Places to Go, Things to Do

Top indoor, outdoor events in November

November in the St. Louis area offers both indoor and outdoor fun events for kids and their families. In the outdoors, a special type of public fishing starts. But, indoors, there's also a chance to view circus artists and glass-making skills.

Now that the weather is cooler, the Missouri Department of Conservation gives kids a chance to fish for rainbow trout right in their own neighborhoods.

The Circus Day Foundation will present its fall program , "Circus Harmony: Fortissimo," in two shows Saturday, Nov. 19. These shows show off the skills of some of the area's best young circus performers.

The Third Degree Glass Factory provides a special kind of viewing experience on the third Friday of each month. There is free admission to the public to see glass artisans' work with molten glass to make a variety of objects and artwork.

Each month, Young Saint Louis.com looks for St. Louis metro area events in the current month that kids and their families will enjoy. Whenever possible, we look for things with free admission.

Here's a sampling of those places and things that might brighten your November:

 

Circus Harmony: Fortissimo

The fall program, "Circus Harmony Fortissimo," will be presented at 2 and 7 p.m. in the 3rd floor circus ring at the City Museum, 701 No. 15th Street. Admission is $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and kids.

The show features a variety of circus acts performed by local kids and others. The acts are backed by a variety of musical groups specializing in circus and ethnic music.

The two shows come at the end of the fall circus classes offered by the Circus Day Foundation. The fall classes were from September 7 through November 13.

Winter session classes will begin January 4. There also will be spring and summer class sessions.

For more information about classes and performances, visit www.circusday.org.

 

St. Louis-area Winter Trout Program

The Missouri Department of Conservation will stock 16 St. Louis area lakes with rainbow trout from this month through February, 2006. Over 36,000 trout, ranging in size from 8" to 10", will be released in local urban lakes for your fishing enjoyment.

Ordinarily, the shallow lakes in and around St. Louis are too warm for trout to survive. But, when the fall weather cools the waters, this provides the MDC an opportunity to bring a unique fishing experience right into urban areas.

Kids under 16 can fish for the trout without a Missouri license.

The MDC has been stocking urban lakes in this area since 1989. There is no advance notice of when the stocking occurs but you can keep track by calling the Fish Stocking Hot Line at (636) 300-9651.

The lakes being stocked are:

Wild Acres Park Lakes in Overland; January-Wabash Lake in Ferguson, Jefferson Lake in Forest Park; Boathouse Lake in Carondelet Park; O'Fallon Park in St. Louis City; Vlasis Park Lake in Ballwin; Walker Lake in Kirkwood, Tilles Park Lane in St. Louis County; Lakes 1,2 and 3 in Suson Park, and lakes 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 in the August A. Busch Conservation Area in St. Charles County.

Some of these lakes are for "catch and release" fishing only. In others, you can keep your catch.

For complete rules, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/stlouis/fish/fishing/winter/winter.htm.

 

Third Degree Glass Factory showings

The Third Degree Glass Factory is a public access glass studio on Delmar in the City. On the third Friday of each month, the studio is open for free public viewing of glass artists at work.

In November, the public viewing will be from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18.

The studio is located at 5200 Delmar. The studio also offers classes for those who want to learn more about working with glass.

For information, call (314) 367-4527 or visit www.stlglass.com.

 

Science Center Telescope Stargazing

Public telescope viewing is held at the St. Louis Science Center on the second Friday of the month. This month, that's November 11. The viewing is from dusk to 10 p.m. in the archery fields west of the Center's new Planetarium.

Admission is free.

For information, call (314) 289-4453 or visit www.slsc.org.

 

Laclede Quartet Kids Music Competition

String instrument players in grades 4 through 12 can sign up now to audition in the Laclede Quartet Kids Concert Competition. The audition dates will be next February 25 and 26. But, you should apply as soon as possible.

The deadline for audition registration is Feb. 23, 2006. For information and registration forms, you can visit www.lacledequartet.org.

The competition is open to both soloists and groups (duos, trios and quartets). Winners will play in concert at Fontbonne College on March 12, 2006, at 3 p.m.

The concert is taped and played on KFUO-AM. Winners receive $100.

 

Missouri Conservation Department events

With Thanksgiving in November, the Missouri Conservation areas have a number of outdoor cooking classes, including how to deep-fry your holiday turkeys safely. For those looking for some easier cooking lessons, there's even one for cooking hot dogs over an outdoor fire.

