Zumba for Kids at Gavin Park

Perfect for younger Zumba fans, Gavin Park is now offering Zumba Kids classes! Zumba Kids features kid-friendly routines based on the wildly popular Latin inspired dance fitness program. Kids 4-12 can be active while jamming out to their favorite music!

Classes will run each Saturday from September 20th through October 25th. Zumba Kids Jr. for ages 4-7 will be from 10-10:30am, and Zumba Kids for ages 8-12 will be from 10:45-11:30am. Cost for Wilton Residents is $40, Saratoga Springs School District Residents is $50, and $55 for all others.

Pre-registration is required. (Sorry, no “drop ins” allowed.)  Space is limited and registration ends September 18th.  Don’t miss out, register now! To register, just dance your way down to Gavin Park, or visit them online here. Questions may be answered by calling the park office at 518-584-9455.

Mamatoga Loves: Cantina Kids Fun Run (and 101.3 The Jockey’s Drawing Contest!)

The Cantina Kids Fun Run, featured in the Spring Issue of Mamatoga Magazine (check it out here on Page 50) is one of my favorite family events in town. Held each year on the first Sunday in June it’s the only run in Saratoga that’s designed especially for kids! Kids choose the ¼ Mile or 1 Mile course, and all kids receive a medal, t-shirt and water bottle, and the top three boys and top three girls on each course receive trophies. Before and after the run, families can enjoy face painting, the bouncy bounce, healthy snacks, and live music from 101.3 The Jockey. Best of all, by participating kids are raising money for pediatric care at Saratoga Hospital’s Emergency Department. A run for kids, all about kids, that benefits kids…a great family event right in downtown Saratoga Springs!

Founded in 2008 by Cantina owners Jeff and Heath Ames, the Cantina Kids Fun Run has raised over $127,000 for pediatric care at Saratoga Hospital’s Emergency Department. The Ames family has a very personal connection to the cause: their daughter, Tessa, was born was a rare and extremely hard to control form of epilepsy. Knowing that excellent pediatric emergency care is important to all parents, whether for a broken arm, stitches, or something more serious, Jeff and Heath created the event as a way to give back to the community.

I’ve already got the kids both registered for the 1/4 mile and they are so excited, they had such a great time last year. Click right here to register your kids now. The race is taking place on Sunday, June 2nd at the Saratogian Parking Lot. Registration opens at 8am, Race is at 9am.

There’s fun to be had even before the race too with 101.3 The Jockey’s annual art contest to coincide with the Cantina Kids Fun Run. Just have your child create a picture using an 8 ½ by 11 piece of paper using crayons, markers, paint, pen or pencil…showing a race horse crossing the finish line! Get it to them by dropping it off to their studios in Malta, or send it to them at 100 Saratoga Village Boulevard, Suite 21, Malta, New York, 12020. Entries must be in by THIS Friday, May 17th. Winning entries will be announced at the Cantina Kids Fun Run. Winning artwork will be displayed at McDonald’s in Saratoga Springs and there will be some nice prizes to give away. If you have any questions, call them at 899-3000 or click here for more info.

 

Mamatoga Loves: Taylor’s Heroes Xtreme Boot Camp Challenge & Healthy Kids Day May 11th

How cool is this?! Taylor’s Heroes is a local non-profit whose mission is to help children who want to get fit accomplish their goal by providing them with the resources they need to succeed and on Saturday, May 11th they are having an Xtreme Boot Challenge race at the Saratoga Regional YMCA. This race is all about having fun while challenging yourself in a test of strength and endurance. The most important thing to do is HAVE FUN! Laugh incredibly hard, work your body hard and celebrate at the end of a tough but friendly competition filled with mud pits, fire hoses, spider webs of rope, tire walls, and surprise Boot Camp stations. Whether you want to have fun as a family or with a group of friends, or you are a serious athlete this course is for you. The course is like Taylor’s Heroes mission – have fun while being active and disregard any obstacles. They encourage families to run together and make this an annual family day. What a great way to show your kids that exercise can be fun! There will be prizes for best team costumes – the crazier the better! There will also be prizes for fastest runners by age group. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. and the race starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Saratoga Springs Regional YMCA Saratoga Springs Branch. T-shirts provided to all who register before May 1st.
 To register, click right here. The Xtreme Boot Camp Challenge is only open to participants 10 or older unless accompanied by a parent.

Also taking place that day will be Healthy Kids Day at the Saratoga Regional YMCA. From 10am-2pm the Saratoga Regional YMCA will be hosting this FREE community event at the Saratoga Springs Branch as part of their commitment to addressing critical gaps in health and education. The Y is kicking off efforts to encourage kids to stay physically and intellectually active over the summer with a 1k run, an obstacle course, brain buster games, and lots more! Healthy Kids Day is also part of the amazing Saratoga 150 events, as the YMCA helps celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Saratoga Race Course.

