augusta family magazine february 2015

February 2015ANNUAL PARTY GUIDE

GETTING DINNER ON THE TABLE

UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY

CAMP IVEY IS COMING

Michael and Kirby Rushbrook, 4 and 2, are the sons of Michael and Carolyn Rushbrook of Augusta. Photo by Branch Carter.

Helpers

www.augustafamily.com

ContentsPUBLISHERKate Cooper Metts

EDITORKarin Calloway

PRODUCTIONArt Director / Web ProducerMichael Rushbrook

ADVERTISINGDirector of AdvertisingLisa Dorn

Advertising SalesDoressa HawesLisa Taylor Maidi McMurtrie ThompsonMary Porter Vann

Audience Development ManagerJessica Seigler

PHOTOGRAPHYBranch Carter and John Harpring

CONTRIBUTORSLucy AdamsKim Beavers, MS, RD, CDEJ. Ron Eaker, M.D.Mallory DanielCammie JonesChristina KatzMary Ashton MillsJennie MontgomeryDanielle Wong Moores

PRE PRESS SERVICES

Augusta Family Magazine is published 10 times per year and distributed throughout the Augusta and Aiken area. Send press releases, story ideas or comments to the editor at [email protected] or mail to 127A 7th Street, Augusta, GA 30901 or telephone (706) 828-3946. For advertising information, telephone (706) 823-3702. For circulation/distribu-tion, call (706) 823-3722.


FamilyAUGUSTA

m a g a z i n e

7 editor’s page 9 mom2mom You Think Kids are Sneaky? -Jennie Montgomery

10 news&notes13 eating well with kim Chocolate + Romance -Kim Beavers, MS, RD, LD, CDE

15 doctor/dad Seven Habits of Highly Healthy People -J. Ron Eaker, M.D.

16 smart mom’s guide Meal Planning -Cammie Jones

30 health&home Understanding Anxiety -Mary Ashton Mills

32 inspiration station Sowing the Seeds of a Special Summer Camp -Lucy Adams

34 calendar46 go girl!

Ryan Rhodes, DVM -Mallory Daniel

departments

“Here’s what I remember about my daughter’s �rst birthday. We made a big fuss. She had no idea what was going on. She was not even interested in the car-rot cake I had made espe-cially for her. What I wish I had realized instead is that her birthday was a big deal for us, but just another day in babydom, for her.” Read Christina Katz’s “older and wiser” ideas on what to do for your child by their �rst birthday on page 28.

quick pickFebruary

Annual Party GuideBy Lucy Adams

Photos by Branch Carter

ON THE COVERMichael and Kirby Rushbrook, 4 and 2, are the sons of Michael and Carolyn Rushbrook of Augusta. Photo by Branch Carter.

Great Gifts for Every Child’s First

Birthday That Keep on Giving

By Christina Katz

Contents

February


The Augusta Family Magazine invites you to our Summer Camp Expo 2014. The mission of this Expo is to showcase a variety of summer programs educating parents about the

options available for their children during the summer months.Great Information, fun, entertainment and door prizes equal an

event that’s sure to be fun for the whole family!

INTERESTED IN BEING A VENDOR? PLEASE CONTACT LISA DORN, AT 706-823-3702 OR [email protected]













The Augusta Family Magazine invites you to our Summer Camp Expo 2015. The mission of this Expo is to showcase a variety of summer programs educating parents about the options available for their children during the summer months.Great Information, fun, entertainment and door prizes

equal an event that’s sure to be fun for the whole family!


2015coming this April


Now that my feet are �rmly planted in the new year I’ve noticed a trend. My world seems to revolve around numbers. Dates to remember, to-do lists and even this issue of Augusta Family Magazine.

So instead of �ghting my “numbers” trend I’m going to embrace it by of-fering up some important numbers for February and also some fun numbers in this month’s magazine.

2—February 2nd is Groundhog Day.7—�e number of simple ideas our doctor/dad columnist Dr. J. Ron Eaker

shares that can honestly help you improve your health.7—�e number of gi� ideas writer Christina Katz suggests for your child’s

�rst birthday. Hint: �e list includes things “older and wiser” parents wish they had lined up for their children by their �rst birthday. Read the article on page 28.

8—�e number of meal-planning tips Cammie Jones provides in this month’s Smart Mom’s Guide.

14—February 14th is Valentine’s Day.60—�e number of party places listed in our annual birthday party guide.

It begins on page 19. 335—�e number of days until Christmas as I write this column.

Until March,

2714

335 78

KARIN CALLOWAY is a wife and mother of two. She’s also a journalist and rec-ipe developer who writes the Wednesday cooking column for �e Augusta Chroni-cle. Watch Karin prepare her recipes on WJBF NewsChannel 6 on Tuesdays during Mid-Day and Wednesdays during Good Morning Augusta.

editor’sby Karin Calloway

60By the Numbers


JENNIE MONTGOMERY anchors the evening news at WJBF-TV. She and her husband, Scott, have three children: Zack, 21, Maddy, 20, and Sky, 19.

Never again!I was wrapping up a great week o� : the holidays were over, Christmas was

all boxed up and packed in the attic, the girls were safely back at college. � ere I sat on a Sunday a� ernoon with nothing to do…but instead of reveling in the peace and enjoying that rare, unscheduled moment, I had to pick a project.

My halls were crying for fresh paint. I just couldn’t stand it another day. Suppressing my control-freak nature, I decided to include Scott in the deci-

sion-making. (And by decision-making I don’t mean whether or not we should paint. We should. I mean Gray Ghost or Toasted Almond? Satin or gloss trim? Choices I’d already made, but I would string him along to let him think he had some input. You know.)

While Scott was busy with the details like trays, drop cloths and roller brushes, I was making my way to the hardware aisle. A� er all, if we were doing all new paint it would be the perfect time to switch out some doorknobs and drawer pulls.

Scott caught up with me and took it a step further. He said since we’ve been talking about � nishing the hardwoods through the family room and kitchen…now seems like the perfect time to start pricing.

An hour later he was STILL wandering though the wood � ooring. And tile. If we do tile then we’ll want new, cool glass tile back splashes in the kitchen…

What was happening? How in the world did my trip for a couple of cans of paint turn into a day of D-I-Y day dreaming INSIDE the huge home improve-ment store? By now we’d been there a couple of hours.

HOURS!!As we hauled out the cart and headed into the parking lot I cracked a joke

about being surprised to still see daylight—and it hit me. Was this all a grand plan to stall my remodeling project? Did Scott really one-up me inside that store, dragging me along as he cleverly ticked away the minutes he could have spent in my stairwell, high up on a ladder?

Oh, I am already planning my Home Goods revenge!

mom m mby Jennie Montgomery2

You Think Kids Are Sneaky?IL

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www.augustafamily.com10

FRESH FACES

news notesnews notes

augustafamily.comGo to www.AUGUSTAFAMILY.com to enter!

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FOLLOW US ONLINE!

February 2015

ANNUAL PARTY GUIDE

GETTING DINNER ON THE TABLE

UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY

CAMP IVEY IS COMING

Michael and Kirby Rushbrook, 4 and 2, are

the sons of Michael and Carolyn Rushbrook

of Augusta. Photo by Branch Carter.

Helpers

>>>>>>>>

CHILD SAFETY BEGINS AT HOME. As the parent or caregiver of a child, Safe Kids Greater Augusta wants to provide you with vital information on how to provide a safe, happy environ-ment for children of all ages and, hope-fully, eliminate preventable injuries in and around the home.

With that in mind, Safe Kids is launch-ing a new home safety program, a com-prehensive session covering multiple child safety topics, including medica-tion safety and poison prevention; water safety; as well as tips on how to prevent button battery ingestion, TV tip overs, fi res and burns. Look for more information about the new home safety classes including how to sign up in the full version of this article on AugustaFamily.com or by calling the Safe Kids offi ce at 706-721-7606.

-Sandra J. Dykes

SECOND ANNUAL STORYBOOK BRUNCHSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 8:30 AND 11 A.M.

AUGUSTA – The Southeastern Fire� ghters Burn Foundation is planning its Second Annual Storybook Brunch, Satutrday, February 28, at First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 3500 Walton Way. There are two seatings this year—an 8:30 a.m. VIP seating for sponsors and 11 a.m. General Seating.

The magical morning begins with a hearty breakfast, followed by a parade of favorite storybook characters, including princes, princesses and action heroes, who linger for autographs and photographs. Children are encouraged to dress up as their favorite storybook character. Parents, don’t forget your cameras!

The cost of the event is $20 per person and includes a breakfast buffet. Advance reservations are required and seating is limited. Strollers and carriers are not allowed. Tickets are required for ALL attendees, regardless of age. Tickets may be purchased online by visiting sfbf.net/Storybook-Brunch. For more information, call the Burn Foundation at 706-650-BURN (2876).

BRUNCHStorybooksecond annual

Safe Kids Greater Augusta, led by Children’s Hospital of Georgia, works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading killer of children ages 1 to 14. Safe Kids Greater Augusta is a member of the Safe Kids Worldwide & USA network. To fi nd out more about local Safe Kids programs, call 706-721-7606, or visit grhealth.org/safekids. Read the whole article about the new home safety program at www.augustafamily.com.

New Home Safety Program

FRESH FACESIS YOUR CHILD READY FOR THEIR “close up?” If you think you’ve got a “cover kid,” submit their photo and infor-mation on our website and they may grace the cover of Augusta Family Magazine!

SOUTHERN SOUL AND SONG—ENJOY AN EVENING OF BLUEGRASS WITH SAM BUSH. Feb. 13 at the Imperial Theatre.

ROCK FORE DOUGH!EXPERIENCE A MASTERS TRADITION ON US. Register for tickets to the annual Rock Fore Dough! concert Masters week

SYMPHONY OF KITCHENSDREAM KITCHENS. Don’t miss this year’s tour of seven stunning kitchens, March 14. WEST SIDE STORYMODERN DAY ROMEO AND JULIET. The Augusta Players presents the American classic, Feb. 20-21, at the Imperial Theatre.

CONTESTS & GIVEAWAYSGo to www.augustafamily.com and click on the contest page to � nd the contests for February and March including:


>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>

WE’RE ALWAYS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

FOR CHILDREN TO GRACE THE COVER OF

AUGUSTA FAMILY MAGAZINE, BUT IN THE UP

COMING MAY/JUNE ISSUE THE COVER WILL BE

SHARED BY A PARENT AND CHILD. IN HONOR

OF MOTHER’S DAY ON MAY 10 AND FATHER’S

DAY ON JUNE 21 WE’RE HOLDING A PARENT

CHILD “LOOKALIKE” CONTEST.

THE “LOOKALIKES” CAN BE MOTHER/DAUGH

TER, FATHER/DAUGHTER, MOTHER/SON OR

FATHER/SON AND YOU CAN SUBMIT PHOTO

ENTRIES ON THE CONTEST PAGE OF OUR WEB

SITE, WWW.AUGUSTAFAMILY.COM.

>>>>>>>>YOU + YOUR CHILD

ON OUR COVER

CONTEST ENDS MARCH 20 AND THE COVER PHOTO SESSION WILL BE SCHEDULED

FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 13. QUESTIONS? CONTACT OUR EDITOR, KARIN CALLOWAY,

AT KARIN.CALLOWAYAUGUSTAFAMILY.COM.

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRIES TODAY!


For a healthy heart and a happy Valentine’s Day be choosy—about your mate and your chocolate.

Chocolate and romance de�nitely go together. Truth be told, chocolate and everything go together. In fact chocolate is not just for dessert anymore. Vocoa has some great savory culinary uses like the spice rub used in this month’s recipe.

Cocoa powder is a seemingly humble ingredi-ent, but in terms of both �avor and �avanols it packs a powerful punch.

Flavanols, which are found in the cocao bean, are a group of phytochemicals with health bene�ts including heart health.

Chocolate has two main components—cocoa

solids and cocoa butter. �e chocolate that we eat in the bar or candy shape is a combination of cocoa sol-ids, cocoa butter, sugar and additional additives, all of which decrease the �avanol concentration. �erefore chocolate bars with a higher percentage of cocoa sol-ids, such as dark chocolate, will have more �avanols.

To get the most health bene�t, choose choco-lates that are 70 percent or more cocoa and limit your intake to a small square.

Cocoa powder however is primarily cocoa sol-ids (85-90 percent), has no sugar and few calories. Of course, it is not palatable on its own. Some ideas for adding cocoa powder to your diet include mixing it into yogurt, smoothies, oatmeal, co�ee or as in the recipe below, into a spice rub. Enjoy!

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eating well with kim

The Classic Valentine’s Day Combination Can Be Heart-Healthy

KIM BEAVERS is a Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator for University Health Care System. She lives in North Augusta with her husband and two children and she is the co-host of the culinary nutrition segment Eat-ing Well with Kim, which airs at noon Monday, Wednes-day and Friday on WRDW. To join the recipe club or view recipes, visit www.universityhealth.org/ewwk. You can also watch the segments at www.wrdw.com/ewwk.

