Wichita Family Magazine May 2016

Wichita Family • May 2016 - 1

MANAGE OVERNIGHT CAMP HOMESICKNESS + PERFECT MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS +

may 2016

• CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER •

2 - www.wichitafamily.com

Published By:

Lucky 7 Publishing LLC316.295.8465

Publisher:

Todd Vogts

Advertising Inquiries Contact:

Publisher Todd Vogts [email protected]

Wichita Family Magazine is published 12 times a year by Lucky 7 Publishing LLC. Wichita Family Magazine is available free, at schools, stores, restaurants, libraries, retailers and local attractions, as well as other places families frequent. For a complete list of where to find Wichita Family, or for subscription rates, email us at

[email protected] or visit our website at www.wichitafamily.com.

Copyright 2016 by Lucky 7 Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Wichita Family Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or contest fulfillment from third parties. Reproduction in part or in whole without written permission is strictly prohibited. Wichita Family is distributed free of charge. The magazine’s advertisers make this possible, so support them! We reserve the right to edit submitted material. All submissions will be considered for publication, but we reserve the right to refuse material. Materials will not be returned. Any

editorial content or advertising published is the property of Lucky 7 Publishing LLC.

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In 2003 I took part in one of the most life-changing programs a young man has access to while preparing for his senior year of high school — the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy.

Sponsored by the American Legion, this program provides high school seniors-to-be a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in lead-ership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility. Boys State is a “learning by doing” politi-cal exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government and the price paid by

members of the military to preserve democracy.

Boys State impacted me deeply. It gave me the opportunity to explore my own leader-ship abilities and grow

them into life-long skills, and the les-sons I learned from my time as a Stater, which is what the participants are referred to as, still influence me today.

If it weren’t for Boys State, I wouldn’t be who I am today, and I wouldn’t be a journalist. While at State, I was elected by my county to be the newspaper reporter. Prior to this, I knew I enjoyed writing, but I was considering a career as a lawyer or in English.

At the first meeting of the news-paper, called the Staters Union, I was then elected by the other staff mem-bers to the editor-in-chief. I was in charge of the entire operation, from writing to editing to producing the newspaper.

And get this — it was a daily news-paper.

My fellow journalists and I instantly got to work and produced the issue distributed the next morning.

The experience was invaluable. I quickly learned the essentials of newspaper production, and though the daily deadlines were stressful, it gave me a delicious taste for the world of journalism.

I’ve been hooked ever since.I attended Wichita State University

and earned my degree in communica-tion. Then I ran a weekly newspaper before I found my way here to Wichita

Family.Obviously I’ve gained more journal-

ism knowledge since my time at Boys State, but I wouldn’t have found my passion and true calling if it wasn’t the experience I had that summer prior to my senior year of high school.

In fact, my experience was so impactful I now volunteer with the program. My work with Boys State has been going on for many years, and this year I am the Program Coordinator, which means I oversee the day-to-day operations of the program.

This year Boys State, in its 79th year, will be held Sunday, June 5, through Friday, June 10, at Kansas State Univer-sity in Manhattan.

I am beyond stoked about the upcoming session, and I believe I can speak for everyone involved when I say we have a great week planned and look forward to changing the lives of another generation of young men in this state.

If you have a young man in your life who would benefit from such an experience, please reach out to me or visit http://kansasboysstate.com/ to learn more.

The connections and friendships made at Boys State will last years to come, but, more importantly, the skills garnered will help the men for the rest of their lives.

Message from the Publisher

Todd [email protected]


Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

From homemade childhood favorites that warm the heart to delectable desserts, no one works their magic

in the kitchen quite like mom. When trying to decide what to get your favorite lady for Mother’s Day this year, look for gifts that allow her to channel her inner foodie, chef or baker.

The best gifts are always those that keep on giving. Through Cook for the Cure, a 15-year partnership between KitchenAid and Susan G. Komen, more than $10.7 million has been raised for the fight against breast cancer. In 2016, KitchenAid will donate at least $450,000 to Komen through the program, regard-less of sales. The Cook for the Cure product collection, ranging from pink stand mixers and polka dot bowls to pink food choppers, painted plates and hand mixers, is an easy way to give thanks to mom and raise awareness for a cause that benefits so many women.

For other gift ideas that help support the cause, visit www.KitchenAid.com and http://CookfortheCure.KitchenAid.com.

— Family Features

An Essential, Everyday Tool

If some of her best culinary cre-ations include savory sauces, delightful dressings and delicious dips, Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to treat mom to an up-grade. This 3.5-cup Food Chopper in Pink is convenient for everyday use and takes up minimal space in the kitchen. With two one-touch speed settings for chop and pu-ree, this chopper ($49.99) is ideal for creating a spicy salsa, creamy hummus or garden-fresh pesto.

