon Plant Conservation Center. Sixteen-year-old Anna Chollet said, "The researchers teach local farmers how to earn a living from the rain forest without first cutting down all the trees."

Another project is called Granja Organica. That's a demonstration farm that shows farmers how to grow crops without using chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.

Anna said they also will work with native plants which have uses as medicines. She mentioned the Sangre de Drago (Dragon's Blood) plant. Its sap is used as an antiseptic for cuts and also promotes healing.

They'll also spend some time planting tree seedlings to reforest land where the original trees all were cut down.

On some of this cut-over land, the soil is so poor that most trees can't grow without help. Alex said, "We won't plant the original types of trees. We have to plant trees that make their own nitrogen."

In the early 1900s, the United States had the same problem in southern states. Pioneer farmers had cut down the original forests so they could plant cotton. But, after a few years, the cotton depleted the soil.

When the government started to reforest the land, the soil was so poor the kinds of trees in the original forests wouldn't grow. Instead, the foresters planted pine trees, which make their own fertilizer. These forests today provide wood pulp for use in making paper.

The kids' original trip to the South American rain forest did more than make them want to go back. It also gave them new ideas of what they wanted to do when they grow up.

Alex said, "I want to be an ecologist. That's an idea that matured on that first rain forest trip. I decided I had to do something that would help the world."

He said he hasn't picked a college yet. But, he knows he wants to go to a college in the western part of the United States. He'd like to go to a state that has the same sort of diverse climate as Ecuador.

That country is located on the western side of South America. The Andes Mountains divide the country into two very different climates. On the side closest to the Pacific Ocean, the climate is dry. But inland, Ecuador is in the headwaters of the Amazon River with its more tropical climate.

For example, the Jatun Sacha station is on the equator and gets rain 200 days a year.

Jeremy said he wants to go to college to learn how to teach people "to live close to the earth." He's looking for a program that encourages "primitive living."

Anna said she had been considering a career in photography, "maybe for the National Geographic magazine." But, now she said she'd like to be a doctor. "But, I want to be a doctor in another country," she added.

Reading

County's summer reading plan expanded

St. Louis County Library's summer reading program has been expanded, with new incentives for vacation reading.

Last year, 18,000 kids enrolled in the county library's summer program. There was one program for all ages from birth to 18.

This year, the county library and its 18 branches have two programs to encourage summer reading. One program is for kids up to 7th grade and the Teens Summer Reading Program is for 7th to 12th graders. (Seventh-graders can join either program.)

Bianca Roberts is the county's youth services manager. She said, "We decided we couldn't have an adequate single program if we tried to serve that big an age difference."

This summer's program theme is "2001 Places to Go."

Kids are encourage to read about places from "any time or any location: historical, futuristic, wherever your mind can take you," Roberts said.

The two programs will have separate kickoff events. The one for younger kids will be Saturday, June 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Each local branch library will have its own kickoff event. But, there will be larger events at three "outside" locations: Laumeier Sculpture Park in south county, Faust Park in west county and the North County Recreation Center.

Features at the younger event include performers, story tellers, clowns, magicians and hands-on arts and crafts. At Laumeier Park, there will be guided tours of the sculptures. The North County event will include free pool passes.

Mascots Louie the Library Lion and O.C. Bee will appear at all three locations. O.C. Bee is a bumble bee mascot for Old Country Buffet, one of the program sponsors.

The Teens Summer Reading Program kickoff will be held Wednesday, May 30, from 4-6 p.m. The location will be Dick Weber Bowling Lanes in Florissant.

Each teen who signs up for the Teens Summer Reading Program will be a coupon for "two hours of extreme bowling," Roberts said. In addition, radio station FM95.5 will broadcast from the Dick Weber Lanes during the event.

A feature of the Teens program will be a Karoake Contest, open to soloists and duets. Competition starts with local contests at branch libraries, running from June 11 and ending August 2. (For the date of the local contest at your branch library, see sidebar below.)

Local winners will compete August 6-10 at four regional locations. The finals will be August 17 at the library headquarters. The champion soloist or duet will receive two tickets to a musical concert at the new Pageant Theater in University City.

The summer reading program for younger kids runs June 1-August 11. The Teens program runs June 1-August 17.

Roberts said summer reading programs encourage kids to continue reading even when school is out. The county offers incentive prizes if kids meet certain reading goals.

For young kids, the are based on minutes spent reading, not how many books they read.

The basic goal for the younger kids is to read at least 1,155 minutes (19 1/4 hours) during the summer. The first incentive level is at 105 minutes (1 3/4 hours). The second level is 570 minutes (9 1/2 hours) and the final level is 1,155 minutes.

After completing the first level, kids get a World stencil, a temporary World tattoo and a coupon for a kid's meal at Chick-A-Fil.

Second level incentives include a World pencil, entry in a raffle for Cardinal baseball tickets and an admission coupon to the new Planetarium at the St. Louis Science Center.

The third-level incentives include a certificate of completion, an invitation to the season-ending party at their local library branch, a metal Globe yo-yo and a kid's meal coupon at Old Country Buffet.

For the older kids, the incentives will be based on completing three reading tasks. The reading can be of a book, a magazine or an article of their choice.

The first teen incentive was a coupon for one game of bowling any day in June, July and first half of August at any AMF bowling lanes. The second incentive was a rope bracelet. The third incentive was one CD single from Streetside Records or Warehouse Music.

All kids can go through the incentive cycle more than once during the summer.

For up-to-date information about the two summer reading programs, log onto the county library's website at: www.slcl.lib.mo.us and click on the Kids Page.