Cocoa-Spiced Pork Loin Chops with Gravy

The flavors of this rub combine to provide warmth and mellow flavor that easily pair with rice or potatoes

anytime of the year.

Rub: 1 tablespoon chili powder1 tablespoon cocoa powder½ teaspoon ground coffee (extra fine)¼ teaspoon garlic powder¼ teaspoon pepper¼ teaspoon cinnamon1/4 teaspoon salt

Pork:4 center-cut loin chops, trimmed of most fatNon-stick cooking spray1 teaspoon canola oil1 cup onions, diced1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth1 tablespoon cornstarch ¼ cup water

Combine the rub ingredients in a large plastic zip-top bag. Add pork to the bag and coat evenly with rub. Place a non-stick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat and add oil. Once hot, add pork and cook 4-6 minutes on each side until nice and brown. Remove to a plate and tent (cover loosely) with aluminum foil.

Reduce heat to medium. Add onions to the pan and sauté for 30-60 seconds. Add broth and stir to get up all the brown bits. Lastly, combine cornstarch and water, add to the pan and boil for 1 minute or until thick. Add the pork back to the pan, cover and cook until done (2-4 minutes or until 145 degrees on a meat thermometer). Serve gravy with pork.

Yield: 4 servingsNutrition Breakdown: Calories 200, Fat 8g (2.5g saturated fat); Cholesterol 65mg, Sodium 350mg, Carbohydrate 8g, Fiber 2g, Protein 25g.Percent Daily Value: 10% Vitamin A, 8% Iron, 6% Vitamin C, 4% Calcium

CHOCOLATE + ROMANCE

“Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands—and then eat just one of the pieces.” -Judith Viorst

www.augustafamily.comwww.augustafamily.com


doctor dadby J. Ron Eaker, M.D.

HABITSof Highly Healthy People7

Baby boomers like myself remember the perennial bestseller “7 Habits of Highly E�ective People” as the consummate self-help guide and author Dr. Steven Covey

as the lifestyle guru extraordinaire. It spawned a plethora of sound-alike and look-alike tomes that all were based on “7 Somethings.” (7 Rules, 7 Guides, 7 Pillars, 7-Elevens, etc). I always wondered what was so special about “7” other than it sounded bet-ter than “16 Habits of Very Tired People,” but from numerology to the Bible, 7 seemed to have a mysti-cal book-selling ability. So, in honor of 7, I humbly present the “7 Habits of Highly Healthy People.” (To be distinguished from Snoop Dog’s autobiography, “�e 7 Habits of the High and Healthy People.”)

1) They eat moderately and modestly.

�ere is no magic food! Eating kale and bean sprouts all day will make you boring and rabbit-like. Eat a balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates. It really is that simple. Many studies suggest that low-ering the simple sugars and high-glycemic carbo-hydrates (Google it!) will help you lose weight and maintain that loss. Going to extremes in your diet is unhealthy, expensive and will give you bad breath.

Also, eat fewer calories. If you like steak, eat steak…but don’t put two pounds of butter on your potato and keep the dessert under ten pounds. If you have your own private table at Dairy Queen, you need to cut back.

2) They are active.

You don’t have to run a marathon to be healthy. You don’t even have to run at all. (I can’t believe I just said that!) You just have to get up o� the “Couch of Doom” and move. You are designed to be in motion, all your muscles and bones are crying

out to be pampered. A brisk walk or a Zumba class in ridiculous spandex will add years to your life if it is consistently practiced, and, more importantly, your children will be able to make fun of you later when they see your pictures.

3) They laugh at themselves.

�is one is easy for me as my daughters con-tinually provide reasons for me to laugh at myself. �ey are quick to point out I am not as cool as I think I am, which should be obvious as I am still us-ing coolness as a human trait. Taking yourself and your horrible, stress-�lled life too seriously leads to physical and emotional stagnation. �at doesn’t mean that a laissez faire attitude at all times is opti-mal, but lighten up to add years to your plight. Who knows…things could get better.

4) They join stuff.

Dan Buettner famously pointed out in his in-spiring book on longevity, “�e Blue Zones,” that people who live the longest tend to be social ani-mals. �ey participate, whether it’s social clubs, scooter races, jello-wrestling or nude skydiving. People who continually engage tend to be healthier and live longer. �is must be tempered by a heavy dose of common sense, as joining a Justin Bieber fan club will immediately result in brain atrophy.

5) They are religious.

�is one surprised me, given the whole martyr thing, but people who attend some form of religious service once a week tend to be healthier, as a group, than those who stay at home and do secular human-ist things. No one religion has a monopoly on this characteristic (sorry Rev. Osteen) but it seems having

faith, practicing your beliefs and living by the creeds of your particular orthodoxy has a bene�cial e�ect on health. �at is assuming you are not a devotee of the Crusades or a militant extremists, as their lifespans tend to be about as long as a Kardashian marriage.

6) They de-stress.

Stress kills. From hypertension to depression, daily stress can put more holes in your body than whiskers on a gerbil…and that’s a lot by the way. Some studies have shown that up to 70 percent of visits to primary care doctors are due to stress. If Obamacare (aka the A�ordable Health Care Act) would get rid of stress it might even work. Unfortu-nately, it seems to be having just the opposite e�ect.

�ere are a number of ways to minimize stress and none start with X A N A X. Flower arranging, counseling, exercise, yoga, meditation, hunting, full-contact karate and attending city council meet-ings are just a few stress-relieving activities avail-able to the general public.

7) They serve others.

Volunteerism confers as much health bene�t as a daily vitamin and generally costs less and won’t constipate you. �e data is conclusive, if you focus on the needs of others and help them meet those needs, you will improve your health. You will be bet-ter psychologically, physically, people will like you and dogs will lick your face. Believe me, no matter how miserable and decrepit your life is, someone, somewhere has it much worse and it behooves you and the universe to �nd that person and help make their life just a bit more tolerable. v

Dr. Eaker is an Augusta Ob/GYN and author. He and his wife, Susan, have two daughters in college.

I started back working part-time two years ago a�er a 11½-year “hiatus.” It was the opportu-nity I had been looking for—VERY part time. I drop the girls o� at school in the morning,

go to work and pick them up each a�ernoon at car-pool—three days a week. I thought, “No problem, I can do this.”

Well, we also had just moved into a new home and my oldest started middle school. Just a few life changes. Needless to say, I felt like I was losing it. My house was in shambles, we were all trying to adjust and I was failing at dinner time. I did �nd a new best friend—my crock-pot—and ways to really plan ahead to make mealtime a little smoother for all of us. Here are some tips:

Plan Your MealsUsually on Saturday or Sunday, I get out my calendar and look at the school and work-week

ahead, taking into account extracurricular activities, sports games and practices. I begin my meal plan for each day, asking for input from the kids. �en, I make my grocery list according the meal plan.

If I’m working on Monday and someone has prac-tice or a game around dinnertime, I put together a crock-pot recipe of some sort. �at way, if we are

going in �ve di�erent directions, we can eat when-ever we get home.

Prepare Meals Ahead of TimeMaking meals ahead of time and freezing them is a great idea. I do this a lot with lasagnas, spa-

ghetti sauces and chicken. (�e issue comes with re-membering to defrost them, but that is for a di�erent article.) Also, if you go to the store on Sunday, take this day to wash your fruit and vegetables and cut up any-thing that can be stored in a zip-top plastic bag or con-tainer for an upcoming supper. “Place in a zip-closed bags, label the date the meal is for and freeze,” suggests blogger Sarah Brooks of sheknows.com. “�is works well for stir-fry, soups and casseroles.”

I also sometimes make a soup on Sunday that can be stored overnight in the fridge and reheated the next day. Everyone knows soups and chili are better the next day anyway!

Use Fresh Produce & Meat Early in the WeekEveryone wants to eat healthy meals, even dur-ing an extremely busy week. �e key is for the

produce and meat to not sit in the fridge all week and go bad. So, when planning meals, use these items early on in the week to maintain taste and freshness.


smartMom’sguideby Cammie Jones

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Meal PLANNING

Also, serve fruit with each meal, especially if it is a type that won’t last all week. It bulks up your menu and is healthy for your family.

Use Your FreezerMaybe not as healthy but I do keep some ran-dom pizzas or chicken nuggets in the freezer

for those crazy o�-nights when supper just doesn’t happen. Serve with a veggie or fruit from the fridge and dinner is served!

Also, any meals you have made and frozen ahead of time can usually be thawed out the day of and heated up for dinner.

Be FlexibleRaquel Pelzel, food writer and blogger at “Raq in the Kitchen,” suggests planning three to four

meals a week and keeping the others as impromptu dinners. “I save one or two meals for ‘inspired’ cre-ations—those times I am passing a farmer’s market

and get romanced by a gorgeous head of broccoli or some pristine day-boat sea bass!” Now, that might not happen here, but you get the idea. Maybe you’re at the grocery midweek for the coffee you just ran out of (a definite emer-gency in my house) and see a great deal on pork tenderloin or type of fresh fish. You’ve left some flexibility in the meal plan for the week so buy and enjoy it. You might just find your family’s new favorite meal.

Keep an Emergency Pantry Meal on HandI’ve found myself many times just staring in my pantry trying to find something to

cook for supper. Keep things in the pantry that you can whip up in just a few minutes—lentils and pasta are great to use for a quick meal. Toss in some leftover chicken or turkey sausage (we love the already cooked Jimmy Dean turkey crumbled sausage in the bag), an onion, other seasonings, a

can of tomatoes and you’re in business.

Don’t CookThis doesn’t necessarily mean go through the fast food drive-thru. Serve the kids

cereal and fruit or put out a plate of cheese and crackers. Make it more of a picnic type meal. Have sandwich meat in the house? Make a turkey or ham sandwich.

Eat Out Once a WeekMy girls think eating out during the week is such a treat. If time doesn’t allow you to actu-

ally go to the restaurant, pick up the food and eat it at home. We have our favorite take-out places that the whole family enjoys. It takes the burden o� of me and makes everyone happy. Sometimes a busy week needs a little fun. v


Cammie Jones is an Augusta freelance writer and mother of three.

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Party Time!

BIRTHDAY



BESTBIRTHDAY

BASHES!

LLocal entertainment and party venues abound in Augusta. Whether you want to plan it your-

self or rely on an experienced expert, Augusta Family Magazine’s ultimate party guide puts

information at your fi ngertips.

BY LUCY ADAMS

OUR GUIDE TO PARTY PLACES THROUGHOUT THE CSRA

BESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBESTBIRTHDAY

BASHES!


BESTBIRTHDAY

BASHES!

MOVE AND GROOVE!

Adventure Crossingwww.adventure-crossing.com.706-863-3087.4350 Wheeler Rd., Martinez. Packages start at $159.90 plus tax for the fi rst 10 children, minimum; $13.99 for each additional party participant.

Includes:• Private party room for one hour.• Pizza or hot dogs/fries.• Drinks.• Paper products and basic decorations.• Party set-up and party guide.• Indoor and outdoor entertainment activities:

Go-carts for ages 5-75, midway rides, 36 holes of mini-golf or batting cages. Play inside their 6,210-square-foot Lasertron laser tag area and ar-cade of fun.

Augusta Jewish Community Centerwww.augustajcc.org.706-228-3636.898 Weinberger Way, Evans. Rent a banquet room starting at $300 for 6+ hours, the pool for $225 for 2 hours ($75 for each addition-al hour) or the entire facility, including tennis courts, baseball and soccer fi elds and the basketball court, for $1500 for 10 hours. Pool rental and entire facility rental includes two lifeguards for up to 25 swimmers. Additional lifeguards are required for greater than 25 swimmers, at $15 per hour.

Hoppy Feed Fun Center701 Devika Dr., Suite 8, Grovetown.706-755-2619.http://www.hoppyfeet.com/. Hoppy Feet Infl atables is a family owned and oper-ated indoor fun center and infl atable rental company in Grovetown—licensed and fully insured to provide your children with a safe environment for play. Of-fering great party packages and infl atable rentals at a reasonable price. Call for details.

Jump Citywww.jumpcity.us orhttp://www.augustamoonwalks.com.706-262-4653.4446 Washington Rd., Suite 7, Evans. Jump city delivers the party to your backyard. Rent infl atable slides, bounce houses, obstacle courses and water slides beginning at $140, depending on the apparatus. Up the fun with an Sumo suits ($155), a

dunk tank ($150), a rock wall (call for quote), a pop-corn machine ($50), a sno-cone machine ($50) or a cotton candy machine ($50). Tables and chairs, gen-erators, infl atable movie screens and sound systems are also available.

Jumpin’ Beans In� atables, Inc.http://jumpinaugusta.net.803-279-6333.1746 Knox Ave., N. Augusta. Plan a party at their inside facility or have them deliver (within a 125 mile radius) the fun to your home. Infl atable rentals begin at $110. A trackless train, rock wall, dunk tank and more are available to round out the party atmosphere. Call for or visit the website for details. Parent brings the cake and ice cream.