Plated Perfection

Featuring artwork by PBS cooking show host Jacques Pepin, the Pass the Plate serving platter generates a $5 donation each time one of these individually numbered platters is passed and registered on-line. With its fresh and cheery design, this unique serving piece makes sharing even more fun. A great gift for mom, the platter ($24.95) is available at Villeroy & Boch stores or by calling 1-888-886-8318.


Applications for grades K–12 are now being accepted for Fall 2016.

Call (316) 202-2500 for information.MaizeVirtualPrepSchool.com

Join our staff and families for Science, Tech, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM)themed events!

Visit our Events Page to learn more and RSVP.

Tuition-free K–12

Timeless Kitchen Addition

Add a pop of pink to mom’s kitchen with a classic gift that will endure for years. With an elegant 5-quart capacity glass bowl, the Artisan Design(r) Series’ premium metallic Raspberry Ice finish adds radiance to any kitchen countertop. It can handle multiple batches of dough while its 10 speed settings allow cooks to knead, mix and whip a variety of foods and ingredients. With additional attachments that can make everything from pasta to ice cream to spiralized fruits and vegetables, this mixer ($459.99) helps mom take her culinary creativity to a whole new level.

Mix in Some Style

Turn Mom’s stand mixer into a standalone work of art this Mother’s Day with the new Pink Polka Dot ceramic bowl. This delightfully dappled 5-quart bowl ($99.99) is microwave, oven, freezer and dishwasher safe, and features a comfortable handle and easy pour spout – a perfect pick for all of mom’s mixing tasks.

Blending Style with Power

With its roomy, 60-ounce patented diamond pitcher design and stainless steel blades, the 5-Speed Diamond Blender in Cranberry creates a powerful vortex to thoroughly blend everything from soups to smoothies. Automatic Soft Start(r) technology pulls ingredients into the blade rather than splattering them outward, keeping them together for controlled blending. This colorful blender ($159.99) offers stir, chop, mix, puree, liquefy and pulse options - every-thing mom needs to create her favorite dishes.


Homesickness: we’ve all been there, either as a child or as a concerned parent. As summer

approaches, the concern for homesick-ness grows as moms and dads prepare to send their little ones off to sleepaway summer camp.

Though it may be hard at first, spending time away from home is an integral part of the growing up process, and overcoming homesickness can be one of the most empowering and transformative moments in a child’s young life. Taking part in new experi-ences away from the comfort of home allows children to grow in character and confidence while opening them up to adventure and exciting opportuni-ties.

We experienced this process

firsthand with our oldest child two summers ago. As the days crept closer to camp, my emotions paralleled that of my child, occasionally fluctuating between excitement and nervousness. Sleepaway camp was new territory for both of us, and we would each have to learn to navigate the unknown in our own ways. While new experiences can be unsettling for both parent and child, open communication and inten-tional preparation can help to calm any creeping anxiety.

One day, I sat down with my child, and together we talked through any and every hypothetical situation that could possibly arise at camp. Our discussion ranged from broad topics, like what the counselors might be like, and what activities were available, all the way down to the nitty-gritty, like where every single item was packed in the trunk. As a parent, I felt an inher-

ent desire to maintain as much control as I could, which I exercised through tasks like triple-checking that there were enough pre-addressed letters to write home, and ensuring that my child had clothing for every potential weather condition.

I continued to check and re-check everything until I was suddenly struck with the realization that I would not be able to control every situation that my child was about to face, despite my best effort. In that moment, I realized that I needed to follow the very advice I had just given my child––to choose to trust over letting small worries steal the excitement. I found that as I began to allow confidence and excitement to grow, the same process began for my child. Slowly but surely, we both started to trust that we were ready for sleepaway camp! Although it was unfamiliar territory, my child would be

Managing HomesicknessBY RACHEL SPARKS

Equipping Children for an Anxiety-Free Sleepaway Camp Experience


in a fun, safe and positive environment surrounded by great people.

Here are a few ways you can help prepare your child to grow through camp, should they experience a mo-ment or two of homesickness.

Openly CommunicateThe importance of communica-

tion continues even after kids leave for camp. Camp is such a wonderful time to encourage your child because it provides a unique opportunity to communicate with one another in a new and exciting way through letter or email. Most children don’t get much mail of their own at home, so this experience brings a newfound sense of independence. When writing letters to your child at camp, don’t dwell on home too much; instead, ask questions about their experiences and tell them how excited you are to hear of the fun adventures they are having, and the new friends they are making. You want to make sure your letters serve as an outlet for them to share their thoughts and memories, rather than a catalyst for homesickness.