For more info on Healthy Kids Day click right here. We can’t wait to take part!

 

Mamatoga Loves: SPAC’s Rock & Run on Sunday, May 19th

Great news! A new 10K has been added to SPAC’s popular “Rock & Run” 5K fundraiser taking place on Sunday, May 19 at SPAC. The event kicks off at 9 a.m. with a 1K Kids’ Run, followed by the 5K at 9:30 a.m. and the 10K at 10:30 a.m. Over 20 top Capital Region bands will perform along certified running routes and at the free, post-race party on SPAC’s lawn. All proceeds benefit SPAC’s Kids education programs and its classical programming like New York City Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, The Saratoga Chamber Music Festival and more! Anything to get the family out and active together is a must do in my book, and this event has the added bonus of the awesome post-race party!

“Our ‘Rock & Run’ is the perfect, high-energy kick off to our season and a wonderful way to support opportunities for local children to experience the performing arts,” said Marcia J. White, SPAC’s President & Executive Director.

“Since we first introduced the ‘Rock & Run’ 5K three years ago, it has become a favorite among local runners, families and the community. With the addition of a new 10K course and twice the number of bands, we are raising the volume on this great event. Tremendous thanks are owed to our Action Council members, whose creativity, time and effort are at the core of Rock & Run’s success.”

The headlining band for the post-race festivities will be The Acoustic Brotherhood, led by Soul Session’s Garland Nelson and Audiostar front man, Jay Yager, two of the Capital Region’s leading musicians.

Other acclaimed regional bands participating in the event include:

• The Lazy Suns – Featured on the Discovery Channel’s popular show, Deadliest Catch, the self-described “Rock Flavored Country Band” is considered to have a unique quality, blending sounds from the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Beatles, Townes Van Zandt, Tom Petty, and Hank Williams.

• Ramblin Jug Stompers’- Fusing the great tradition of American string band music and the classic jug bands of the 60s folk scene, the Jug Stompers consist of luminaries from New York’s Capital District music scene.

• Drew Jacobs- The “acoustic humorist” fuses his skills as a musician and comedian covering subjects such as relationships, modern society, and life as a baby-boomer. He has earned recognition with airplay on local and national radio, such as Sirius/XM Satellite Radio’s “LaughUSA,” and the nationally syndicated Dr. Demento Radio Show.

New bands joining the race this year include Hard Soul, Bridgette Guerrette, M.R. Poulopoulos, Molly Durnin, Summer of Doug, Above The Flood, Rob Jonas, Erin Harkes, Zan Strumfield, Immune Friction, Pony in the Pancake, and CRUSH, winners of last year’s Battle of the Bands. Back by popular demand will be Black Mountain Symphony, The Dirt Cheap Band, Tamer Lane, KIDDJ, and Greg Irwin who will play bagpipes at the start of the race.

Other features of the Rock & Run include performance/moisture-wicking shirts for the first 1,000 pre-registered 5K and 10K runners, tickets to SPAC’s Wine & Food and Fall Ferrari Festival (so awesome) for the top male/female finishers, tickets to SPAC classical performances for the top male and female finishers in each age category, finisher awards for all children participating in the Kids’ Race, and a free, post race party with live music, refreshments and children’s activities.

For more info on how to register click right here. The general public may enjoy viewing the race or attending the post-race party free of charge. See you there Saratoga!

6 Week Prenatal Yoga with Bonnie Starting April 25th

One of Bonnie’s beautiful students, Yonka, who just had her baby boy!

Starting this Thursday, April 25th there will be another great Prenatal Yoga Workshop at Saratoga Springs Yoga with instructor Bonnie Farrelly. This 6 Week Series will be on Thursdays from 7:15-8:30pm running from April 25th – May 30th. For more info on prenatal yoga and its benefits, click here. For all the info on the series and how to register, check out the flyer below. Namaste mamas! xoxo

STUFF TO DO: April 23rd-28th

TUESDAY, APRIL 23^rd

•  The Children’s Museum at Saratoga has Tuesday for Tots: Trees from 10am-12pm and 1-3pm.