Basic Indoor Party Includes:• Unlimited play on infl atables, cosmic mini-golf,

zip line and bungee jump.• 1 ½ hour in the party room.• Party attendant.• Pizza and drinks.• Paper products.• Picture of the birthday child in the birthday chair.

Jump’n Jitterbugshttps://www.facebook.com/JumpinJitterbugs.803-571-9001.North Augusta. Rent infl atable bounce houses, water slides and com-bo units. Free delivery and set up. Call for pricing.

Monkey Joe’swww.monkeyjoes.com.706-922-JUMP(5867).368 Furys Ferry Rd., Suite 2, Martinez. Choose from a theme or standard party package accommodating up to 24 children ages 12 and un-der. Party prices range from $174 to $294, depending on the number of children and the day of the week. Make it a theme party for an additional $50. Optional add-ons include balloons, goody bags and ice cream. Additional guests are $10 each.

Includes:• 2 hours in a private party suite.• Dedicated party pro.• Drinks.• Paper products.• Invitations.• Gift for the birthday child.• Pizza.• Bring your own cake.

• Socks are required.

Family Y of Aiken Countywww.thefamilyy.org.803-349-8080.621 Trolley Line Rd., Graniteville, S.C. Indoor parties are available on Saturdays for chil-dren ages 2+. Younger children will enjoy the soft-play room. Children ages 5+ will want to party in the game room with X-box system, art station and more. For a 2-hour party, members pay $125; non-members pay $175. Plus $50 deposit. Outdoor parties in the water park, available season-ally, include1 hour of water park play and 1 hour in the party room for 1-20 guests. For non-private par-ties, members pay $250 and non-members pay $300. Rent the water park for a 2-hour private party: Mem-bers pay $300; non-members pay $350. Whether celebrating indoors or out, parents supply cake, food and drinks.

Family Y—Wilson Branchwww.thefamilyy.org.706-922-9615.3570 Wheeler Rd., Augusta. Fees for 2-hour Clubhouse party are $150 for mem-bers, $200 non-members for up to 50 guests. Fam-ily Adventure Center Parties are $200 for members, $250 for non-members for up to 21 children. Addi-tional children are $5 each. Parent supplies cake and ice cream.

Clubhouse Parties with Play in the Two-Story Tree house Include:• Birthday games upon request.• Infl atable fun.• 2 party assistants.• Invitations.

Family Adventure Center Parties Include:• Rock-climbing wall.• Infl atable fun.• Tumbling area fun.• 2 party assistants.• Invitations.

Family Y—Wilson Branch Indoor Pool and Water [email protected] Wheeler Rd., Augusta. Fees for 2-hour non-private pool parties are $100 for members, $150 for non-members. Fees for pri-vate indoor pool parties are $150 for members,

• Socks are required.

Family Y of Aiken Countywww.thefamilyy.org.803-349-8080.621 Trolley Line Rd., Graniteville, S.C. Indoor parties are available on Saturdays for chil-dren ages 2+. Younger children will enjoy the soft-dren ages 2+. Younger children will enjoy the soft-play room. Children ages 5+ will want to party in the game room with X-box system, art station and more. For a 2-hour party, members pay $125; non-members pay $175. Plus $50 deposit. Outdoor parties in the water park, available season-ally, include1 hour of water park play and 1 hour in the party room for 1-20 guests. For non-private par-ties, members pay $250 and non-members pay $300. Rent the water park for a 2-hour private party: Mem-bers pay $300; non-members pay $350. Whether celebrating indoors or out, parents supply cake, food and drinks.

Family Y—Wilson Branchwww.thefamilyy.org.706-922-9615.3570 Wheeler Rd., Augusta. Fees for 2-hour Clubhouse party are $150 for mem-bers, $200 non-members for up to 50 guests. Fam-ily Adventure Center Parties are $200 for members, $250 for non-members for up to 21 children. Addi-tional children are $5 each. Parent supplies cake and ice cream.

Clubhouse Parties with Play in the Two-Story Tree house Include:• Birthday games upon request.• Infl atable fun.• 2 party assistants.• Invitations.

Family Adventure Center Parties Include:• Rock-climbing wall.• Infl atable fun.• Tumbling area fun.• 2 party assistants.• Invitations.

Family Y—Wilson Branch Indoor Pool and Water [email protected] Wheeler Rd., Augusta. Fees for 2-hour non-private pool parties are $100 for members, $150 for non-members. Fees for pri-vate indoor pool parties are $150 for members,

dunk tank ($150), a rock wall (call for quote), a pop-corn machine ($50), a sno-cone machine ($50) or a corn machine ($50), a sno-cone machine ($50) or a cotton candy machine ($50). Tables and chairs, gen-erators, infl atable movie screens and sound systems are also available.

Jumpin’ Beans In� atables, Inc.http://jumpinaugusta.net.803-279-6333.1746 Knox Ave., N. Augusta. Plan a party at their inside facility or have them deliver (within a 125 mile radius) the fun to your home. Infl atable rentals begin at $110. A trackless train, rock wall, dunk tank and more are available to round out the party atmosphere. Call for or visit the website for details. Parent brings the cake and ice cream.

Basic Indoor Party Includes:• Unlimited play on infl atables, cosmic mini-golf,

• 1 ½ hour in the party room.• Party attendant.• Pizza and drinks.• Paper products.• Picture of the birthday child in the birthday chair.

Jump’n Jitterbugshttps://www.facebook.com/JumpinJitterbugs.803-571-9001.North Augusta. Rent infl atable bounce houses, water slides and com-bo units. Free delivery and set up. Call for pricing.

Monkey Joe’swww.monkeyjoes.com.706-922-JUMP(5867).368 Furys Ferry Rd., Suite 2, Martinez. Choose from a theme or standard party package accommodating up to 24 children ages 12 and un-der. Party prices range from $174 to $294, depending on the number of children and the day of the week. Make it a theme party for an additional $50. Optional add-ons include balloons, goody bags and ice cream. Additional guests are $10 each.

Includes:• 2 hours in a private party suite.• Dedicated party pro.• Drinks.• Paper products.• Invitations.• Gift for the birthday child.• Pizza.• Bring your own cake.


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$200 for non-members and last 3 hours. Outdoor water park parties are seasonal and with non-private party rates of $175 for members and $225 for non-members. Private parties in the water park are $250 for members and $300 for non-members and last 3 hours. Prices are for 51 children and each additional child is $5. In-door non-private parties have a max of 26 swimmers. Parents supply cake, ice cream and decorations.

Pool and Water Park Parties Include:• Invitations.• Pool time/party time in private room.• Lifeguard.• Music by request.

Marshall Family Ywww.thefamilyy.org.706-364-3269.1202 Town Park Lane, Evans. Children ages 3-12 can have a birthday party at the Marshall Family Y on Saturdays between the hours of 12:30-3:30 p.m. or on Sundays between the hours of 1:30-4 p.m. Younger kids will enjoy the soft-play room. Older kids will like the Kids Club House stocked with video games and a foos-ball table. Members pay $100 for 2 hours of fun with 1-25 guests. Non-members pay $125. A $25 deposit holds the party date. Parents supply cake, food and games if desired.

Parties Include:• 2 attendants to help set up, clean up and supervise.• A separate room for food, presents and cake.

The Salvation Army Kroc Centerhttp://salvationarmyaugusta.org/kroc-center/kids-family/birthday-parties/.706-922-1533.1833 Broad St., Augusta. Party like a Kroc star in the gym or the indoor pool. Party packages start at $225 for up to 20 guests and $330 for up to 40 guests for 2 hours. Reserve your party day and time with a $50 deposit. Al la carte options for an additional charge include food, bever-age, themed packages and extra space.

All Parties Include:• A party planner (2 hours).• Party room.• T-shirt for birthday child.• Invitations.• Paper products.• Lemonade.• Cupcakes.

• Plates and utensils.

PLENTY OF PAMPERING

Tiaras & Pearlswww.tiarasandpearls.net229 Furys Ferry Rd., Suite 113.706-922-7721.NEW LOCATION COMING SOON!

Princess Party:• Up to 2 hours for eight girls (this number includes

the birthday girl).• Mini Manicure/Mini Pedicure.• Spa robes provided while receiving services.• Runway—choice of princess dress or tutu. • 8 standard invitations. Additional invitations are

$.50 each.• Toast to the birthday girl.• Photos of the party on a DVD.• All parties are expected to start at its scheduled time,

otherwise, a $35 late fee will be added to your total• Additional girls are $30 each.

Glamorous Party:Additional girls are $40 each. In addition to the Prin-cess Party package this party includes:

• Party lasts up to 2 1/2 hours.• Makeup application/princess face painting.

Enchanted Party: Additional girls are $50 each. In addition to the stan-dard party package this party includes:

• Makeup application/princess face painting. • Special goodie bag for the Birthday Girl. • Karaoke. • Includes fl atware, plates, and cups.

The Royal Treatment Party: Additional girls are $50 each. In addition to the stan-dard party package, this party includes:

• A Tiaras & Pearls Princess that will accompany your princess in a limousine to deliver up to eight invitations to her guests.

• Makeup application/princess face painting.

The Spa-Jama Party (Especially for Tweens—Friday nights only):

Tweens come dressed in your favorite PJs, bring blanket and pillow. This party can only be booked on Friday nights, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Party Duration: Up to 4 hours. Party to accommodate 10 tweens (thi-

includes the birthday girl). Additional girls are $50 each. In addition to the standard party package this party includes:

• Make-up.• Tattoo.• Magazines.• Signature Drink. • 2 Large, 1-topping pizzas.• Popcorn.• Dancing. • Karaoke. • PG-Rated Movie (Birthday Princess’ choice). • LOTS of girl talk!

Other packages available (call for information):• T&P BFF Package (on the go). • Tiaras & Pearls Package. • Tiaras & Pearls Ultimate Package. • A la carte Services.

HORSE AROUND

Hilltop Riding Stableswww.fortgordon.com.706-791-4864.N. Range Rd., Building 508, Fort Gordon. Party fees are $220-sponsored or $250-unspon-sored. Available party times are 10 a.m.-noon or 2-4 p.m. Reservations must be made in advance. Parent provides cake, food and drinks.

Includes:• 4 ponies on a carousel for 1 hour (for ages 6 and

under) or 4 1-hour guided trail rides (for ages 7 and up). Extra horses available for $23 each. Extra ponies available for $11 each.

• Tablecloths.• Balloons and streamers.• Party room.• Picnic areas, some with grills.

Graystone Ranch and Wildlife Education Centerhttp://www.graystoneranch.com/.706-360-0808.1017 McManus Rd., Hephzibah. My First Pony Parties are a fantastic introduction to horsemanship for children up to age 10. Larger ponies and horses are also available. The Gray-stone animal experts will assist children in riding saddled ponies and horses. Other saddled animals are also available. $225 for 1 hour. Lots of party packages from which to choose. Visit their website for more details.

includes the birthday girl). Additional girls are $50 each. In addition to the standard party package this party includes:

• Make-up.• Tattoo.• Magazines.• Signature Drink. • 2 Large, 1-topping pizzas.• Popcorn.• Dancing. • Karaoke. • PG-Rated Movie (Birthday Princess’ choice). • LOTS of girl talk!

Other packages available (call for information):• T&P BFF Package (on the go). • Tiaras & Pearls Package. • Tiaras & Pearls Ultimate Package. • A la carte Services.

Hilltop Riding Stableswww.fortgordon.com.706-791-4864.N. Range Rd., Building 508, Fort Gordon. Party fees are $220-sponsored or $250-unspon-sored. Available party times are 10 a.m.-noon or 2-4 p.m. Reservations must be made in advance. Parent provides cake, food and drinks.

Includes:• 4 ponies on a carousel for 1 hour (for ages 6 and

• Tablecloths.• Balloons and streamers.• Party room.• Picnic areas, some with grills.

Graystone Ranch and Wildlife Education Centerhttp://www.graystoneranch.com/.706-360-0808.1017 McManus Rd., Hephzibah. My First Pony Parties are a fantastic introduction to horsemanship for children up to age 10. Larger ponies and horses are also available. The Gray-stone animal experts will assist children in riding saddled ponies and horses. Other saddled animals are also available. $225 for 1 hour. Lots of party packages from which to choose. Visit their website for more details.

• Plates and utensils.

Tiaras & Pearlswww.tiarasandpearls.net229 Furys Ferry Rd., Suite 113.706-922-7721.NEW LOCATION COMING SOON!NEW LOCATION COMING SOON!

Princess Party:• Up to 2 hours for eight girls (this number includes

• Mini Manicure/Mini Pedicure.• Spa robes provided while receiving services.• Runway—choice of princess dress or tutu. • 8 standard invitations. Additional invitations are

• Toast to the birthday girl.• Photos of the party on a DVD.• All parties are expected to start at its scheduled time,

• Additional girls are $30 each.

Glamorous Party:Additional girls are $40 each. In addition to the Prin-cess Party package this party includes:

• Party lasts up to 2 1/2 hours.• Makeup application/princess face painting.

Enchanted Party: Additional girls are $50 each. In addition to the stan-dard party package this party includes:

• Makeup application/princess face painting. • Special goodie bag for the Birthday Girl. • Karaoke. • Includes fl atware, plates, and cups.