Instill ConfidenceIn addition to open communica-

tion, you can also take steps to prepare your child in terms of confidence. This process should start long before camp. It all begins with letting children know that they are strong and capable. Speak confidence and positivity into them, and be sure not to overstate how much you will miss them while they are gone, as this could lead them to associate camp with feelings of sad-ness or guilt. Instead, talk about how quickly time will pass and how much fun they’re going to have during their new adventure.

Equip for the ChallengeAvoid telling children that if they

become sad, you will pick them up; if children know they have an easy ‘out’, they might avoid immersing them-selves in the challenging, character-building aspects of camp that will help them grow most. Instead, you can talk about how to cope if they do happen to have a moment of sadness. Sug-gest things like writing a letter home, hugging a favorite stuffed animal, or talking to someone. Teach them

to “bounce” their thoughts––this is the ability to recognize that they are sad, and then choose to bounce their thoughts to something happy.

As parents, we often want to keep our children from any kind of struggle or trouble. This is a good and natural part of parenting. Unfortunately, we can only keep our kids from so much and for so long before our protection begins to inhibit their natural growth in character and confidence. Our children are bound to encounter trials in this world, and it’s our job as parents to equip them to be able to face these challenges on their own.

The best way to prepare children is to allow them to encounter small trials in a safe environment where you know they will be cared for and loved. Camp is the perfect opportunity for them to face and overcome minor hurdles like building new friendships, making

decisions on their own, coping with a little homesickness and more. Children will feel accomplished knowing they have handled something difficult on their own, thus setting them up for success and giving them experiences to draw from the next time a challenge arises.

Preparing your child to respond to opportunities and challenges like homesickness will set him or her up to truly experience all that summer camp has to offer. Small victories, like getting settled into their cabin or conquer-ing a little sadness will soon translate into larger victories, like making new friends, and trying new things You will be surprised at how transformative the camp experience can be. Your child will return braver, stronger and better equipped to handle the challenges of everyday life.


My wife and I lived in Nashville shortly after we were married, and even though we were there for a brief period, the memories I have of that time are deeply set into my mind. It was there that the spring rain did a work on my senses; it was there that the Second Street blossoms down-town opened my eyes. I began to read more about the out-doors. I discovered an article about the massive California redwoods, and it gave me images of a separate ecosystem that I haven’t been able to shake. Even though I was well into my twenties, it was like I was living my first spring.

All was new.For about a month I searched for a job. My mornings

were spent in the public library so I could use the Internet; before I got to the computer lab, however, I would stop where I knew the books on art were kept. It was there I learned to see Van Gogh again, his paintings and sketches of the poor helping me build compassion for the homeless of the city I just walked through.

When I finally found a job, my eyes were opened once again. I ended up working as a substitute preschool teacher for two and three year olds, and it was exhausting. The long commute only added to the fatigue. Soon, my wife joined me at the preschool, and we shared the work and the drive. In the midst of the new experience we learned a lot about children, and we still talk about the little ones who ran

circles around us every day. In fact, it helped us make last-ing decisions about how we parent our boys now.

As I saw the trees and flowers, painting, and the needy (both the homeless and the children around me), I also rediscovered Charles Dickens. In high school I detested the one and only novel of his I had to read, but David Cop-perfield sparked my interest, and since then I’ve come to appreciate more of Dickens.

All these experiences convinced me that not everything we’ve tried once — or even things we’ve seen or heard too many times to count — is done giving us joy.

I climbed trees as a child, but I never knew how breath-taking they would be to me as an adult; I had seen flowers bloom, yet I didn’t know how I would long for them when they wilted in the heat; paint and pencils were things I’d tried and looked over, but seeing Van Gogh’s subjects come alive around me on the streets made me actually stop and act; children, I knew, were always selfish and tiring, but to care for a child made me want to care for my own; books, perhaps, went back with me farther than the others listed above, but I see now that a second try is worth the time.

This spring, look at what you’ve already seen — but see it this time.

Ian Anderson is a teacher, a husband, and a dad. He lives with his family in Central Kansas. Occasionally, he tweets here: @ian_writes.

By Ian Anderson

Seasoned Seeing

~ A New PersPectives essAy ~


May is finally here, and it seems like even though there were few April showers to bring May flowers, everything is slowly, but surely budding out and blooming. As I’m writing, it seems that the trees, that just days ago were bare, are green, leafy and blowing in the breeze! Spring, to me, is always a time of life. Winter months bring the death or hibernation of things when it comes to nature, but spring is the start and return of life!