• David Sobel is speaking at Skidmore College on Place-Based Education on tonight from 7-8pm in Davis Auditorium. Free and open to the public. Click here for more info.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24^th

•  Parents as Advocates is at the Saratoga Springs Public Library from 7-8:30pm. It is an educational/advocacy group for parents of children with developmental delays. Facilitated by Mary Fornabia parentsasadvocates@yahoo.com. Presented by Julie Michaels Keegan, Esq., an attorney committed to ensuring that families and their children with special needs receive quality legal representation. This workshop will help parents understand the options available to enable them to continue them to make medical, personal and financial decisions for their child. Parents and caregivers will learn the pros and cons of guardianship, medical decision making and benefits planning including the use of supplemental needs trusts. No registration necessary.

• Puppet Play: 3 Little Bears is from 10-10:15am, pre-registration required, free with admission. Join Ms. Heather for the special, puppet play, The Three Little Bears. Heather Stewart is the owner and director of Apple Blossom Bunch’s Pre-k in the Park Program for full day Preschoolers and Apple House, a small group family day care in Saratoga Springs. There are only 20 seats available, so make sure you sign up by phone or at the front desk! If you want to know more about Heather’s preschool program, go to http://www.appleblossombunch.com.

• Felting Flowers is from 10:35-11am, drop in, free with admission. In place of their Alphabet Soup program, Heather Stewart will be leading a Felt Flower workshop in the art room. Drop in any time between 10:35-11am, to make a beautiful and decorative springtime craft!

• Story Art is also at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga from 2-2:30pm.

THURSDAY, APRIL 25^th

• Sensory Storytime is from 6:30-7:30 at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. Open to all children from preschoolers on up. Especially geared for those with sensory integration issues and those on the autism spectrum. If your child has difficulty sitting through one of the library’s other storytimes, this program of stories, songs and art activities may be just what you are looking for. Children must be accompanied by parent or caregiver. No registration necessary.

• Silly Science: Ocean is at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga from 10:30am-12pm.

• I’ll be teaching Kids Yoga at One Yoga Saratoga today from 4:30-5:30pm for kids aged 4-9, no experience necessary and drop ins are always welcome. There is a special Hour of Power class going on next door at Hot Yoga Saratoga as well for parents at the same time, or you can drop your kiddo off and go walk around downtown for an hour of relaxation for you! Call 587-YOGA for more info.

• There is another great 6 Week Prenatal Yoga Series with Bonnie starting today, get all the details right here!

FRIDAY, APRIL 26^th

• Wiggle and Giggle is at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga from 10-11:30am.

• Weathergrams is also at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga at 1:30-2:15 pm, free with admission, pre-registration required. Appropriate for children ages 4+. In celebration of Earth Day and Arbor Day, Christina Rewinski will be leading workshops on how to make your own weathergrams. Come in and learn a little about what we can do for the Earth and express your appreciation for it through this project that is both scientific and artistic! Following the creation of weathergrams, children will have the opportunity to learn about and write haikus in celebration of nature.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27^th

•  Library Babies is at the Saratoga Springs Public Library from 10-11am. This is an informal playgroup for babies under the age of 24 months with their parent or caregiver. Registration is not required.

•  Family Storytime is from 11:30am-12pm at the Saratoga Springs Public Library for children ages 2-5, with their parent or caregiver. Siblings welcome too! Registration is not necessary for this program.

• The brand new Bundle Store in Ballston Spa has an infant massage class happening today, check out their website for more info.

• Check out this sweet “Make it for Mom” Kids Event at Sunnyside Gardens in Saratoga from 1-3pm. Kids bring mom or dad to the event where they will design and plant a beautiful container garden to give Mom on Mother’s Day. They will help kids plant it and then they will take care of it for a few weeks, making sure it will grow big and beautiful. Then all you have to do is come back to pick it up on Saturday May 11th or Sunday May 12th. (Earlier pick-up also available.) All children welcome with adult supervision, Cost: $15 small pot: $20 large pot (includes pot, soil, and plants). Please RSVP so they can make sure we have enough pots for everyone either by phone at (518) 584-1034 or using the form on their site here.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28^th

• Run as a family in the Dragon’s Pride Run today, all the details are right here.

• Check out Springtime in Wonderland at the Children’s Museum at Saratoga. There will be 45 seats per show, sign up the day of (first come, first serve). All the details are right here.

• It’s Superhero Day at the Saratoga Springs Public Library all day! Show off your inner superhero! Kids, feel free to dress in your favorite superhero costume (you can make up your own super hero if you want to!). Stop into the library for a drop in activity where you tell us what makes a great superhero, and get a small, but super, goodie in return! For all ages.

• Dine at a DZ Restaurant tonight to help raise money for Saratoga Hospital’s Community Health Resource Center, click here for all the details.

Don’t forget, the Saratoga Farmers’ Market is opening SOON!

Take part in the Mamatoga Beauty Project, click here for details!