How to deep-frying turkeys will be taught on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at the Busch Conservation Area Shooting range from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Another class is at the Henges Shooting Range on Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 6-9 p.m.

If you're looking for something easier, try the Campfire Building Basics and Hot Dog Roast on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 2-5 p.m. at the Busch range.

These classes require advanced registration. Call (636) 441-4554.

For a whole range of other MDC activities in November, visit www.mdc.mo.gov and look for calendars.

 

St. Louis County Park events

The St. Louis County Park system provides a number of neat November walking tours, including night walks into deer territory and a hike that ends with a chili supper.

For these walks, advance registration is required. Call (636) 391-3474.

On Sunday, Nov. 5, you can either walk or bicycle along trails in Creve Coeur Park and end with an all-you-can-eat chili supper. The hike is from 5 to 8 p.m. Cost is $6.

On Saturday, Nov. 19, you can join a park naturalist for a nighttime hike in the Jefferson Barracks Park. You'll be searching for deer and other nocturnal wildlife during the 7-9 p.m. hike. Be sure to bring a flashlight. Cost is $3.

On Sunday, Nov. 20, you take a 1-3 p.m. afternoon hike in Lone Elk Park. A naturalist will review the park's history from a military base in the 1940s to the present wildlife refuge status. Cost is $3.

For other county park activities, visit www.stlouisco.com/parks.

 

Harry Potter movie coming; YSL.com to be there

The movie, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," is coming in November. Young Saint Louis.com will be on hand to provide an exclusive review even before the movie opens in theaters on Friday, Nov. 18.

As with past YSL.com movie coverage, our reviewer Eddie Szewczyk of Belleville will provide you with his special insights. And, his review will be online before the movie opens in theaters across the country.

Eddie will attend a special critics' preview showing and then YSL.com will process his review quickly. That means that you'll get the review by clicking on YSL.com before you go to see the show, even if you plan to attend the first day.

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" is the fourth in the series, based on the very popular book series by British author J.K. Rowling. This grand opening is timed to be a part of the traditional end-of-the-year holiday rush of blockbuster movies.

This episode revolves around Harry being selected as one of two Hogwarts representatives at the special Tri-Wizard Tournament. The meet pits fledgling wizards in competition involving three magical tasks.

Of course, this new series of challenges brings him against his nemesis, Lord Voldemort.

As with each new Harry Potter movie, there are also sorts of side stories, both in the movie and concerning the movie making.

For instance, one new character in this episode is Cho Chang. Ms. Rowling insisted that the role be filled by an actor with absolutely no previous acting experience.

The girl who got the part is Katie Leung, an Oriental teenager from Motherwell, Scotland. Katie hadn't even been in a school play.

One of 3,000 young girls who auditioned, she said she applied "on a whim."

Katie now has only one item on her actor's resume. But, you would have to say it's a pretty good one.

The movie has yet another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. This time, the part is played by Brendan Gleeson.

Eddie Szewczyk (that's pronounced "sev-check") has been reviewing movies for YSL.com since the first Harry Potter film opened years ago. Last summer, he also reviewed the animated motion picture, "Madagascar."

Now a student at St. Louis University High, Eddie has been a reporter and reviewer for the local Radio Disney station. Also, he's had lots of acting and singing experience of his own.

He's appeared in many St. Louis Muny productions. He's also appeared in TV and cable shows as well as in movies.

His training includes acting, voice and dance lessons. He's a member of AFTRA, the union representing actors and singers.

 

Chorus kids sing, learn about music

Ten-year-old Shelby Cobb of University City believes she might like to be a singer when she grows up. That's why she thinks the Carondelet Children's Chorus is what she needs to learn more about music.

The fifth-grader at Our Lady of Lourdes School said, "I'm serious about my singing." Her three years of experience with the kid's chorus has included more than just learning the words for upcoming concerts.

Nine-year-old Alec Nema of Kirkwood agrees. The fourth-grade home-schooler said he likes the idea that the chorus director takes time to teach the theory behind the music.

Sister Joan Whittemore directs the kid's chorus and the Carondelet Women's Chorus.

She said she taught music in high school and college and found many of her singers didn't know much about music. She said she then decided "I would start with younger kids and teach them more about the basics of music."

This is the 7th year for the children's chorus, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Sister Joan said the chorus program is in keeping with the order's long history of musical excellence.

This year's children's chorus began rehearsals in September.

They will give two Christmas concerts in December and another two in April.

In December, the first concert will be at the Nazareth Living Center on Dec. 10. Then, the chorus will perform at Our Lady of the Pillar Church on Dec. 11.

