summer camps schools -...

www.merrimackvalleyparent.com

Free

Me r r im ack Va l l e y June 2020

Pa rentSummerCamps

&Schools

Protecting Your Family from the

Sun

In this Issue

Features

4 Protecting From The Sun

Columns & Departments

6 Time to Get More Kids Biking

7 Miss Cathy’s Book Reviews

8 Summer Camps & Schools

See the new Digital Edition ofMe r r im ack Va l l e y

Pa rent www.merrimackvalleyparent.com

Me r r im ack Va l l e y

Pa rentwww.merrimackvalleyparent.com

11 82nd StreetNewburyport, MA 01950

(978) 427-3676

Published by Merrimack Valley Parent, LLC

To Submit Calendar Events:[email protected]

To Advertise:[email protected]

General ManagerMike Nercessian

©2020 Merrimack Valley Parent, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any mistakes in advertisements or editorial. Statements/opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect or represent those of this publication or its officers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, Merrimack Valley Parent, LLC disclaims all responsibility for omission and errors.

AUSTIN PREPARATORY SCHOOLYour Journey Starts Here

APPLY NOW

An independent Augustinian Catholic schoolserving young men and women in grades 6 through 12.

101 Willow Street n Reading, MA n 781.944.4900 n AustinPrep.org

• All Inclusive Tuition » Made from scratch dining » No Fees » After school snack » Away game snack for athletics » Travel snacks for after school

co-curriculars

• 10:1 Student to Teacher Ratio

• 21 Advanced Placement Courses

• 8 New Athletic Facilities since 2016

From the Editor

We hope this message finds you well in these trying times. After much internal discussion and with health and safety in mind, we decided to publish abridged June Issues of Merrimack Valley Parent and Merrimack Valley 50+ Active Life as digital editions only.

We hope the June issues contribute to a sense of nor-malcy both for you and for our community and are looking forward to resuming our full print editions in the near future.

Page 4

Merrimack Valley Parent Merrimack Valley Parent Page 5

SummerCamp!WeeklySessions!Full&Halfday!Forallagesand

abilities

978-373-1300104KingSt,GrovelandMA

[email protected]

J&JPonyRentalsWebringoursweetlovableponies

toyou.Perfectforanyoccasion!

!Lessons!Boarding!ShowTeam!Camp

• 9am - 3pm

facebook.com/chcmass Two convenient locations: Haverhill (978) 373-6557 + Newburyport (978) 465-7121

Changes have been made to our office hours and sick call procedures. Please call for more information.

CHECK OUT OUR ALL NEW

CHC BLOG! chcmass.com/blog

Current blog topics include “Ticks” and “Bike Safety”

There’s nothing like that first sizzle of the summer.

Alas, if you think we’re referring to the first steak cooked on the grill, we’re not. We’re talking about this summer’s first sunburn.

We all get them, and we’re reminded how important sunscreen and skin health is. Unfortunately, we have to

live through the painful showers, scratchy bedsheets and slaps on the affected areas for a few days before the pain subsides.

Sunburns occur, obviously from the skin coming in contact with the sun without the use of protection. But more dramatically, it’s the inflamma-tion of the skin due to overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Overexposure thickens the epidermis (skin) and encourages production of melanin, the pigment that absorbs UV rays.

Sunburns are classified into three cat-egories: first, second and third degree.

A first degree is what most people get. It’s that painful burn that lasts from one to four days, produces a redden-ing of the skin, lobster-like, and is generally irritable and itchy.

A second degree burn goes beyond the top layer of skin and damages the tissue below the epidermis. Second-degree burns produce blisters and reddening of the skin, and may even damage the nerve endings in the af-fected areas.

A third-degree burn is the most dramatic, but some argue it’s like a unicorn, non-existent. The difference between and second and third-degree burn are the blisters and damage done to the layers of tissue and nerves be-low the outer layer of the epidermis.

Any sunburn that produces fluid-filled blisters, fever and/or chills, dehydra-tion, nausea or disorientation may require medical attention.