As I’m joyous about all that spring brings, the teacher in me is squirming, itching and wondering if my face could sink anymore; if the bags under my eyes could get any bigger. Let’s face it, by mid April, the students are mentally done. The teachers… oh, that probably hits shortly after, if not by the first of May. The school year goes by so quickly. It seems like we have just started, and then it’s Thanksgiv-ing break. And then before we know it, it’s February. After February, however, it feels as though the school year slows down, and by May, it’s as if time is crawling by.

Needless to say, summer break is a big deal, for students and teachers alike. We busy ourselves teaching and learning a year’s worth of content in nine months, and for students who are any bit behind, they have to work twice as hard with their educators. So as school comes to a close, treat your student to something special, something to reward them for their hard work, something totally un-school related.

Here is a teacher’s list of summer approved activities! As I have gotten to know my eighth grade students, I am pretty confident in saying that most, if not all, of these activities could be student approved!

• Take a trip to the Sedgwick County Zoo. I am so im-

pressed with the grounds, the animals and the activi-ties they have at the zoo during the summer!

• Make a day of it and go to a water park or a swim-ming pool different than the ones you and your family frequent.

• Go on a walk or a bike ride and stop by a local splash pad or spray park.

• Take a picnic lunch and head to the lake. If boating or jet skiing aren’t for you, grab some fishing poles and head to the docs, or take your bathing suits and swim near the beach.

• Head to the Cosmosphere or Strataca (the salt mu-seum), both located just up the road in Hutchinson, Kansas. Both have awesome opportunities for families!

• Take an afternoon and go paint some pottery at Color Me Mine, right there in Wichita.

• Plant a garden at home. Make a goal of using home grown produce during the summer or plant your own pumpkins to prepare for the fall.

To free your mind and unwind during the summer is not the huge task it seems to be. I understand that even after school’s out, kids remain busy, and it might seem that they are even busier. However, as a teacher, I see the benefits of taking a moment, slowing down and reconnecting with family. Make new memories and get to know more about your kids! As they grow, they see, hear and experience more than you would imagine. Take the time and make your own summer to-do list, or use mine and cross off a few of my to-dos. You might just see the editor and I on our trip to the zoo!

Kendall Vogts lives and teaches in Central Kansas. She is married to WFM publisher Todd Vogts.

By Kendall Vogts

~ A FAmily FuN essAy ~

Wichita-Area Summer Activities for Everyone


Feel Good About Clearing ClutterWhether spring or summer,

extended breaks from the day-to-day routines are

great for making new family memo-ries. They are also great for taking some time to recall previous ones often found in items around the house.

From those old baby clothes and toys to books and dusty tech you haven’t touched in years, these “memo-ries” may be cluttering your home. Spend some time as a family and clear out what you no longer need. For some extra motivation, approach your clean-ing with a fresh perspective: donating your gently-used items will help others

while freeing up space for new memo-ries.

Get on your way to a cleaner, less cluttered home with these tips:

Take it one room at a time. Whether you live in a modest apart-ment or a sprawling single-family home, overhauling your entire living space at once is an overwhelming prospect. Instead, focus on one room at a time with a timeframe that makes sense for your schedule.

Don’t save the worst for last. Avoid the temptation to leave your messiest catch-all room for the end. Instead, tackle it first and spend extra time

thinking about where you can reas-sign some of the clutter, so it’s not all accumulating in a single room.

Give items meaning. Take a cue from stylist, author and TV host Emily Henderson and implement a rule that items you keep should be at least two of three things: functional, sentimen-tal and beautiful. If an item is none of these (like an old food storage con-tainer without a lid), toss it. Especially if you are low on space, only hang on to those items that serve two or more roles.

Sort your stuff into piles. In every room, you’ll find items you need to keep close at hand, others you’d like to keep but could be stashed away, things that may have value to others and stuff that simply needs to be trashed.

Look for ways to give back. While it sometimes makes sense to resell un-wanted items online or through a yard sale, donating is another way you can give these goods a second life and help bring warmth, happiness and smiles to others. Through its Glad to Give program, the Glad Products Company makes donating easy because you can fill a Glad ForceFlex bag, stretch it and stuff it with just about anything you want to donate. Clothing is one of the best things to donate so others can make better use of the gently-loved items you are hoarding, Henderson said. Unless a garment has been worn in the last four seasons, donate it. Other prime candidates for donating: toys, sports equipment, DVDs and home gadgets.

Organize what remains. Once you’ve cleared the clutter and de-termined which items will stay, find attractive ways to create order and manage the mess. You can choose from a wide range of organizational options - everything from shelves and baskets to storage furniture and closet systems - to help make the most of your space and reveal more inviting rooms that make you feel comfortable at home.

Find resources for giving back, and schedule a free local donation pickup for an organization of your choice, at GladtoGive.com.

— Family Features

Photo Courtesy of Rachel Hollis, The Chic Site



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Wichita Family Magazine May 2016