In the spring, the concerts will be at the Nazareth Living Center April 22 and at the Missouri Botanical Garden April 23.

These are charity fund-raising concerts. This year, the kids get to pick the charity while the women's chorus will chose a charity next year. The kids decided to donate to the National Association for Autism Research.

Also, the chorus kids will get a special bonus next summer. They have been selected to sing at the Sing a Mile High Choral Festival in Denver Jun 29-July 3. The participating groups were selected from audition CD's submitted to the judges.

Twelve-year-old Amanda Ames and her 11-year-old sister, Elise, of Wildwood, have been in the kid's chorus for four years.

Like lots of other chorus members, they are involved in music in more ways that singing.

The sisters are students at St. Alban Roe School. They both sing in the school's choir and sing at Mass at both the school and nearby St. Alban Roe Catholic Church.

Until this year, the two performed together at Mass. But, Elise said, "This year, Amanda is singing with her friend and I'm singing with mine."

Amanda also plays the flute and takes piano lessons. Elise plays the trumpet and also has piano lessons.

Amanda said the voice and instrument practices provide "reinforcement" when it comes to performing. It's almost as if she can feel the music with both her voice and her fingers.

The different types of musical experiences help them understand the theory of music as well as aiding with their performing abilities. As a result, the kids say they don't get too nervous before a performance.

Although he's only nine, Alec Nema said he doesn't get nervous. "I just take a deep breath," he said. However, it said it also helps to know the music well before the performance starts. He also takes piano lessons.

He said his ability to memorize and a "very good pitch" are among his musical strengths.

Shelby Cobb said she learned about the Carondelet chorus because she takes piano lessons from Sister Joan. The youngster said she has a tendency to "stutter" when she's playing at a piano recital.

By "stuttering," Shelby is talking about going back to replay a part of the tune when she's made an error. "Sister Joan is teaching me to keep going forward and not repeat when I make a mistake," she said.

She said she's also strengthening her ability to sing. "I'm a soprano naturally. But, when I sing louder, my voice goes higher and I go off key," she said. Sister Joan is helping her to sing louder without changing pitch.

For the kids in the chorus, all their extra time isn't taken up by music. All of them participate in sports and other school activities.

If you'd like to learn more about the Carondelet Children's Chorus, you can visit Sister Whittemore's website at http://www.home.earthlink.net/~maestra6 Also, you can call at (314) 962-6627 or e-mail her at maestra6@earthlink.net.

 

T-shirt design urges kids to stay tobacco-free

Eighth-grader Amber Dodson hopes her T-shirt artwork in Hancock Place Middle School's "Keeping Kids Tobacco Free" contest helps convince her classmates not to smoke or use tobacco.

She and other contest winners say they wish they could get their parents to quit smoking. Some of them also have had grandparents who were smokers and died of lung cancer.

There were three first-place winners in the south St. Louis school's T-shirt design and essay contest.

Besides Amber's artwork, fellow 8th-grader Mariann Schuessel provided the winning slogan for the T-shirt design. It said: "Hang Tough, Don't Puff."

She said her slogan urges kids to resist peer pressure and stay free of tobacco. She said, "I want them to hang in there and don't give in."

The essay contest winner was another 8th grader, Nicholas Mathes.

The contest judges also selected a 6th and 7th grade class winners from the T-shirt design entries. The 6th grade winner was Marina Faupel, 11, while the 7th grade winner was Sylvia Anicker, 12.

All 6th, 7th and 8th grade students entered the design and essay contests. They created their entries during their "balanced literacy" classes that teach reading and writing.

Contest winners were introduced at an all-school assembly late last month.

At the assembly, the kids heard from two anti-tobacco speakers. One had a particularly strong impact. He used a voice synthesizer because he lost his voice-box to cancer.

At the end of the school meeting, kids all signed a "tobacco-free" pledge banner. The banner featured the same artwork by Amber Dodson as in the T-shirt design. It shows the school's Tiger mascot breaking a giant cigarette with a karate kick.

The T-shirt and essay contest was sponsored by the Siteman Cancer Center, BJC Health Systems and Washington University's School of Medicine. The Siteman Center bought over 500 of the kid-designed T-shirts so each student and staff member can have one.

The school also is purchasing an additional 100 T-shirts that will be offered for sale during a Fall Festival on Nov. 5. The sale will be a charity fund-raiser for the school.