There are some home remedies to help you cope with a burn and some begin with the earth’s most readily available resources, cold water. Soak-ing the affected area(s) in cold water, or applying a cold compress to the region for at least 15 minutes will give you instant relief, but will also conduct heat away from your skin and reduce swelling. To relieve the pain of a total-body sunburn, make an oatmeal bath in cool water and take a soak in it. The oatmeal soothes the skin and reduces inflammation. Don’t have oatmeal? Cornstarch works equally well.

To relieve the pain take an aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Not only

do these relieve the pain associated with a burn, but they help decrease inflammation.

Apply lotions that contain menthol or camphor. These ingredients provide temporary relief by constricting blood vessels and nerve endings. Rubbing aloe vera on the sunburn also provides relieve as it heals the broken skin. Do not apply greasy liquids like Vaseline, baby oil or Bag Balm, as they seal the burn, trap the heat and amplify the pain.

Finding a spray-on, first-aid applica-tion containing benzocaine will also bring temporary relief to the burn, as benzocaine is a topical anesthetic that acts on the nerve endings and sup-presses pain.

Now, shame on you for getting burned in the first place, but before you feel much shame, remember, at the outset of this article it was mentioned that everyone burns. It’s a rite of passage each summer and even those who are most conscious of the sun do get burned.

In fact, it takes as little as 15 minutes of being in the sun to get burnt. On days when the sun is strongest, it can take as little as a half hour for your skin to turn red, but more likely it’s two to six hours before any signs you’re get-ting too much sun begins to take effect. The symptoms and aches and pains won’t be apparent for six to 24 hours.

The best way to avoid getting burnt, of course, is to avoid the sun. But, that’s near impossible, especially in the Merrimack Valley where great beaches, lakes and water activities are plentiful.

If you can’t afford to stay out of the sun, at least you can pay attention to the UV Index for the day. The UV Index indicates the amount of UV radiation reaching the earth at noontime in your specific area. The UV Index has been determined for 58 cities in the United States, as well as cities

and town within a 30-mile radius of those cities. The UV Index is published in the daily newspaper’s weather sec-tion, and will be highlighted during the weather forecast on local televi-sion stations.

The Index is a number from 1 to 10; the higher the number the greater the exposure to damaging UV rays.

To combat those harmful rays will require a good sunscreen with sun protection factor, that all-important SPF, of 15 or higher. Anything lower is akin to jumping into a fast-food restau-rant’s deep fryer.

While testing is still inconclusive on whether the higher the SPF the better protected you are, what dermatolo-gists recommend is using 30 SPF for everyday sun protection, and a 50 SPF if you’re going to be in the sun all day. But they also caution, that whether

you’re using a 15 or 50, you should spread the lotion on liberally. Most people assume if they’re using a 50 they can go with a thinner applica-tion, or once compared to two or three applications with a 15 or 30. Not. The. Case.

Sunscreen should be spread liberally and often. If that icky, greasy feeling isn’t what you’re after, long-sleeved light cotton shirts and pants will work just as well.

Protecting Your Family from the

SunBy Mike Sullivan

Miss Cathy’s

Children’s Books Reviews By Cathy A. Morrow

I LOVE BOOKS

These books were generously provided by Jabberwocky Bookshop , Newburyport

Jabberwockybookshop.com

DUCK AT THE DOORWritten and Illustrated by

Jackie UrbanovicHarperCollins, Publishers

Best for Ages 3 and up

Irene LOVED animals. Irene’s home was overflowing with cats, dogs, birds and other sweet animals. They all lived together in harmony. One evening in the middle of a snow storm, there was a knock at the front door. The animals were not sure what to do. They all ran upstairs to get Irene. When Irene and the others answered the door, they were surprised to see a duck, almost buried in the snow. Irene hurried to get him inside and get him warm. He explained why he stayed north instead of going south with his duck family. Although the adjustment was not easy, duck and his new family got

along very well, even though duck had some peculiar habits. When spring arrived, duck was overjoyed to see his family again and flew off with them. When October arrived, Irene and the others wondered if they would see the duck again for the winter. There was a knock at the door and everyone said “Max?”...well, not exactly.