The Royal Treatment Party: Additional girls are $50 each. In addition to the stan-dard party package, this party includes:

• A Tiaras & Pearls Princess that will accompany

• Makeup application/princess face painting.

The Spa-Jama Party (Especially for Tweens—

Tweens come dressed in your favorite PJs, bring blanket and pillow. This party can only be booked on Friday nights, 7:30-11:30 p.m. Party Duration: Up to 4 hours. Party to accommodate 10 tweens (thi-


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Hidden Forrest Equestrian Centerhttp://hiddenforrest.net/.706-825-6216.1333 Jackson Rd., Augusta. Pony parties for ages 4 and up with up to 8 children. Parties start at $200 and include pony rides, games, use of the entire facility and an area for cutting the cake. Parents provide cake, food, paper products and other party supplies.

Almost Heaven Stableshttp://almostheavenstables.com/.803-663-3001.220 Golf Course Rd., Warrenville, S.C. Within minutes of Aiken. Staff hand-leads 2 horses in the large arena for 1 hour. Then you can stay and enjoy the picnic area for an additional 2 hours. Picnic area has covered shelter, grill, fi re pit, wood provided for fi re pit, ping pong, basketball, volleyball, horse-shoes, sand box and restroom. $150.

MAKE & CREATE

Build-A-Bear Workshopwww.buildabear.com.706-736-0895.Augusta Mall, 3450 Wrightsboro Rd. Each guest makes his or her own stuffed animal friend. Party pricing starts at $12 per guest. Six guest minimum. The party leader makes sure kids have fun while staying within your pre-set budget. Parties last 1-1½ hours.

Includes:• A party leader.• Party photo.• Printable invitations and thank you cards.• Party favor for each guest.

Delightful Bites Cakerywww.delightfulbitescakery.com.events@delightfulbitescakery.com 706-294-5067.3801-C Washington Rd., Augusta. Celebrate in style at Delightful Bites! Our Party coordinators will work with you to ensure that your CUSTOM party will be complete with all the details covered so that your group will have a blast. All par-ties are hands-on participation and are all-inclusive. Parties last approximately 1 1/2 hours and are $25/child (8 children minimum), additional children at a reduced rate of $15/child. Extended parties are available upon request.

Included with every party package:• Personalized invitations for your party.

• 2 hosts/hostesses to ensure fun and safety for your group.

• Decorating activity—Choose from several that are age-appropriate for your group. All ingredi-ents and decorating tools needed are included.

• A custom birthday cake and punch for the guests.• All participants will receive a small goodie bag

fi lled with age-appropriate favors and a free cup-cake card to use at the Cakery.

• Snacks for adults. Parties are designed to be drop-off events, however parents are welcome to get involved with their kids, or linger in the cozy con-sulting room.

Parties for ages 4 to 2nd grade:• Choose one of the following activities: Cookie

decorating, cupcake decorating or candy making.

Parties for grades 2-4:• Choose one of the following activities: Cookie

decorating, cupcake decorating, candy making, cake pops, or assembling and decorating six-inch cakes (additional $5 per child).

Parties for ages 10 and up:• Choose one of the following activities: Cookie

decorating, cupcake decorating, candy making, cake pops, assembling and decorating six-inch cakes (additional $5 per child) or “Cupcake Wars” (additional $5 per child).

Extended Parties for ages 10 and up:• Cupcake Wars Ultimate: Teams bake and decorate

their own cupcakes using secret ingredients and then present them to be judged by the hosts and your birthday child.

• Or Choose Two: Cookie decorating, cupcake dec-orating, candy making, cake pops, assembling and decorating six-inch cakes (additional $5 per child) or “Cupcake Wars” (additional $5 per child).

Add-Ons:• Delightful Bites catered lunch or dinner (price is

based on selections).

My Best Friend’s Sewing Roomhttps://www.facebook.com/mybestfriendssewingroom 706-993-8819.3850 Washington Rd., Suite 4C. Two-hour sewing parties for children’s birth-days, with enough time to sew a simple project and enjoy cake and beverages. The birthday child and guests complete a simple sewing project. Parents supply cake and beverages. Children ages nine and up machine sew a pillow, a drawstring backpack or a small tote bag. They learn how to pin, make

a straight stitch and are guided in using an iron. Children ages 7-8 stuff a plush animal and use hand sewing to make stitches and sew on buttons. Ask about other options. $240 for 8 children mini-mum (they can take up to 10 at their discretion). A $100 nonrefundable deposit is required to reserve date. The party must be paid in full 5 days before the party date.

Parties Include:• Sewing supplies and sewing machines.• Sewing instruction.• Invitations.• Paper products.• Decorations.• Drawing for a prize.

Michaelshttp://www.michaels.com/.706-738-9330.211 Robert C Daniel Pkwy. Book a party for a crafty kid and up to 10 guests. Cost is $50 plus the cost of project supplies for each child. Cost of supplies varies according to the craft project selected for the party. The party includes a decorated room, paper products and the assistance of a store as-sociate for two hours. All the clean-up is done for you, too. Parent brings food, cake and drinks. Reserve your child’s party at least one week in advance.

Smocks Art [email protected] McClure Drive, Augusta A Smocks art party is a unique way to celebrate your child! Choose your favorite artwork from our collection, and let Smocks take care of all of the planning, prep, entertaining, and clean up while your child and their closest friends have a blast cre-ating their own painting (the ultimate party favor!) All you need to do is provide the cake & beverages. Birthday parties are scheduled on Fridays and Sat-urdays for children turning 6 or older and last 2.5-3 hours. Parties are held at our home studio. Package A: 12x12 or 11x14 gallery wrapped canvas (2.5hour party) $310 for 9 children. Package B: 16x20 gallery wrapped canvas (3 hour party) $340 for 9 children. Add up to 2 additional children for $20 each.

Both packages include: • Personalized party invitations.• Thank you notes.• Coordinating paper plates, napkins, spoons.• All art supplies.• Party decorations.• Birthday gift (11x14 personalized canvas).

a straight stitch and are guided in using an iron. Children ages 7-8 stuff a plush animal and use hand sewing to make stitches and sew on buttons. Ask about other options. $240 for 8 children mini-mum (they can take up to 10 at their discretion). A $100 nonrefundable deposit is required to reserve date. The party must be paid in full 5 days before the party date.

Parties Include:• Sewing supplies and sewing machines.• Sewing instruction.• Invitations.• Paper products.• Decorations.• Drawing for a prize.

Michaelshttp://www.michaels.com/.706-738-9330.211 Robert C Daniel Pkwy. Book a party for a crafty kid and up to 10 guests. Cost is $50 plus the cost of project supplies for each child. Cost of supplies varies according to the craft project selected for the party. The party includes a decorated room, paper products and the assistance of a store as-sociate for two hours. All the clean-up is done for you, too. Parent brings food, cake and drinks. Reserve your child’s party at least one week in advance.

Smocks Art [email protected] McClure Drive, Augusta A Smocks art party is a unique way to celebrate your child! Choose your favorite artwork from our collection, and let Smocks take care of all of the planning, prep, entertaining, and clean up while your child and their closest friends have a blast cre-ating their own painting (the ultimate party favor!) All you need to do is provide the cake & beverages. Birthday parties are scheduled on Fridays and Sat-urdays for children turning 6 or older and last 2.5-3 hours. Parties are held at our home studio. Package A: 12x12 or 11x14 gallery wrapped canvas (2.5hour party) $310 for 9 children. Package B: 16x20 gallery wrapped canvas (3 hour party) $340 for 9 children. Add up to 2 additional children for $20 each.

Both packages include: • Personalized party invitations.• Thank you notes.• Coordinating paper plates, napkins, spoons.• All art supplies.• Party decorations.• Birthday gift (11x14 personalized canvas).

• 2 hosts/hostesses to ensure fun and safety for

• Decorating activity—Choose from several that

• A custom birthday cake and punch for the guests.• All participants will receive a small goodie bag

• Snacks for adults. Parties are designed to be drop-

Parties for ages 4 to 2nd grade:• Choose one of the following activities: Cookie

Parties for grades 2-4:• Choose one of the following activities: Cookie

Parties for ages 10 and up:• Choose one of the following activities: Cookie

Extended Parties for ages 10 and up:• Cupcake Wars Ultimate: Teams bake and decorate

• Or Choose Two: Cookie decorating, cupcake dec-

Add-Ons:• Delightful Bites catered lunch or dinner (price is

My Best Friend’s Sewing Roomhttps://www.facebook.com/mybestfriendssewingroom 706-993-8819.3850 Washington Rd., Suite 4C. Two-hour sewing parties for children’s birth-days, with enough time to sew a simple project and enjoy cake and beverages. The birthday child and guests complete a simple sewing project. Parents supply cake and beverages. Children ages nine and up machine sew a pillow, a drawstring backpack or a small tote bag. They learn how to pin, make


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• Balloons.• Photographs of the party.• 2 hours of step-by-step instruction by owner, Jen-

nifer Rucker.• 30 min allotted for cake and presents.

Artsy Mehttp://artsymestudio.com/[email protected] Washington Rd., Evans.706-432-6396. Birthday parties for kids ages 5 and up with a mini-mum of six children for 1 ½ hours. A $40 deposit se-cures the date. Parents bring food, drinks and paper products. Party room holds up to 20 people.

Choose from a variety of party packages:• Artsy Party includes a ceramic plate, mug, bowl or

critter for each child to paint and is $18 per child.• Extra Artsy Party includes a plaque, bank or keep-

sake box for each child to paint and is $20 per child.• At the Canvas Celebration Party each child cre-

ates an 11×14 canvas with acrylic paints ($20 per child). An Artsy Me staff member walks each child through creating a masterpiece.

• The Glass Galore Party opens the world of glass fusing while creating a 6” glass-fused sun catcher or plaque for children ages 8 and up, $25 per child.

Little Dippers Painting Partieshttp://sip-and-dip.com. 706-699-4449, Haley Tam. Each child creates his or her own masterpiece in a fun, step-by-step painting class. All supplies are included. Parties last 1 ½-2 hours. Birthday girl or boy may choose the painting from the gallery on the website. Ages 5 and up. Free printable invitation. Adult supervision required for children under the age of 5. Three canvas sizes available: $35/child for a 16”x20” canvas (5 person minimum), $25/child for a 12”x16” canvas (6 person minimum) and $15/child for a 9”x12” canvas (10 person minimum). Party may be held at a location of your choice or at the MAC on Main Art Gallery in Thomson, Ga., for no extra cost. A $50 deposit is due two weeks prior to the event.

Arty Party of Augustawww.artypartyfun.com. [email protected]. 706-267-8453. Plan an Arty Party at your home or the venue of your choice. Basic face painting is $85 for one hour or $65 per hour for two or more hours. Henna par-ties appeal to teens and are $125 per hour per art-

ists. Canvas parties are $30 per child for the fi rst 10 children and $15 for each additional guest. A 50% deposit reserves your party. Check the website for other Arty options and party ideas.

Van Gogh and Vino110 Pleasant Home Rd., Suite 2-B.Le Pavilion Shopping Center.706-284-6649.VanGoghandVino.com. Kids Painting Parties are fun, educational and an exciting new way for your child to be creative. “Mini Vinnie” Parties (Ages 6-14) Cost for parties: $150 deposit required to reserve the date. Balance due at time of event. $275 covers up to 9 painters. Each additional painter is $25. “Mini Vinnie” parties are scheduled on Saturday’s from 10am-noon, 1:30-3:30pm or Sunday from 2-4 p.m.

Parties include:• A theme-specifi c painting for your party (with

three weeks advanced notice).• All the painting materials, art instruction and fun!

GET IN THE GAME!

Skateland of Augustahttp://www.skatelandofaugusta.com/Parties.htm.706-796-4048.2451 Windsor Spring Rd., Augusta. They take care of everything but the cake, with sev-eral party packages from which to choose. No charge for non-skating parents. Choose from options to have party during public session, on a weekend or night, or a private party.

Basic party (public session) includes ($130):• 10 children, $8 each additional child.• Ice cream cup for each child.• Unlimited soda.• Birthday child receives a t-shirt, speed skate rental,

free pass for future visit.• Free skate rentals for guests.• Party table area, paper goods, table cloth and bal-

loons. 50 minutes in party area.• Invitations.• Dedicated party hostess.• Parents of birthday child skate free.• Make it a hotdog or pizza skate party for an ad-

ditional charge.

Super Duper (public session) Party ($260):• 10 children, $11 each additional child.• Everything in the basic party plus two large single

topping pizzas.• 10 glow products.

• One pair of GTX-500 speed skates for the birth-day child.

Brunswick National Laneshttp://www.bowlbrunswick.com.706-860-1668.3067 Washington Road, Augusta. Choose the Birthday Party KidZ package for a birthday celebration with bowling, pizza, soft drinks and more! Or, provide your guests with MEGA fun at a MEGA value with our MEGA Birthday Party KidZ package - including extra goodies for the guests and a keepsake signature bowling pin for the birthday kid that the guests can sign.

