All Entries Tagged With: "fun for the kids"
Here’s a “souper” way to help the Metamo4ic
With its former home severely damaged in the Aprill 2011 tornado, Ferguson's Metamo4ic Math Center is looking to re-open at a new location, following some serious fundraising and a "green" renovation.
When a tornado swept through North County last April, leaving a path of destruction from Bridgeton to Bellefontaine Neighbors, it wasn’t just houses that bore the brunt of it. Several churches were hit hard as well, including the First Baptist Church of Ferguson, which had generously donated its entire third floor to the nonprofit Metamo4ic Math Center.
This kid-friendly math museum, which was featured on NOCO back in 2010, is a wonderful labor of love from teacher Vicki Adams, who cashed in her pension to open it and built all of the exhibits herself. Largely destroyed in the tornado, the Metamo4ic had an uncertain future for a while there. But now, thanks to a kind donation from Sportsprint’s Ralph Rockamann, the math center has a new home at 123 S. Florissant Road, the site of the former Ferguson Bowling Lanes.
Of course, there is a bit of a catch. The property needs about $700,000 worth of renovation, which the small nonprofit must raise in order to re-open. But the good news is, YOU CAN HELP!
This Saturday, January 28, the Metamo4ic is hosting a fundraiser at Dick Weber Lanes called the Souper Bowl, in which teams compete for cash prizes in two different contests. The first contest is a mix between crazy bowl and football, and could land your team 300 bucks. The second is a soup competition that yields $100 for the winner.
If you’d like to participate, the cost is $150 per six-person team plus a crockpot full of your best soup. And don’t worry if you can’t pull a whole group together. There’s also a “potluck” team for individuals, at a cost of $25 per person. All are welcome!
To register or get more info, contact Vicki Adams at (314) 807-3290.
The Souper Bowl is January 28, 1-4pm, at Dick Weber Lanes, 4575 Washington, 63031.
Just in case you missed Eagle Days…
As if you need a good excuse to visit beautiful Fort Belle Fontaine, St. Louis County Parks has planned a whole day of eagle-related activities. Come out this Saturday from 11am to 2pm and you’ll not only spot Bald Eagles in the trees near the river, but you can also view one of these majestic birds up close…
Fort Belle Fontaine Park is located @ 13002 Bellefontaine Road, 63138. Admission to this event is free.
Eagle Days returns to Chain of Rocks this weekend
FROM THE NEWS WIRE:
Eagle Days 2012, January 14 and 15
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
View eagles in your own backyard!
Residents of the bi-state area are invited to view bald eagles this January at Eagle Days – a free public program at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. During the winter, the Mississippi River hosts one of North America’s largest concentrations of bald eagles, who are drawn to areas of open water in search of fish, their preferred food. The Chain of Rocks rapids to the south of the Bridge are ideal fishing grounds.
From the Bridge, an ideal viewing platform, visitors can watch eagles fishing, riding ice floes, soaring overhead or roosting in nearby trees.
Additional Eagle Days Programming Includes:
Live Eagle Educational Program
By the Wild Bird Sanctuary, repeated every 20 minutes from 10:00 a.m. until 2:40 p.m.
Eagle Viewing
Scopes at the center of the bridge are staffed by trained volunteers to help you view eagles diving for fish, roosting in the trees along the banks of the Mississippi, and soaring over the bridge.
Eagle Nest Replica
This full-size eagle’s nest is a great photo opportunity!
Warming Tent Activities
Hands-on art activities for children facilitated by Green Center (Saturday) and the EarthWays Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden (Sunday).
Living History Demonstrations
Lewis and Clark re-enactors from the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Missouri and the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site. Don’t miss the raising and lowering of the flag at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Missouri Bridge entrance!
St. Louis Audubon Display
Featuring hands-on exhibits of local birds courtesy of the St. Louis Audubon Society.
The Confluence Partnership Display
Learn about the history and importance of The Confluence region and America’s Great Rivers.
Refreshments
Ed’s Food will be serving hot dogs, chicken strips, shish kabobs, egg rolls, crab rangoon, hot cocoa, lemonade, soda, and water.
Things to Bring:
- Binoculars
- Very warm clothes including a hat and gloves
- Camera
- Comfortable Shoes (It is about a 1/2-mile walk to the eagle scopes and additional Eagle Days programming, both located at the middle of the Bridge.)
- Cash (Eagle Days is free but select parking lots and food vendors will only accept cash)
- Curiosity
Please Leave at Home:
- Your dog Fluffy or any other pets
Parking:
Free parking is available at two satellite lots in Missouri, the St. Louis Welcome Center at Riverview Drive and I-270 and North Riverfront Park, off of Riverview Drive south of the waterworks. A free shuttle will be available from both locations. Free parking is also available at the Illinois Bridge entrance. Parking at the Missouri Bridge entrance costs $5.
Volunteers:
If you are interested in volunteering for Eagle Days, please contact Jamilia Harris at 314-877-1309 or jamilia.harris@mdc.mo.gov.
Sponsors:
Dana Brown Charitable Trust
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
Edward Jones
Great Rivers Greenway
Illinois Conservation Foundation
Metro East Parks and Recreation District
Pettus Foundation
Missouri American Water
Cargill
America’s Central Port
ConocoPhillips
Additional Support:
Chipotle
City of Madison, IL
Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, MO
EarthWays Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden
Katy Bike Rental
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Lewis & Clark State Historic Site
Marshall Scott Enterprises
Mostly Bikes, LLS
Pei Wei Asian Diner (Ladue & Creve Coeur)
St. Louis Audubon Society
Starbucks
Sweet Tomatoes (Creve Coeur & Crestwood)
The Green Center
The Pasta House Company
World Bird Sanctuary
A big thank you to all our volunteers. This event would not be possible without your help.
Produced by:
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For more information on Eagle Days call 314.436.1324 x117 or e-mail charles@trailnet.org.
FYI: your Christmas candles can be recycled!
With so much going on during the holidays, it can be hard to think ahead. But that’s exactly what the fine kids of the Ferguson Youth Initiative (FYI) are asking you to do.
They’re planning an innovative new fundraiser over the winter, in which they make eco-friendly candles using recycled candle wax. These handcrafted candles will be available for sale in March, but first, the kids need your donations!
If you burn candles this Christmas season, please set aside your leftover wax and then bring it to the next Vine Market on January 21. Chunks of old wax are fine, or you can bring the used container too.
That same day, FYI is also wrapping up its winter coat drive, with all proceeds benefiting needy students in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. So now you have three reasons to attend the Vine Market….fresh local food, candle wax and coats! Please donate if you can.
And if you know a local child who is especially creative, you might want to hear that FYI is holding a mascot contest. The best design for “Fergy,” submitted by January 6 at 4pm, will receive a cash prize! The contest is open to anyone under 18, and submissions can be sent to fyi@fergusoncity.com or FYI Mascot Contest, 110 Church Street, Ferguson, MO 63135.
The Vine Market takes place Saturday, January 21, from 9-11:30am @ St. Stephen’s Church, 33 N. Clay, 63135. For more info about the Ferguson Youth Initiative and how local kids can get involved in the fun, visit the FYI website.