A delegation from Hancock Place Middle School also will participate in a local Great American Smokeout program at Siteman on November 17. The Smokeout is a national anti-smoking event.

The contest-winning kids got gift certificates from Westfield Shopping Centers. Amber, Mariann and Nicholas each got $250 certificates. Marina and Sylvia got $50 certificates.

For many of the Hancock Place contest winners, cancer illness in their families provided motivation for their anti-tobacco messages.

Asked if members of her family smoke, Amber said, "Lots of them do." She also said one of her grandfathers died of lung cancer.

Concerning her attitude about tobacco use, the 15-year-old said, "I think smoking is a waste of money and those who do are smoking their lives away."

Fourteen-year-old Nicholas said his grandmother was a smoker and she also died of lung cancer. He said both his parents smoke.

"And second-hand smoke is worse than the real smoking," Nicholas said. He added, "Smoking takes 10 to 20 years off of your life."

Fourteen-year-old Mariann said both her parents smoke. She said, "I bug them every day about smoking. They've tried to quit a lot of times but it doesn't last.

She said he learned most about the dangers of smoking during a "big session" in school last year.

Eleven-year-old Marina Faupel said both of her parents smoke. She said she's trying to get them to quit. "Sometimes they try to quit but it doesn't last that long," she said.

Twelve-year-old Sylvia Anicker said she's had the same experience when trying to get her dad to stop smoking. She said she nags him "a lot" about his smoking. She said, "he's tried to quit several times but he always starts up again."

She said one of her big objections to smoking is the cost. "Many teens spend their money on tobacco. They are spending their lives on cigarettes," she said.

Most of the winners said they plan to buy clothes with their gift certificates. They can be redeemed at any of the Westfield Shopping Centers in St. Louis. However, Amber said she was going to wait until after your birthday late last month "to see what I didn't get."

 

 

Busy Red Ribbon Week in Rockwood

Thirteen-year-old Amber Cromwell joined the TREND chapter at Rockwood Valley Middle School to get more involved in school activities. She and other chapter members were especially busy during October.

That's because they were preparing for a the host of activities marking Red Ribbon Week at the west St. Louis County school. Schools across the country stage Red Ribbon Week activities as part of a national program to keep kids drug and tobacco free.

The school's Red Ribbon Week featured a daily theme during the Oct. 24-27 period.

Twelve-year-old Kathleen Lavallee said each of the four days featured a special costume theme. She said the clothes included "anything you wouldn't ordinarily wear to school."

For instance, Monday, Oct. 24, was Crazy Sock Day, with the slogan "Sock It to Drugs." Kathleen said she wore her knee-high blue soccer socks.

Her friend and co-chapter member Katie Golden said her crazy sock choice was "toe-socks." That's the type of sock with knitting surrounding individual toes. The 12-year-old Katie said her socks are also knee-high with varied-color rings all the way up the socks.

Other costume themes include Team Jersey Day on Tuesday, Oct. 25; All-District Red Day on Wednesday, and Twin Day on Thursday.

Seventh-grader Kathleen said Twin Day involved "two friends getting together and dressing the same, as if they were twins."

Although the costume themes involve the kids having fun, there's a serious side to Red Ribbon Week at Rockwood Valley. For instance, the TREND members were in the halls selling wristbands with the slogan, "Live drug free."

The wristbands sold for $1. That will give the TREND chapter the money to buy matching shirts for the school's part in St. Louis' traditional Thanksgiving Day parade. The Rockwood Valley contingent will be stressing their "drug free" theme.

Thirteen-year-old Kendal Durham is another of the chapter members. He said he also got involved in TREND as a way to get more involved in school. But, he also said he was concerned that "drugs could mess up a person's life."

Both Amber Cromwell and Kendal live in the city of St. Louis. They are bussed to west St. Louis County as part of the area's voluntary desegregation program.

Kendal has been coming to suburban schools since he was in kindergarten. For the first four years, he went to a school in the Pattonville School District. However, he said, "I came to the Rockwood district after my elementary school in Pattonville was torn down to make way for the (Lambert) airport expansion."

Although Amber and Kendal were attracted to the TREND chapter as a way to get more involve in school activities, they understand the serious side of the chapter work.

Amber said, "People get to be homeless because of drugs." She said she comes from a religious family and is steering clear of any involvement in drugs.

Just before Red Ribbon Week started, TREND members in Rockwood schools took part in a "lock-in" party at The Pointe. That's a recreational facility in the city of Ballwin.