Gordon Lanes Bowling Centerhttp://www.fortgordon.com/programs/leisure/ac-tivities/gordon-lanes. 706-791-3446.Bldg. 33200, 3rd Ave., Fort Gordon. Bowlopolis Birthday Parties includes 1 hour of bowling and 1 hour in the party room, shoe rental, choice of 3 meals and treat bag. $11 per child (mini-mum of 10 children).

Augusta Aquatics Centerhttp://www.augustaga.gov.706-261-0424.3157 Damascus Rd., Augusta. Parties are held on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon for children ages 12 and under. $150 fee includes admission for up to 20 swimmers. Call to make reservations.

Includes:• Party room.• Beverages.• Paper products.• Goodie bags.• Display board message for birthday child.

Premiere Martial Artswww.hensleypma.com.803-640-8443.401 West Martintown Rd., North Augusta.706-432-6963.701 Devika Dr., Grovetown. Email at [email protected]. Qualifi ed martial arts instructors at Premier Martial Arts will lead the children in games, activities, and a safe karate lesson. There will be plenty of time for cake and ice cream. Parents can sit back and watch the fun and action, or they can have and participate in all the activities themselves! They accommodate any size party from 5 guests to 50. Parties last 1 ½ hours. The fee is $195. They also can offer appearances by any and all 4 of the ninja turtles or Panda. The fee

• One pair of GTX-500 speed skates for the birth-

Brunswick National Laneshttp://www.bowlbrunswick.com.706-860-1668.3067 Washington Road, Augusta. Choose the Birthday Party KidZ package for a birthday celebration with bowling, pizza, soft drinks and more! Or, provide your guests with MEGA fun at a MEGA value with our MEGA Birthday Party KidZ package - including extra goodies for the guests and a keepsake signature bowling pin for the birthday kid that the guests can sign.

Gordon Lanes Bowling Centerhttp://www.fortgordon.com/programs/leisure/ac-tivities/gordon-lanes. 706-791-3446.Bldg. 33200, 3rd Ave., Fort Gordon. Bowlopolis Birthday Parties includes 1 hour of bowling and 1 hour in the party room, shoe rental, choice of 3 meals and treat bag. $11 per child (mini-mum of 10 children).

Augusta Aquatics Centerhttp://www.augustaga.gov.706-261-0424.3157 Damascus Rd., Augusta. Parties are held on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-noon for children ages 12 and under. $150 fee includes admission for up to 20 swimmers. Call to make reservations.

Includes:• Party room.• Beverages.• Paper products.• Goodie bags.• Display board message for birthday child.

Premiere Martial Artswww.hensleypma.com.803-640-8443.401 West Martintown Rd., North Augusta.706-432-6963.701 Devika Dr., Grovetown. Email at [email protected]. Qualifi ed martial arts instructors at Premier Martial Arts will lead the children in games, activities, and a safe karate lesson. There will be plenty of time for cake and ice cream. Parents can sit back and watch the fun and action, or they can have and participate in all the activities themselves! They accommodate any size party from 5 guests to 50. Parties last 1 ½ hours. The fee is $195. They also can offer appearances by any and all 4 of the ninja turtles or Panda. The fee

ists. Canvas parties are $30 per child for the fi rst 10 children and $15 for each additional guest. A 50% deposit reserves your party. Check the website for other Arty options and party ideas.

Van Gogh and Vino110 Pleasant Home Rd., Suite 2-B.Le Pavilion Shopping Center.706-284-6649.VanGoghandVino.com. Kids Painting Parties are fun, educational and an exciting new way for your child to be creative. “Mini Vinnie” Parties (Ages 6-14) Cost for parties: $150 deposit required to reserve the date. Balance due at time of event. $275 covers up to 9 painters. Each additional painter is $25. “Mini Vinnie” parties are scheduled on Saturday’s from 10am-noon, 1:30-3:30pm or Sunday from 2-4 p.m.

Parties include:• A theme-specifi c painting for your party (with

• All the painting materials, art instruction and fun!

Skateland of Augustahttp://www.skatelandofaugusta.com/Parties.htm.706-796-4048.2451 Windsor Spring Rd., Augusta. They take care of everything but the cake, with sev-eral party packages from which to choose. No charge for non-skating parents. Choose from options to have party during public session, on a weekend or night, or a private party.

Basic party (public session) includes ($130):• 10 children, $8 each additional child.• Ice cream cup for each child.• Unlimited soda.• Birthday child receives a t-shirt, speed skate rental,

• Free skate rentals for guests.• Party table area, paper goods, table cloth and bal-

• Invitations.• Dedicated party hostess.• Parents of birthday child skate free.• Make it a hotdog or pizza skate party for an ad-

Super Duper (public session) Party ($260):• 10 children, $11 each additional child.• Everything in the basic party plus two large single

• 10 glow products.


BESTBIRTHDAY

BASHES!

is $50 per character to make a 10 to 15 minute ap-pearance and for picture taking. By request they also have a 30 foot infl atable tumble track at the North Augusta location. For a $25 fee party guests get 30 minutes of jumping and tumbling fun.

Augusta [email protected]. 706-922-9467.Lake Olmstead Stadium, 78 Milledge Rd., Augusta. Watch the game and celebrate together. $15 per person. Season starts in mid-April.

Little Caesar’s Birthday Party Includes:• Reserved tickets.• Autographed baseball for the birthday child.• Little Caesar’s Pizza.• Dessert.• Free Admission to the Fun Zone.• Table in the Fun Zone for food and cake.• Sing Happy Birthday on the dugout.

Gymnastics Goldwww.gymnasticsgold.com.706-650-2111.124 Cedar Ln., Augusta. Kids enjoy age-appropriate games using a variety of gymnastics equipment. Party packages for ages four and for up to 20 children are $150 for mem-bers, $175 for non-members. Additional fees for ad-ditional children. Parties last 1 ½ hours and are held Friday nights and Saturdays. No parties scheduled in June and July. Two trained instructors supervise. Make reservations at least two weeks in advance. A $25 deposit is required.

Includes:• Party area.• Drinks.• Invitations.• T-shirt for the birthday child.• Cleanup.

Haydens Gymnastics and Cheer Academywww.haydensgym.com.706-868-0608.4300 Evans to Lock Rd., Evans. The Hayden’s birthday experience for up to 10 children begins with games in the gym, followed by an obstacle course and time on the trampoline and in the pit. Trained coaches supervise. Parties last 90 minutes for $250. Additional half hour of gym time can be scheduled for $50. Parent supplies food, cake and paper products. Pay $5 for each additional guest. A $50deposit reserves the date. Pool parties may be

scheduled during summer months.Includes:• Professional instructors.• Set up and clean up.• Invitations.• Table decorations.• Goody bags.• Special gift for birthday child.

Putt-Putt Fun Centerhttp://www.augustagabirthdayparties.com/.3763 Martinez Blvd., Martinez.706-868-0083. Birthday party packages range from $9.99 per person to $14.99 per person. Kids can participate in activities including laser tag, the game room and batting cages, in addition to playing putt-putt. Se-cure your desired party day and time with a $25 deposit.

All packages include:• 1 attraction of your choice.• 15 gameroom tokens.• Indoor total play (soft play area).• 1 Hour in a private party room.• Dippin’ Dots ice cream or substitute a birthday cake.• Unlimited soft drinks while in the party room.• Party invitations and paper goods.• Birthday gift for the honoree.• Group party photo.• Party supervisor.

Red Wing Rollerwaywww.redwingrollerway.net.706-860-1548.3065 Washington Rd., Augusta. Open session parties start at $195 for up to 10 guests and 2-hour private parties are $325 for up to 20 guests. The birthday child participates for free in both packages and additional guests are $7 each. Birthday parents skate free.

Includes:• DJ.• Games.• Skates.• Invitations.• Balloons.• Soft drink, hot dogs, chips and cake.• Paper products.• T-shirt for birthday child.

Southern Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Studiowww.stsdkarate.com.706-793-6603.

2007 Tobacco Rd., Augusta. Two-hour parties cost $225 for up to 12 children. Additional children are $8.50 each. Parents are wel-come to bring food and snacks. A CD with party pic-tures is available for $15.

Includes:• Karate-themed invitations and thank you notes.• Karate uniform for the birthday child.• Martial arts headbands for each child.• A balloon for each child.• Party tables with karate theme.• Paper products.• Cake, drinks and ice cream.• Goodie bags with VIP pass for a free karate class

for each participating child.

EATS AND TREATS!

Chuck E Cheesehttp://www.chuckecheese.com.706-737-4557.3435 Wrightsboro Rd., Augusta. Plan a birthday party with pizza and games or or-ganize your own walk-in party without reserving a party package. On-line party reservations are avail-able as well as e-vites. Choose from the Star package , the Super Star package or the Mega Super Star pack-age. Minimum of 4 children.

All Packages Include:• 2 hours of reserved table space.• Ticket Blaster experience for the birthday child.• Crown for the birthday child.• Star recognition in the show.• Game tokens for each child.• Free refi lls on drinks.• Pizza.• Party host or hostess.• Festive tablecloth and plates.

Bruster’s Real Ice Creamhttp://realicecream.com.1115 Agerton Lane, Augusta, 706-731-9929.516 North Belair Rd., Evans, 706-210-5160. Outdoor parties during store hours at Bruster’s are $175 for up to 20 people (2 hours). Additional guests are $20/per person. Please inquire about prices for ice cream catering for off-site parties. Packages avail-able for Augusta and Evans locations only. We offer a tour of the store, make own

Includes:• Bruster’s ice cream cake.• Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, chips and fountain

drinks.

2007 Tobacco Rd., Augusta. Two-hour parties cost $225 for up to 12 children. Additional children are $8.50 each. Parents are wel-come to bring food and snacks. A CD with party pic-tures is available for $15.

Includes:• Karate-themed invitations and thank you notes.• Karate uniform for the birthday child.• Karate uniform for the birthday child.• Martial arts headbands for each child.• A balloon for each child.• Party tables with karate theme.• Paper products.• Cake, drinks and ice cream.• Goodie bags with VIP pass for a free karate class

Chuck E Cheesehttp://www.chuckecheese.com.706-737-4557.3435 Wrightsboro Rd., Augusta. Plan a birthday party with pizza and games or or-ganize your own walk-in party without reserving a party package. On-line party reservations are avail-able as well as e-vites. Choose from the Star package , the Super Star package or the Mega Super Star pack-age. Minimum of 4 children.

All Packages Include:• 2 hours of reserved table space.• Ticket Blaster experience for the birthday child.• Crown for the birthday child.• Star recognition in the show.• Game tokens for each child.• Free refi lls on drinks.• Pizza.• Party host or hostess.• Festive tablecloth and plates.

Bruster’s Real Ice Creamhttp://realicecream.com.1115 Agerton Lane, Augusta, 706-731-9929.516 North Belair Rd., Evans, 706-210-5160. Outdoor parties during store hours at Bruster’s are $175 for up to 20 people (2 hours). Additional guests are $20/per person. Please inquire about prices for ice cream catering for off-site parties. Packages avail-able for Augusta and Evans locations only. We offer a tour of the store, make own

Includes:• Bruster’s ice cream cake.• Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, chips and fountain

scheduled during summer months.Includes:• Professional instructors.• Set up and clean up.• Invitations.• Table decorations.• Goody bags.• Special gift for birthday child.

Putt-Putt Fun Centerhttp://www.augustagabirthdayparties.com/.3763 Martinez Blvd., Martinez.706-868-0083. Birthday party packages range from $9.99 per person to $14.99 per person. Kids can participate in activities including laser tag, the game room and batting cages, in addition to playing putt-putt. Se-cure your desired party day and time with a $25 deposit.

All packages include:• 1 attraction of your choice.• 15 gameroom tokens.• Indoor total play (soft play area).• 1 Hour in a private party room.• Dippin’ Dots ice cream or substitute a birthday cake.• Unlimited soft drinks while in the party room.• Party invitations and paper goods.• Birthday gift for the honoree.• Group party photo.• Party supervisor.

Red Wing Rollerwaywww.redwingrollerway.net.706-860-1548.3065 Washington Rd., Augusta. Open session parties start at $195 for up to 10 guests and 2-hour private parties are $325 for up to 20 guests. The birthday child participates for free in both packages and additional guests are $7 each. Birthday parents skate free.

Includes:• DJ.• Games.• Skates.• Invitations.• Balloons.• Soft drink, hot dogs, chips and cake.• Paper products.• T-shirt for birthday child.

Southern Tang Soo Do Martial Arts Studiowww.stsdkarate.com.706-793-6603.

BESTBIRTHDAY

BASHES!


• Balloons.• Paper products.• Set-up and cleanup.• A birthday message on the reader board.