The is a charming story with cute and funny illustrations. The story lets us see that you do not have to be exactly the same or look or act the same as everyone to be a family.

Terry Teddy and I give this book -- -- four paws up.

TOO MANY FROGS!Written by Sandy Asher

Illustrated by Keith GravesPhilomel Books, Division of Division

of Penguin Young Readers Group, Publishers

Best for Ages 5 and up

Rabbit lead a simple, uncomplicated life. He was quite satisfied and happy with the way his life was. Every night, after cleaning up from supper, he would read himself a story. He truly enjoyed reading himself a story. One night just before he was about to start reading, there was a knock-knockety-knocking at his door. He could not imagine who would be knocking so late at his door. When he opened the door he saw Frog. Frog ex-plained that he did not like the bad rain storm and wondered if he could come inside. Rabbit told him he was about to read himself a story and Frog said, “Love to listen.” ...”Don’t mind do you?” Frog listened to the story and compli-mented Rabbit. The next night, just as from was about to read himself a story,

once again, there was a knock-knock-ety-knocking at his door. Yes, it was Frog. “Don’t mind do you?” So began a regular visit from Frog every night. Frog could be a bit messy at times making snacks or getting comfortable, and Rab-bit was not happy with that part of the visit, but they continued, until one night when Frog knocked, but had brought his ENTIRE family. Rabbit lost his temper and all the frogs had to leave. Calming down, Rabbit resumed the quiet sched-ule to which he was familiar, but some-thing seemed to be missing. Hmmm.

Simple, yet, amusing illustrations make this book entertaining to read, children should definitely find it enjoyable.

Terry Teddy and I give this book -- -- four paws up.

Once again, I will be making a selection of a couple of books from my personal collection of children’s books. Both of these books have something in common. First they are about

animals and second they show that family can be described in many ways. These books are still in print and may be ordered from the Jabberwocky Bookshop and

mailed directly to you.

[email protected]

facebook.com/curiouscreaturesma/curiouscreatures.org

Live Animal ShowsEducational Interactive Programs

Schools • Corporate EventsBirthday Parties

A.

Jim Loscutoff’s

Our 47th Year Providing a WonderfulCamping Experience for Boys & Girls

in a Natural Forest Setting.

www.campevergreen.com166 Jenkins Road, Andover, MA

978-475-2502This camp complies with the regulations of the M.D.P.H. & is licensed by the Andover Board of Health

2 Pools • Softball • Tennis • Archery• Boating & More!!

Door to DoorTransportation

Camp EvErgrEEnCamp EvErgrEEn

Summer Day CampNow Accepting Applications

Ages 4.5 to 14

Celebrating 56 Years of Providing a Wonderful Camping Experience for

Boys & Girls in a Natural Forest Setting2 Pools • Softball • Tennis • Archery • Boating

Horseback Riding • Drama • Arts & Crafts & More! Door to Door Transportation


Ages 4.5 to 14Jim Loscutoff’s









Ages 4.5 to 14






Horseback Riding • Drama • Arts & Crafts & More! Transportation Available

Jim Loscutoff’s









Ages 4.5 to 14




Jim Loscutoff’s









Ages 4.5 to 14





978-475-2502

This camp complies with the regulations of the M.D.P.H. & is licensed by the Andover Board of Health

Page 6 Merrimack Valley Parent Merrimack Valley Parent Page 7

(BPT) - For kids, biking is one of the gate-ways to growing up. Popular films and TV hits such as “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Stranger Things” highlight the joy a bike can bring as a fun way to explore or spend time kicking around the neighborhood. Yet, according to a study from the Outdoor Industry Association, bike riding among kids declined 19% between 2007 and 2019.

With the weather getting warmer, there are plenty of good reasons for anyone to get outside and ride a bike. Especially during this time of social distancing, bike riding offers the perfect opportunity to shake off cabin fever and safely enjoy the fresh air.

Benefits of bike riding

For tweens and teens in particular, there are many benefits of owning and riding a bike, including:

* It gets kids outside away from screens to enjoy fresh air and vitamin D-giving sunshine.