The Rockwood School District rented the facility so all its TREND chapters could get together just prior to Red Ribbon Week at the individual district schools.

Kathleen Lavallee said she liked the idea of telling others about the dangers of drugs. "Instead of just learning, I am teaching others about it," she said.

Katie Golden said kids get a lot of information in school about dangers from drugs and tobacco. She said, "Last year, we watched a whole bunch of movies. They were scary."

Another feature of the Rockwood Valley school's Red Ribbon Week was a giant artificial tree. Each kid in the school was given a paper leaf with the slogan, "Leaf drugs behind-we have better things to do!"

Each kid was to sign his or her leaf and pin it to the branches of the tree.

In addition, each kid got an individually-numbered red ribbon that they were to wear each day. Each morning, the school principal announced a series of ribbon numbers.

If the student with that numbered ribbon was wearing it, he or she went to the school office for a special treat. Also, during the day, principals were walking the halls and giving out treats to kids wearing their ribbons.

The school's TREND chapter is a year-round extra-curricular activity. The first semester was filled mostly with planning for Red Ribbon Week.

The chapter advisor is Michelle Peifer, who is the Family and Consuming Science (FACS) teacher. She said she is planning a variety of community activities for the kids in the spring semester.

 

 

2005 Young Achievers

Achiever takes her energy to high school

(Sixth in a series)

Fourteen-year-old Tricia McDonough's long list of middle school accomplishments earned her a 2005 Gateway Young Achiever award. She's started her first year of high school at the same hectic pace, both in school and outside.

She's already started work on an original play that's a sequel to the "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" fairy tale.

She, her sister and other neighborhood friends will stage that next summer as an outdoor performance for families in her Fenton subdivision. The play will be complete with original costumes and stage settings.

Tricia said the play "will tell what happens to Goldilocks in her teen years."

The Rockwood Summit High School freshman was one of 10 St. Louis-area kids to earn the 2005 Gateway Young Achiever award. Sponsored by the International Leadership Network. the award includes a $1,000 scholarship.

( Last May, Young Saint Louis.com published the names of the 10 Achiever winners. Starting in June, YSL.com has presented profiles of the elementary and middle school Achievers. This is the final Achiever profile.)

Tricia's award was based on her academic and service accomplishments while in 8th grade at Rockwood South Middle School. But the Achiever judges always are pleased when kids continue their contributions.

She has had a 4.0 GPA every year she's been in school.

She was on her school's student council every year she was eligible in elementary and middle school. Already this year, she's joined the Summit school council.

Tricia started playing the violin in 4th grade when all students take violin. She joined the orchestra that year and continued each year. She's already in her high school orchestra.

She served as editor of the Rockwood South Middle School yearbook staff. As a 9th grader, she's taking a journalism class that is a prerequisite for high school yearbook work. She'll be eligible to join the yearbook staff at the start of next semester.

Tricia was in the National Junior Honor Society in both 7th and 8th grade. She was secretary as an 8th grader.

In 8th grade, she was also on the School Improvement Committee that suggested ways to improve their school. She also was a member of the school's Character Coalition. That group tries impress kids the need for honesty, respect and self-control.

But, there also were plenty of activities outside of school.

She's been a Girl Scout for nine years. Tricia was fortunate to have the same adult leader for all that time. This year, she's finishing her qualifications for a Silver Award.

"Then, I'm going to join the Postal Express Girl Scout organization. It goes by the name PEGS. You complete requirements via the Internet, " Tricia said.

In addition to planning subdivision entertainment, she's part of a lake cleanup patrol.

"We have a lake in our subdivision where we walk all the time. My sister and I join two other friends to pick up trash," Tricia said.

She also volunteers at the Fenton Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. That's a local center to help sick or injured small animals and birds that are brought in by residents.

"My mom's a volunteer there. I go along and help. I'm not old enough to work with the animals but I help clean pens and do the laundry," Tricia said. A group of neighborhood kids even sponsored a July 4 bake sale to raise money for the center.

Tricia's been babysitting since she was in 5th grade. She took a Red Cross course so she'd be better prepared. The babysitting along with work at the Newport Landing swimming pool helps her earn spending money.

She's saving so she can get some advanced camera and video equipment.

"When I grow up, I want to own a business that makes DVDs of special events," she said.

Tricia is already doing some video and DVD compiling. "That's what I do on the weekends," she said. Her current project is to compile a video of family activities.

"I'll have a motion video and then a slide show for still pictures at the end," she said.