Bruster’s Real Ice Creamhttp://realicecream.com.803-279-9831.1279 Knox Ave., N. Augusta. The Bruster’s party planner works with parents to design a party that fi ts the budget. Party activi-ties can include a tour of the store, making ice cream, decorating a cake and/or a hotdog and ice cream party. Dippin’ Dotshttp://www.dippindots.com.706-364-3476.3328 Washington Rd., Augusta. What kid isn’t crazy about hotdogs and ice cream? Choose from one of three party packages starting at $5 per person with a minimum of 10 people, in-cluding a party in which each child receives a glitter tattoo for $7.50 per person. Parent can supply cake. They will even open to host parties before regular store hours upon request. Take-home party packs are available by pre-order. Call for details.

The Pink Dipper803-279-4100.501 Georgia Ave., North Augusta. Rent their party room by the hour ($25).

BUILD THEIR BRAINS!

Bricks 4 Kidzhttp://www.bricks4kidz.com.706-513-5789. Two hours of non-stop fun with Lego® bricks. Kids ages 4 and up will love a Bricks 4 Kidz party. Basic birthday package starts at $185 for 8 children and includes invitations, paper products, drinks, a Bricks 4 Kidz t-shirt and awesome party host! Build-er Birthday package starts at $240 for 8 children and includes many extras in addition to the basic package such as pizza, mini-fi gures and mini-models for kids to take home. Parents bring the cake.

Parties Include:• Party host.• Invitations.• Lots of games & challenges.• Free-play time.• Paper products.• Bricks 4 Kidz® t-shirt for birthday child.• Drinks.

EdVenture Children’s Museumhttp://www.edventure.org/.803-400-1168.Gervais St., Columbia. Throw Eddie’s Big Birthday Bash for $184-$207 for members, $230 for non-members for up to 15 guests (2 hours). Additional guests are $15 each. All adults are admitted for no additional charge. Parent brings cake and ice cream and other food. Party add-ons available for additional charge.

Includes:• Birthday parade led by an EdVenture Birthday

Buddy.• Party room for 2 hours.• Special birthday ceremony in front of Eddie®.• All-day admission for party guests.• Ready-to-mail invitations.• T-shirt for birthday child.

ADVENTURES OUTSIDE!

Augusta Canal Interpretive Centerwww.augustacanal.com.706-823-0440, ext. 7.1405 Greene St., Augusta. Charter a Petersburg boat for up to 36 guests for $300 per boat for 1 hour, $500 for a 3-hour trip to the Headgates and back. Bring refreshments of your choice. You also can book your party at the Canal’s Interpretive Center.

Steed’s Dairyhttp://www.steedsdairy.com.706-564-0220.4635 Wrightsboro Rd., Grovetown. Birthday party activities on the farm include petting zoo, jumping pillow, giant tube slide, corn kernel pit, tube swings, rubber duckie races and more. The pavilion rents for $100. Cost per per-son is $4 except during corn maze season when it is $6 per person. Parent brings cake, ice cream and other party supplies.

Mistletoe State [email protected] Mistletoe Rd., Appling. A variety of birthday party packages are available featuring ranger-led programs and activities. Program themes vary from lake ecology to carnival games.

Packages include:• A 2-hour ranger-led program.• Picnic shelter rental.• Nature craft.

• 5 park passes.• Party decorations.

Additional options include:• Souvenir bags.• A state park-themed birthday cake.• A t-shirt for the birthday child.• A second ranger-led program.

Phinizy Swamp & Nature Parkhttp://phinizycenter.org/706-828-2109.1858 Lock and Dam Rd., Augusta. The Pfi zer Pavilion is a covered picnic area that can be reserved for $10 per hour with a minimum of three hours. The Pavilion has electricity and nine eight-foot tables with seating for 60-70 guests. Re-serve a private tour for an additional fee as part of your party of 10+ guests. Call ahead to reserve the Pavilion or a tour.

Reed Creek Park and Wetland Interpre-tive Centerwww.ReedCreekPark.com.706-210-4027.3820 Park Lane, Martinez. Birthday parties for children ages 5 and up take the party to nature and the great outdoors with guided activities. Parties last 90 minutes. Cost for members is $150 for up to 10 children plus $6 for each addi-tional child. Cost for non-members is $200 for up to 10 children plus $7 for each additional child. There is a 14-child maximum. Full payment must be received two weeks in advance of the party date.

Includes:• Nature games and activities.• Paper products.• Decorations.• Cake and drinks.• Invitations.• Balloons.• Goody bags.

ROLL THAT CLIP!

Regal Cinemas Augustawww.regmovies.com.706-667-9713.1144 Agerton Lane, Augusta. Make your birthday child (ages 3-11) a “Star for a Day” with their own party at the movies. Call for pricing. Adults responsible for their own admission. The party room is available at an additional charge either before or after the movie. Party room rental includes paper products and beverages.

• 5 park passes.• Party decorations.

Additional options include:• Souvenir bags.• A state park-themed birthday cake.• A t-shirt for the birthday child.• A second ranger-led program.

Phinizy Swamp & Nature Parkhttp://phinizycenter.org/706-828-2109.1858 Lock and Dam Rd., Augusta. The Pfi zer Pavilion is a covered picnic area that can be reserved for $10 per hour with a minimum of three hours. The Pavilion has electricity and nine eight-foot tables with seating for 60-70 guests. Re-serve a private tour for an additional fee as part of your party of 10+ guests. Call ahead to reserve the Pavilion or a tour.

Reed Creek Park and Wetland Interpre-tive Centerwww.ReedCreekPark.com.706-210-4027.3820 Park Lane, Martinez. Birthday parties for children ages 5 and up take the party to nature and the great outdoors with guided activities. Parties last 90 minutes. Cost for members is $150 for up to 10 children plus $6 for each addi-tional child. Cost for non-members is $200 for up to 10 children plus $7 for each additional child. There is a 14-child maximum. Full payment must be received two weeks in advance of the party date.

Includes:• Nature games and activities.• Paper products.• Decorations.• Cake and drinks.• Invitations.• Balloons.• Goody bags.

Regal Cinemas Augustawww.regmovies.com.706-667-9713.1144 Agerton Lane, Augusta. Make your birthday child (ages 3-11) a “Star for a Day” with their own party at the movies. Call for pricing. Adults responsible for their own admission. The party room is available at an additional charge either before or after the movie. Party room rental includes paper products and beverages.

http://www.edventure.org/.803-400-1168.Gervais St., Columbia. Throw Eddie’s Big Birthday Bash for $184-$207 for members, $230 for non-members for up to 15 guests (2 hours). Additional guests are $15 each. All adults are admitted for no additional charge. Parent brings cake and ice cream and other food. Party add-brings cake and ice cream and other food. Party add-ons available for additional charge.

Includes:• Birthday parade led by an EdVenture Birthday

• Party room for 2 hours.• Special birthday ceremony in front of Eddie®.• All-day admission for party guests.• Ready-to-mail invitations.• T-shirt for birthday child.

Augusta Canal Interpretive Centerwww.augustacanal.com.706-823-0440, ext. 7.1405 Greene St., Augusta. Charter a Petersburg boat for up to 36 guests for $300 per boat for 1 hour, $500 for a 3-hour trip to the Headgates and back. Bring refreshments of your choice. You also can book your party at the Canal’s Interpretive Center.

Steed’s Dairyhttp://www.steedsdairy.com.706-564-0220.4635 Wrightsboro Rd., Grovetown. Birthday party activities on the farm include petting zoo, jumping pillow, giant tube slide, corn kernel pit, tube swings, rubber duckie races and more. The pavilion rents for $100. Cost per per-son is $4 except during corn maze season when it is $6 per person. Parent brings cake, ice cream and other party supplies.

Mistletoe State [email protected] Mistletoe Rd., Appling. A variety of birthday party packages are available featuring ranger-led programs and activities. Program themes vary from lake ecology to carnival games.

Packages include:• A 2-hour ranger-led program.• Picnic shelter rental.• Nature craft.


BESTBIRTHDAY

BASHES!

Movie Party Includes:• Admission.• Reserved seating.• Game tokens.• Zap Pack.

The Salvation Army Kroc Centerhttp://salvationarmyaugusta.org/kroc-center/kids-family/birthday-parties/.706-922-1533.1833 Broad St., Augusta. The Movie Critic Party is a 2 ½-hour party that in-cludes a rated G or PG movie of your choice (pend-ing approval from our movie provider), popcorn for each attendee and up to one hour in the party room after the movie (time is based on length of movie). Party packages start at $225 for up to 20 guests and $300 for up to 40 guests for 2 hours.

All Parties Include:• A party master.• Party room.• T-shirt for birthday child.• Invitations.• Paper products.• Lemonade.• Cupcakes.

GO HIGH TECH!

The Game Dudeshttp://www.thegamedudes.com/.803-508-2496. The Game Dudes bring their 24-foot gaming ve-hicle to the party for 2 full hours of fun. It’s a 12-seat, air-conditioned indoor gaming theater. The exterior converts to accommodate 8 additional players. For an additional charge, they will set up an infl atable slide or get out the laser tag gear.

Rolling Video Games706-830-4389.http://[email protected]. They set up, entertain and clean up! Packages start at $199 for a 1-hour party with the Game Coach. A 2-hour party with the Game Coach, 30 full color in-vitations and cake is $299 and a 2-hour party with the Game Coach Monday-Thursday is $225.

Includes:• A Game Coach who serves as an on-site tech that

assists with playing the games and encourages fun and balanced play for guests.

• Game Truck and trailer come rain or shine. A fair-ly level parking area is needed.

• Xbox 360 stations, Wii stations and PS3stations al-low 16 gamers to game at once or separately.

• Vibration-rocking stadium seating allows more ob-servers and friends.

• Tons of game choices available, including the new-est released titles.

• A fl ashing, glowing power necklace medallion for the guest(s) of honor.

Level Up Game Centerhttp://www.level-up-augusta.com/parties.706-305-3780.3837 Martinez Blvd., Augusta. Three party options from which to choose. Kids 12 and up can plan an all-night party event for $20 per guest. Food and tournaments for prizes are in-cluded. A second party option is a private rental with packages starting at $125 per hour. Parents supply the food.

BRING IN THE CLOWNS!(AND OTHER ENTERTAINMENT)

tmt Productionshttps://www.facebook.com/tmtdj21. [email protected]. 706-825-1041. DJ entertainment with 10 years of experience. They provide DJ entertainment for birthday parties, weddings, dances, proms, and other events. The best mobile setup around! Call for pricing and to book your event.

The Clubhouse Kids Puppet Theaterhttp://mjohnpuppetman.wix.com/theclub-housekids.706-951-7938.350 Marshall St., Martinez.

Birthdays R Us Package:• Ventriloquist act or puppet show.• Comedy magic show.• Balloons for everyone.• $100.00 for one hour up to 40 guests.

Birthday Bash Package:• Ventriloquist act & puppet show.• Comedy magic act.• Balloons for everyone plus a lesson on how to

make a balloon fi gure.• Birthday person receives a crown and a gift from

The Clubhouse Kids gang.• $150.00 for one hour up to 40 guests.

Acme Fun Factoryhttp://www.jinglesandcrew.com/.

706-294-5910 or 803-652-8335. Schedule clowns Jingles and JJ to entertain at your child’s next birthday party, bring in Mr. Magic to per-form or surprise your child with a visit from his or her favorite superhero or character. One entertainer is $150 per hour. Add an additional entertainer for just $75 per hour for up to 15 children. Pay only $1 for each additional child. Acme Fun Factory also rents a variety of infl atables, concession equipment (such as sno-cone and cotton candy machines) and tables and chairs. Vintage Ooollee706-724-2591.1121 Broad St., Augusta. Let mom or dad pose as a friendly character sur-prise party guest. Costumes include a kitty, teddy bears, bunny rabbits, puppy dogs and more. Popular storybook character costumes also available. Come in a week before rental date and get fi tted. Rentals start at $50. Uncle Sam’s Magic ShowSam Harden, Jr.http://www.unclesamsmagicshow.com/.706-945-2053.1909 Ohio Ave., Augusta. Enjoy good clean fun and magic performed by Uncle Sam. He mixes magic with storytelling to en-tertain his audience and is an expert balloon twister, as well. Pricing starts at $100. Magical, story-telling Santa available for birthday parties during November and December. Call for details. Singing Princesseswww.singingprincessesga.com. www.facebook.com/singingprincesses. The Singing Princesses will help make your little princess’s dreams come to life, even if just for a day! Dressed as fairy tale princesses, these profession-ally trained vocalists will create an enchanting ex-perience that won’t soon be forgotten. Depending on the party package that is chosen, the Princesses will provide your guests with an afternoon of sing-ing, dancing, storytelling and learning the meaning of true beauty. The experience can conclude with a Fairy Dust Coronation, making each attendee a true princess. The Singing Princesses are available for events throughout the CSRA. Visit our website to get all the details on the available Princesses and party packages. We look forward to making your next event magical! v

Party Guide information provided by the organizations listed or appear as listed on their website and may change without notice to Augusta Family Magazine.

706-294-5910 or 803-652-8335. Schedule clowns Jingles and JJ to entertain at your child’s next birthday party, bring in Mr. Magic to per-form or surprise your child with a visit from his or her favorite superhero or character. One entertainer is $150 per hour. Add an additional entertainer for just $75 per hour for up to 15 children. Pay only $1 for each additional child. Acme Fun Factory also rents a variety of infl atables, concession equipment (such as sno-cone and cotton candy machines) and tables and chairs.