“Eating with the Seasons” Workshop at Reform Pilates on Monday, April 22nd

On Monday, April 22nd from 6-7:30 head to Reform Pilates for “Eating With the Seasons, The Way Nature Intended”, a great workshop where you can learn why your body craves certain foods during certain seasons, and how to enjoy seasonal foods. Understand how nature intended us to eat in harmony with our environment. Certified Health Coach Beverly Benfer will explain how certain foods can effect our body’s reaction to the change of seasonal climates, cold or hot. She will review John Douillard’s 3-Season Diet program’s theory of Spring, Summer and Winter, and how following each season’s harvest is necessary in balancing our overall diet.

Gordon Sacks from 9 Miles East Farm will be there as well to share freshly harvested early-season vegetables from the farm and answer your questions about enjoying (and growing) great produce.

You’ll get a chance to taste samples of seasonal dishes and take home recipes to make each season of the year. Plus they’ll have special exclusives in their boutique from 5:30-7:45pm for workshop attendees, a Stella & Dot Trunk Show, Accessory Styling, and Spring Accessory viewing to purchase! For each item you bring in to donate to the Franklin Community Center Food Pantry, you will get a ticket for Reform’s Raffle for fun Pilates items including: A Private Session, a Reform Pilates Membership, lululemon athletica, 9 Miles East Farm GOBag Gift Certificate and more! Everyone who attends the workshop will get a Complimentary “Mini” Mat Class Pass at Reform Pilates. I’m close to finishing up a 10 Week Series at Reform and I have been absolutely loving it. I highly recommend anyone check out what they have to offer. To read more about Pilates and my 10 Week Series experience click here.

The cost for the Workshop is $20 and you can click right here to register.

Register Now for Go Kids Spring Session!

Go Kids just wrapped up their first session here in the Saratoga area and it was a great one! Go Kids is the Capital Region’s only multi-sport and exercise program exclusively designed for kids aged 2-6.  Their fun sports and fitness activities teach preschoolers the fundamentals of 7 different sports in a social, team based, non-competitive environment. Go Kids introduces children to seven different sports: soccer, tennis, basketball, hockey, football, baseball and track and field and runs year round in six eight-week terms. Each term includes four sports taught in two-week blocks. A general routine is followed during each class which allows children to become comfortable, while the rotating sports prevent children from becoming bored. I got a second to chat with Adam, the founder of Go Kids about the highlights of the first session:

Best sports moment: A special needs child jumping for the first time ever!

Best teamwork moment:  A 5 year old recommending that we form a human wall so the entire class can cross the line together

Best sharing moment:  A 2 year old sharing all of their imaginary apples, carrots and grapes with her grandpa

Levy just loved Go Kids this session, she still talks about being able to complete all of the hurdles and routinely tells Finn that she’s an “awesome runner”. I really liked that she got a chance to take part in a sports activity that was on her own level and really engaged her. It gave her confidence and gave her a chance to try new things in a fun, no pressure environment. Go Kids’ classes run for 45 minutes with 4 sports taught during each 8 week term. A routine incorporating gross motor skills, hand-eye/foot-eye coordination and balance activities is practiced during each class. They are registering now for their Spring Session, sign up today and have your little one make their own special Go Kids moments to remember! To learn more about Go Kids, check out their website right here. Your little one can even take a Free Trial class to see how they like it, to get info on their schedule and locations, click right here.

Run as a Family in The Dragon’s Pride Run on Sunday, April 28th

It’s never too early to start teaching kids healthy habits, and that doesn’t just include brushing their teeth and eating their veggies. Research suggests teaching kids to stay active could be crucial in preventing childhood obesity and should factor just as prominently on that parenting “to do” list. We all know kids pick up on what the adults around them are doing, and parental attitudes toward health and fitness have been linked to influencing how their children view exercise, so choose to make staying fit FUN and do it as a family! A great way to do that right here in Saratoga is the Dragon’s Pride Run coming up on April 28th at the Saratoga Spa State Park Warming Hut. The run is a Division Street School PTA sponsored event to raise money and promote physical fitness for their school community, but anyone can take part. Their goal is to have a fun 5K run/walk to promote physical fitness for children, families, and the community. Proceeds from the race will go towards the Division Street School PTA to help them enhance their children’s physical fitness through extra programs and equipment.

Details:

Where: Saratoga Spa State Park Warming Hut

When: Sunday, April 28th

7:30-8:45am Sign In

9am 1 Mile Fun Run for Kids

9:30am 5K Run/Walk for Everyone

Click right here to register, and click on the flyer below to enlarge it for more info. Get out there and get fit as a family! xoxo