* It promotes cardiovascular health.

* It builds muscles, while improving bal-ance and coordination.

* It improves mental health by helping to reduce anxiety or stress.* It is good for the environment, offering an emissions-free mode of transportation.

* It helps build self-confidence and rela-tionships with others who like cycling too.

Help for foster kids who need bikes

Unfortunately, not every kid has the opportunity to enjoy the many positive aspects of bike riding. Children in foster care, tweens and teens in particular, don’t always have access to a bike, so they aren’t able to experience this important mile-stone of growing up.

To help address this issue, Honeycomb cereal is donating $50,000 to Together We Rise, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping improve the lives of youth in foster care. The donation will provide 600 bicycles to tweens and teens in foster care nationwide, helping them to build their confidence and experience the many physical and emotional benefits that hav-ing a bike brings.

Bikes have been part of Honeycomb’s history since the 1970s, featured in its ad-vertising and promotions. Kids growing up

in the ‘70s and ‘80s fondly remember col-lecting Honeycomb bike-sized state license plates, which were given away free inside cereal boxes each year. Honeycomb’s latest “Always Be Big” spot features a bicycle with a nostalgic nod to the past.

“We’re thrilled to team up with Together We Rise to give kids in foster care the chance to experience the fun and joy that biking brings,” said Michelle Titus, senior brand manager of Honeycomb cereal. “Throughout its history, Honeycomb has been a champion of the small yet big mo-ments for kids. This donation will make the dream of owning a bike a reality for these kids.”

Safety tips

Kids heading out on their bikes should fol-low basic guidelines to protect their health and safety. Remind your tween or teen to:

* Always wear a helmet, even for a short trip.

* Be visible by wearing bright clothing and using reflectors or lights to ensure others

can see you, especially in the early morning or around sundown.

* Always use sunscreen to protect exposed skin from UV rays.

* Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.

* Stick to bike paths, if possible, rather than riding on the street.

* Obey all traffic laws.

* Stay alert while riding.

* Don’t use ear buds or headphones that could prevent you from hearing traffic or other dangers.

* Don’t use your phone or text while rid-ing - stop and get off the trail to use any device.

Now is the perfect time to get your kids biking and consider helping foster kids do the same. For more information about the Together We Rise Bikes for Foster Children program or how to sponsor a bike for kids who need one, visit TogetherWeRise.org.

It’s time to get more kids biking

ENQUIRE TODAY

FUTURE ENGINEERSHIGH SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP

TOMORROW STARTS TODAY.

FRANCIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERINGUMASS LOWELL

JOIN US FOR A ONE-WEEK, OVERNIGHTIMMERSIVE ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE.

EXPLORE ENGINEERING!

JULY 19 - 24, 2020JULY 12 - 17, 2020

$1,500 INCLUDES OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS, SUPPLIES, SITE VISITS AND GROUP OUTINGS.

REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 1, 2020. *SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE*

WWW.UML.EDU/FUTUREENGINEERSCAMP Searching for a Quality

Early Childhood Experience?Sacred Hearts School is currently enrolling

starting at 2.9 years old

Elementary-Middle School31 South Chestnut Street

Bradford, MA 01835978-372-5451

Early Childhood Center48 South Chestnut Street

Bradford, MA 01835978-374-7161

www.sacredheartsbradford.org

Also Accepting Grades 1 - 8

Nursery • Pre-K • KindergartenBefore School/A� er School

Part-time/full-time options available

For a complete listing of our camping programs and services check out our website at camp.mvymca.org

“WHERE KIDS CAN BE BETTER THAN THEY’VE EVER BEEN

BY DOING SOMETHING THEY’VE NEVER DONE”

MERRIMACK VALLEY YMCA CAMPS

Camp Lawrence Overnight camp for Boys ages 8-16

Camp Otter Day-camp for Boys & Girls ages 6-14

Camp Nokomis Overnight camp for Girls ages 8-16

Page 8 Merrimack Valley Parent Merrimack Valley Parent Page 9

summer camps schools -...

Documents