Vintage Ooollee706-724-2591.1121 Broad St., Augusta. Let mom or dad pose as a friendly character sur-prise party guest. Costumes include a kitty, teddy bears, bunny rabbits, puppy dogs and more. Popular storybook character costumes also available. Come in a week before rental date and get fi tted. Rentals start at $50.

Uncle Sam’s Magic ShowSam Harden, Jr.http://www.unclesamsmagicshow.com/.706-945-2053.1909 Ohio Ave., Augusta. Enjoy good clean fun and magic performed by Uncle Sam. He mixes magic with storytelling to en-tertain his audience and is an expert balloon twister, as well. Pricing starts at $100. Magical, story-telling Santa available for birthday parties during November and December. Call for details.

Singing Princesseswww.singingprincessesga.com. www.facebook.com/singingprincesses. The Singing Princesses will help make your little princess’s dreams come to life, even if just for a day! Dressed as fairy tale princesses, these profession-ally trained vocalists will create an enchanting ex-perience that won’t soon be forgotten. Depending on the party package that is chosen, the Princesses will provide your guests with an afternoon of sing-ing, dancing, storytelling and learning the meaning of true beauty. The experience can conclude with a Fairy Dust Coronation, making each attendee a true princess. The Singing Princesses are available for events throughout the CSRA. Visit our website to get all the details on the available Princesses and party packages. We look forward to making your next event magical!

Party Guide information provided by the organizations listed or appear as listed on their website and may change without notice to

• Xbox 360 stations, Wii stations and PS3stations al-

• Vibration-rocking stadium seating allows more ob-

• Tons of game choices available, including the new-

• A fl ashing, glowing power necklace medallion for

Level Up Game Centerhttp://www.level-up-augusta.com/parties.706-305-3780.3837 Martinez Blvd., Augusta. Three party options from which to choose. Kids 12 and up can plan an all-night party event for $20 per guest. Food and tournaments for prizes are in-cluded. A second party option is a private rental with packages starting at $125 per hour. Parents supply the food.

tmt Productionshttps://www.facebook.com/tmtdj21. [email protected]. 706-825-1041. DJ entertainment with 10 years of experience. They provide DJ entertainment for birthday parties, weddings, dances, proms, and other events. The best mobile setup around! Call for pricing and to book your event.

The Clubhouse Kids Puppet Theaterhttp://mjohnpuppetman.wix.com/theclub-housekids.706-951-7938.350 Marshall St., Martinez.

Birthdays R Us Package:• Ventriloquist act or puppet show.• Comedy magic show.• Balloons for everyone.• $100.00 for one hour up to 40 guests.

Birthday Bash Package:• Ventriloquist act & puppet show.• Comedy magic act.• Balloons for everyone plus a lesson on how to

• Birthday person receives a crown and a gift from

• $150.00 for one hour up to 40 guests.

Acme Fun Factoryhttp://www.jinglesandcrew.com/.


Here’s what I remember about my daughter’s �rst birthday. We made a big fuss. She had no idea what was going on. She was not even interested in the carrot cake I had made especially for her. What I wish I had realized instead is that her birthday was a big deal for us, but just another day in

babydom, for her.

Now that I’m older and wiser and my daughter is also older and more wise-crack-ing, these are the gi�s I wish I had lined up for her on her �rst birthday instead of trying to impress upon her that her birthday was a super big deal.

�en, if I had served a cake and she had barely noticed, it could have been to cel-ebrate her parents for being so smart and planning ahead. So, implement as many of these suggestions as you can by the time your child turns one. And if you have not imple-mented them by that �rst birthday bash, be sure to give them some serious birthday cake for thought.

SAVINGS ACCOUNT. Whenever you get money gi�s from relatives, put half of the money in your child’s savings account. Why? Because even though you think you need every kiddy gadget known to mankind when your child is young, you can o�en �nd items discounted or gently used for a lot less. Heck, you might even be next in line for a bunch of hand-me-downs from friends and family. So stash some of your child’s gi� money now. You will be so glad you did later. And a few of the suggestions that fol-

7BY CHRISTINA KATZ

GREAT G FTSFOR EVERY CHILD’S FIRST BIRTHDAY THAT KEEP ON GIVING


low, require money. So if you don’t have extra money of your own, you will be able to draw on money from your child’s saving account.

NAME AS URL. We are living in the digital age and life is only going to become increasingly online and virtual by the time our little ones become big ones. So it’s nice to know that your future celebrity or entrepreneur has digital security in the form of their name reserved on-line. How will they use it? �is is a lot less important right now than making sure that the possibility exists. Besides, you already saved some of that gi� money, so you can use it for this and they won’t even owe you anything when they become rich and famous. But don’t worry about hosting. All you need to pay for is the URL itself and the privacy to keep your personal informa-tion o�ine.

SAFETY DEPOSIT BOX. Savings accounts are a fair-ly vague concept for kids to understand. �is is how they think: so, you want to take my money away from me and go put it in a boring-looking building where I can’t even visit it? �is makes no sense to developing brains. But all kids innately understand the concept of treasure. And this is why you should have one (aka, a safety deposit box). Take them to visit your family trea-sures once a year. Show them how you keep a little cash, some jewels, and copies of important documents there and watch their eyes grow wide with excitement every time you say it’s time to go to the bank. And then, while you have their rapt attention, teach them all the ways you use the bank to secure and manage your money.

COLLEGE FUND. If you can put aside even just $50 per month, it will really add up over the years and make a signi�cant dent in your future college costs. Better yet if you can start with $50 a month and inch that up as your child grows. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged sav-ings plan designed to encourage saving for future col-lege costs. 529 plans, legally known as “quali�ed tuition plans,” are sponsored by states, state agencies, or educa-tional institutions and are authorized by Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. All ��y states and the Dis-trict of Columbia sponsor at least one type of 529 plan. For more information visit http://www.collegesavings.org/index.aspx.

FAMILY LIBRARY CARD. Your child may be too young for a library card in your town or county, but make sure you have at least one library card for your family. Having one card actually makes it easier to keep track of what has been checked out than multiple cards do. Take your baby to the library regularly for story time and puppet shows and other entertaining, educational events. As your child grows, introduce him to the vari-ous age-appropriate sections of the library. And don’t forget about the multi-media options both at the library and online. A family that makes the most of library re-sources and o�erings is a rich family indeed.

MONEY COACH. Your child is probably too young to understand personal economics. How about you? If you are one of the many Americans who feel overwhelmed, inexperienced or uninformed when it comes to money management, let your baby be your wake-up call. You can either get yourself involved in money management coaching formally by searching for a certi�ed coach on-line. Or you could swing by your local bank once and a while and ask your local banker for a little money-management advice based on how much you are earn-ing and saving each month. Sometimes just having a neutral mentor to discuss savings strategies with can make a wealth of di�erence. �en, later, as your child grows, either coach your child on money management yourself or call on your trusted mentor to help you do the job.

TAX EXPERT. As parents, you can give thousands of dollars to your children each year without any tax consequences. Are you making sure that you are taking advantage of every tax-saving option available to your family? Furthermore, if you are overspending on taxes, that money could be going into your child’s savings or college accounts. Make sure you are working with the most reputable and vigorous tax professional you can reasonably a�ord to help your family legally save as much as possible on taxes. v

Journalist, author, and writing coach, Christina Katz o�ers creative saving and spending strategies to growing families who would like to enjoy a sense of future security. Her lat-est book is �e Art Of Making Time For Yourself.


health homeby Mary Ashton Mills

Uuugh…anxiety! By definition, anxiety is an unpleasant state of in-ner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behavior. For many the mere mention of the word can make someone suffering from anxiety manifest symptoms like heart palpations or tightness in the chest.

Other symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, cold sweats and nervous be-haviors can wreak havoc on someone’s perfectly healthy physical profile.

If you feel like you or your child may be suffering from anxiety, it is best to see a physician to rule out any other health complications and get proper treatment.

In the meantime, take a few cues from local physicians who treat patients for various forms of anxiety daily. Amy Holsten, PhD, child psychologist with Families Forward in Martinez and Phillip S. Kennedy, MD, of the Center for Primary Care, are on the front lines of treating anxiety daily. Holsten says that her practice has a very good success rate with helping children they treat overcome and cope with dif-ferent forms of anxiety. Kennedy treats adults who su� er from anxiety daily. He says that women are treated for anxiety more o� en than men.

Types of Anxiety

� ere are many di� erent types of anxiety from post- traumatic stress disorder and phobias to separation anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. One of the most common anxiety disorders is general anxiety.

According to Holsten, the children she treats in her practice have classic symp-toms of anxiety such as excessive worry, stomachaches or other stomach-related issues,

Understanding

AnxietyAnxiety A� ects

Both Children and Adults


health home

headaches, trouble sleeping, school refusal and a general refusal to do things without their parents that they seemed to previously enjoy.

Most people have dealt with anxiety at one time or another. It is important to know that it is a normal part of life. Holsten says, “We all experi-ence it and it is a good thing. Anxiety motivates us to do things and to do better. One of the things we will sometimes do as parents is to shield children from anxiety. However, they need to experience it to learn it is OK and how to handle it in a way that works for them.”

Perhaps one of the most classic examples of overcoming anxiety is an 18-month-old toddler who screams and cries when a parent leaves the room. Separation anxiety peaks around 18 months of age. � e child eventually grows out of this and stops crying when his parent leaves.

What would happen if we never cut the cord so to speak? By allowing children to go through some anxiety, we are teaching them how to utilize coping skills and � gure some things out on their own.

External Causes of Anxiety

Cell phones can cause adults a lot of anxiety today. Most adults use a cell phone to connect with someone throughout the day. What was once a routine phone call is now one interrup-tion after the other. Imagine that you are on an important phone call and while you are talking, a text message ding alerts you to several texts that are coming in while you are talking. At the same time you receive another familiar ding from a Facebook instant message. Someone is trying to send you a notification about a Facebook page. Then you hang up the phone and six new emails flash across your screen before you can even be-gin to read or respond to the text message. Do you have anxiety yet? In this case, turning the cell phone off at certain points in the day to avoid this anxiety trigger may be a good idea.

When Should You Seek Medical Attention?

Holsten suggests that children seek the help

of a physician when they begin to have medical issues related to anxiety. Her rule of thumb is sim-ple: If it begins to interfere with their ability to “be a kid” you should seek help or guidance from a professional.

Kennedy says that very commonly his adult patients will present with a physical complaint that is caused by anxiety. By seeking medical attention, physicians can rule out certain issues to reveal the true problem, whether it’s anxiety or other health problems.

How Is Anxiety Treated?

Holsten has success using cognitive be-havior therapy with children. She implements many different coping mechanisms for chil-dren and helps them learn to identify thoughts which may be triggers. Sometimes medicine is used but many times she is able to treat a patient without medication.

By learning to cope with this problem, many people are able to alleviate some of their symp-toms. Holsten says exercise is incredibly benefi-cial as a coping skill to alleviate anxiety. “Other helpful things are learning to ‘belly breathe,’ yoga, music, being engaged in activities that you are naturally skilled in, therefore increas-ing self-confidence and efficacy, and learning to ‘catch’ anxious thoughts.”

Kennedy feels that medication is important for some patients with anxiety, but says he avoids the use of Benzodiazepines, a class of medica-tion that can become addictive. Instead he prefers to use SSRI’s or SNRI’s, a class of antidepressant medication that is proven e� ective. Before taking medication Kennedy’s advice is simple. “Turn o� (negative) TV and Internet news, attend church, speak with your pastor, get enough sleep, increase exercise, and if it starts to a� ect you physically or functionally, see your doctor.” v

Mary Ashton Mills lives in Augusta with her husband and two children. Her work has appeared in Charleston Magazine, � e Post and Courier and Augusta Family Magazine.


Sowing the Seeds of a Special Summer CampCamp IVEY To Provide Camp Experience for High-Functioning Children With Developmental Delays

When 8-year-old Katherine Ivey asked her mother, Sterling, when she would get a chance to go to overnight camp like older sister

Ansley, age 14, and older brother Patrick, age 16, the innocent request hit a chord with Sterling. It never occurred to her that Katherine would want to go to summer camp. But then she thought, “What child wouldn’t want to go to camp?” Canoeing and archery and camp�res and nighttime cricket sounds sing to the heart of a kid. �is is the stu� summer is made of.

Nonetheless, Sterling knew she would have to �nd just the right place, just the right experience for Katherine, now 10, who was diagnosed with a chromosome deletion at 18 months old. “I wanted it to be an overnight camp, and I wanted it to be for high-performing kids with developmental delays,”

says Sterling. “And I wanted it to be fun.” A calendar �lled with therapy sessions and daily struggles to perform basic tasks screams for a reprieve. Sterling desired for her child to know the carefree days of summer camp.

She diligently searched for a paradise of youth for her youngest, but it remained elusive. The camp that most closely fit Katherine’s needs was located in Vermont. “I wanted to pack her trunk and drive her three hours,” says Sterling, “not put her on a plane.”