She'll use her video interest in her favorite class this fall. It's a "language arts research class." Her class project is "Video and photography and how it has influenced America."

During the year, she'll put together a 30 to 40-minute presentation to be presented to a panel of judges at year's end.

 

Kick-off rally for Happenings4Kids

Three kids from LaClede Elementary School didn't win the "hap rap" competition to provide a musical theme for a new after-school activities program. But, the KMS trio were a hit at the kickoff rally for the Happenings4Youth website.

The KMS rappers are 4th graders at the St. Louis city school. Among the youngest entries, they lost out to more-veteran high school-age rappers. But, they had lots of fun.

The overall winners were The Hot Squad, a high-school trio made up of Clayton Shaw, Josh Ryan and Michael Hayes. The boys won a $500 first prize. Their music will become a part of the marketing for the H4Y website.

The October 20 rally at the St. Louis Science Center included the "hap rap" finals competition, other stage entertainment, food and displays by after-school programs. More than 400 kids attended.

The H4Y website included listings for more than 100 organizations in metro St. Louis that offer after-school programs for kids. The address is: www.happenings4youth.org

There's also a printed St. Louis Region Happenings4Youth resource guide. To obtain one, call St. Louis 4 Kids at (314) 241-001 or go to www.stlouis4kids.org.

In the "hap rap" theme competition, the LaClede kids didn't make the finals. But, they impressed the preliminary judges. They and two other younger groups got to perform also on stage at the kickoff rally.

For Kayla Thompson, Malikah Johnson and Shanice Sanders, the chance to perform was a rare musical experience. They made up their own lyrics and got a chance to test their skills against older kids who had more elaborate presentations. .

For instance, the overall winner, The Hot Squad, featured light-show backing. Another finalist, Brandon Bosley as Boss B, had a musical backing that made his solo sound like a whole musical group.

The KMS girls take music classes at LaClede Elementary from Ms. Annette Silver-Betts. She received an invitation to enter a team in the "hap rap" competition.

The girls decided to join forces and form their KMS team. (The name is the first initial of each of the girls' names.)

Their theme line for their entry was "What 'Chu Wanna' Be?" (For the complete lyrics, see sidebar below.)

The girls used music class time as well as gym time to practice their original rap music.

Ms. Silver-Betts said the competition let them mix rap music with "clean verse." All organizations on the Happenings4Youth website fit a "drug-free" model.

The three young LaClede girls have a variety of musical background.

Nine-year-old Kayla is in the LaClede choir and also plays drums, shakers and bells. Nine-year-old Shanice has been in her church's youth choir for two years. And 9-year-old Malikah plays the piano and flute as well as singing in the school choir.

Shanice said she'd like to be a singer when she grows up. But, Kayla is looking to become a teacher while Malikah said she'd like to own a beauty salon.

All three of the girls say their favorite music is rap. But, Malikah said she likes a little R&B and Alicia Keyes mixed in.

Ms. Jamala Dodson, who heads St. Louis 4 Kids opened the kickoff rally. She said the H4Y website will help local kids "find out more about what's to do after school."

About 20 of the listed organizations had booths at the kick-off rally.

Among those groups were the Circus Day Foundation that helps kids learn circus performance routines and COCA's urban arts department. The Challenger Learning Center was there with information about its space programs.

The Happenings4Youth listings include large institutions such as the Science Center and the St. Louis Public Library.

But, there are smaller, specialized groups also. For instance, the Mundhi African Cultural Arts group had a booth. It helps kids learn African culture with music, song and dance.

The Happenings4Youth website has the organizations divided into geographic areas. That way, kids can find interesting organizations that are near to their homes.

(To find more about Happenings4Youth, visit Resource section from the top of the YSL.com home page.)

Sidebar happenings 'hap rap' lyrics "What 'Chu Wanna' Be?" By KMS What 'chu wanna be? What 'chu wanna be? Drug-free! What 'chu wanna be? We want to be drug-free! (repeat) Drug-free is the way to be. Every time I'm walking down the street, Somebody is always asking me, "Do you want to buy this? Do you want to buy that?" Hold up! Brother sister, back back! Do you want a Mother, father, sister, brother, or maybe a friend Who can give you a hand, and help you understand What you are doing is wrong, man, but first you Gotta' take my hand and listen and understand. What 'chu wanna be? What 'chu wanna be? Drug-free! What 'chu wanna be? We want to be drug-free! (repeat) Happenings 4 youth is fun! Happenings 4 youth, Happenings 4 youth, Happenings 4 youth is fun!