A Determined Mom

Sterling was undaunted. A survivor of two �ghts against cancer, she knows how to face a challenge head-on. If she couldn’t �nd a nearby camp, she would start one for Katherine and kids like her who need a summer

camp o�ering extra supervision and adapted activities. “I don’t know what her limitations or possibilities will be,” Sterling says, “so let’s shoot for the moon.”

Investigations into nearby facilities capable of hosting Sterling’s proposed camp raised a new set of concerns, however, primarily �nancial. She was quoted a base price of $30,000. Additional fees would push that number higher. By this time, Katherine was 9, and Sterling was afraid that if this camp thing took too much longer she would miss the window of Katherine wanting to go to camp.

A thick white binder corrals Sterling’s collection of brochures, papers, notes and communications. Flipping through it, she points out the informa-tion from the camp in Vermont and runs her �nger along the margin of a sheet listing ideas about the ideal camp for children with developmental delays. Volumes of research spill between the pages. She has

inspirationstationby Lucy Adams

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done her homework. “One in six children has developmental delays. It impacts walking and

talking and playing and writing…” and Sterling names a dozen other routine activities most parents never think about. “I didn’t realize how passionate I was until I was talking about it in front of a room full of strangers.” She put her whole heart and her binder on the table when Wilson Family Y Director Krystal McGee invited her input on the Camp Lakeside renovations.

Perfect Timing

In fact, the timing of the Camp Lakeside renovation project could not have been more perfect. �e capital campaign to raise money to build new structures and adapt existing ones for special needs populations is in full swing. Children’s Hospital of Georgia plans to hold its camps, such Camp Rainbow, Camp Sweet Life, Camp Share and Care, and others, for medically fragile and disabled children at the new Camp Lakeside. “It’s becoming a com-pletely accessible camp. It will be medically safe for physically challenged chil-dren,” says Millie Hu�, the Family Y’s community relations director. Remote restrooms, paved pathways, accessible cabins, medical quarters and an acces-sible multi-purpose facility will create a camp to serve all CSRA children.

It’s shaping up to be the perfect place for a week-long camp for Kath-erine and the children with whom she hopes to share memories savored for a lifetime.

�e idea spurred by a child’s small voice �nally grew its roots in August 2014. Danny McConnell, President and CEO of the Family YMCA of Greater Augusta, took Sterling’s wished-for Camp IVEY— Inspiring Very Exceptional Youth—under the Y’s umbrella of programs planned for the new Camp Lake-side facility, which is projected to re-open in 2016. “Sterling kind of found us,” explains McConnell. “God puts people together in life and this was one of those occasions for me.”

Camp IVEY at Camp Lakeside will be an annual week of overnight camp for high-performing children with developmental delays. “We can take the passion of one person and turn it into something that bene�ts a lot of people. I believe that’s where this thing is headed,” says McConnell

Much organizational work in terms how the camp itself will operate remains to be done. Yet, optimism is in the air. In October, an anonymous $20,000 donation was made to the Family Y in support of Camp IVEY. In addition, 75 percent of the funds raised by Reid on the Run on February 7 will bene�t Camp IVEY. More funds are needed, but the seed money is there. Sterling summarizes, “It’s no longer a family starting a camp. It’s the Y hosting it.” She feels immensely blessed.

Best of all, Camp IVEY won’t even require local parents to drive their child and his or her trunk three hours away. It will be right here at home on the shores of Clarks Hill. But still a world away from the frustrations and cares of everyday life, in a place where canoeing and archery and camp�res and nighttime cricket sounds sing to the heart of a kid. �at’s the stu� summer is made of. What child wouldn’t want an experience like that? v

LUCY ADAMS is the author of Tuck Your Skirt in Your Panties and Run. She lives in �omson, Ga., with her husband and their four children.


calendar Feb. 2015

The Circus Is Coming to Town heads to the James Brown Arena February 5-8. Experience all the

things you know and love and be amazed by things you’ve never seen before! Witness superhuman stunts so close you can feel it! Astonishing performers, awe-inspiring athletes and amazing animals from around the globe will be assembled in one place providing a riveting display of unimaginable proportions that are engineered for excitement and custom built for family fun!


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SPECIAL EVENTS

February 3. Oswald Writer’s Series. A public read-ing and book signing by Terrance Hayes. 8 p.m. USC-Aiken Etherredge Center. 803-641-3305.

February 5-8. Antiques in the Heart of Aiken. Spe-cialized dealers from across the nation showcase and sell �ne antiques such as lace and linens, silver, porcelain, paintings and prints, crystal, jewelry, rugs and furnishings. Experts evaluate and provide free estimates of your broken or damaged treasures. Ai-ken Center for the Arts. 803-641-9094.

February 5-8. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bai-ley Presents Built To Amaze. The whole crew of elephants, aerialists, acrobats, jugglers and clowns storm the James Brown Arena to entertain children of all ages. Feb. 5, 7 p.m. Feb. 6, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 7, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 8, 1 p.m. www.augustaentertainmentcomplex.com.

February 6. Re-New & Brew. This event features an auction of one-of-a-kind pieces that have been re-invented by local artists, decorators and designers. The evening highlights exceptional individuals who have reinvented themselves with the help of Good-will’s education and training programs. Culinary stu-dents from Helms College create a delicious menu paired with samples of craft beers from breweries throughout the Southeast. 7-11 p.m. Snelling Cen-ter. 3165 Washington Rd. 706-650-5760.

February 7. Annual Lucy Craft Laney Heritage Gala. Dinner, live music, silent auction and keynote speaker. 6-10 p.m. Augusta Convention Center. 706-724-3576.

February 20. Wine, Women and Shoes. Enjoy a night of fun, wine and shopping while supporting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Augusta. 7-10 p.m. Sacred Heart Cultural Center. For tickets and information, 706-724-5901 or www.rmhcaugusta.org.

February 21. Heart Ball. Sponsored by the Ameri-can Heart Association, this event promises to be an inspiring celebration of the organization’s work, volunteers and donors. 6:30 p.m. Augusta Marriott. 803-806-3063. www.crsaheartball.com.

February 20-22. Battle of Aiken. See what life was like for a Civil War soldier during the 19th annual re-enactment of the Battle of Aiken. The weekend fea-tures battle reenactments, living history exhibits, pe-riod dancing and music. Gates open 8:30 a.m. daily. Confederate Memorial Park. 1210 Powell Pond Rd. (Exit 18, I-20). www.battleofaiken.org.

February 27-March 1. Augusta Home and Garden Show. Turn your home and garden dreams into real-ity. With thousands of square feet of exhibits, you’ll �nd the latest in products and services for every-thing from builders, contractors, materials, decks, pools, kitchens, baths, entertainment systems, plants, landscape displays/materials, kitchenware and more. Feb. 27, 2-7 p.m. Feb. 28, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. March 1, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. James Brown Arena. www.augustaentertainmentcomplex.com.

February 28. Second Annual Storybook Brunch. The magical morning begins with a hearty breakfast followed by a parade of favorite storybook charac-ters. Children are encouraged to dress up as their favorite storybook character. VIP sponsor seating at 8:30 a.m. and general seating 11 a.m. Tickets can be purchased at sfbf.net/StorybookBrunch. Bene�ts the Southeastern Fire�ghters Burn Foundation. 650-BURN (2876).

February 28. Bill Cosby. The famed comic’s suc-cess spans �ve decades and virtually all media. 8 p.m. Bell Auditorium. www.augustaentertainment-complex.com.

February 28. Wet Paint Party and Sale. Beautiful and affordable art by local artists goes up for auc-tion at the Greater Augusta Arts Council’s annual Wet Paint Party. Vintage fashion show, delicious ap-petizers, a cash bar and two art auctions, each with its own twist. 7 p.m. Sacred Heart Cultural Center. www.augustaarts.com.

MUSEUM AND SCIENCE EVENTS

February 4. Brown Bag History Lecture: Fight-ing Fires Over Time. Lt. Joey Smith of the Augusta Fire Department serves as guest speaker. Bring a lunch; beverages provided. Refreshments served at 11:30 a.m. Lecture, 12:30-1 p.m. Reservations not required. Augusta Museum of History. 706-722-8454.4.

Phinizy Center Swamp & Nature Park1858 Lock and Dam Rd., Augusta.706-828-2109 or Email: [email protected].

February 7. Swamp Saturday. Enjoy a guided, lei-surely hike through approximately 2.5 miles of na-ture park trails. Children & adults will enjoy viewing the variety of wildlife and learning about the diverse plant life & importance of urban wetland ecology. Please wear comfortable closed toe shoes & bring water to drink. Strollers are welcome. No dogs, please. We leave from the Swamp Shop & Visitor’s Center at 9:30AM.

Spaces are limited. *Groups, clubs or organizations please ask about Group Tours

February 14. Yoga in the Park. Free! Yoga means ‘union,’ and when it’s practiced outdoors it seems like the union with nature, humanity, and the uni-verse is truly felt. Being outside can intensify the yoga experience in many ways – focusing aware-ness, breathing deeply, practicing stillness. Please meet at The Swamp Shop & Visitor’s Center. This class is for ALL LEVELS, please bring with you your yoga mat & water. (Class will be indoors during the cold season or in the case of inclement weather.) 9:30-11 a.m.

February 14. Valentine’s Picnic in the Park. A ro-mantic, guided dusk walk through the beautiful Na-ture Park trails followed by hot cocoa and sweet treats under a blanket by the warmth of a �re with the gentle serenade of an acoustic guitar and the soothing sounds of the Swamp. Share a cozy eve-ning with your Valentine under the stars. Couples should wear comfortable closed toe shoes and bring water to drink. No dogs, please. Group leaves from the Swamp Shop & Visitor’s Center at 6 p.m.. Spaces are limited. Age 18 and older. Call 396-1426 for fees and registration.

Reed Creek Nature Park and Interpre-tive Center3820 Park Lane, Martinez.706-721-4027.www.ReedCreekPark.com.Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call to pre-register.

February 21. Simply Science: Squishy Sensations. Learn the steps of the scienti�c method as we cre-ate slimy, squishy, bouncy, springy balls out of dif-ferent materials. [email protected]. 10-11:30 a.m. February 27. All About Frogs. Enjoy this indoor and outdoor program to learn about our local frogs and how they are being studied through a calling survey at Reed Creek Park. Go outdoors to listen to frogs using the calling survey protocol. 7-8 p.m.

THE ARTS, MUSIC AND MORE

February 1-27. Marianna Williams Exhibition. Paint-ings and mixed-media. Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. 706-722-5495.

February 1-27. Art Exhibition: Judy Avrett and Lucy Weigle. Sacred Heart Cultural Center. 706-826-4700.

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February 1-March 20. Lillie Morris Exhibition. Multi-media and collage. Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art. 706-722-5495.

February 6. The Annie Moses Band. A Christian family of Juilliard-trained musicians and award-win-ning songwriters dedicated to virtuosity in the arts. 7:30 p.m. Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center. 706-726-0366 or www.augustaamusements.com.

February 7. American Ballet Theater Studio Com-pany. American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company is a classical ensemble made up of 14 dancers of out-standing potential. The mission of ABT Studio Com-pany is to train young dancers in preparation for en-tering American Ballet Theatre’s main company or other leading national and international professional ballet companies. The Studio Company performanc-es at the Imperial Theatre will feature Stephen Mills’ Hush and Antony Tudor’s Little Improvisations and excerpts from Marius Petipa’s Le Corsaire and Mer-ce Cunningham’s Duets. Presented by the Augusta Ballet. 7 p.m. at the Imperial Theatre. 706-261-555 or www.augustaballet.org.

February 12 and 13. The Swingle Singers. Based in London, the Swingle Singers are an international a cappella phenomenon. These seven young and versatile voices deliver folk, classical, jazz, Latin and pop music with equal precision and passion. Pre-sented by the Aiken Performing Arts Group. 7:30 p.m. URS Theater. Aiken. 803-643-4774.

February 12. Winter Jam 2015. Grammy-nomi-nated, platinum-selling rockers Skillet return to the famed Winter Jam stage to headline the blockbuster tour’s 20th year. Founded and hosted by Grammy-nominated NewSong, the tour will also feature Jer-emy Camp, Francesca Battistelli, Building 429, For King & Country, Family Force 5 and evangelist Tony Nolan. The LifeWay Christian Stores pre-jam party is slated to showcase Blanca, About A Mile and VERIDIA. 7 p.m. James Brown Arena. www.augus-taentertainmentcomplex.com.

February 13. California Guitar Trio. The group crisscrosses the universe of rock, jazz, world mu-sic, surf music and classical in its performances and recordings. 7:30 p.m. Jabez S. Hardin Performing Arts Center. 706-726-0366 or www.augustaamuse-ments.com.

February 13. Southern Soul and Song: Sam Bush. The father of newgrass and mandolin virtuoso Sam Bush performs. 7:30 p.m. Imperial Theatre. 706-722-8341.

February 13. A Tribute to Carole King and the Great

Keyboard Rockers. Featuring the love songs of Car-ole King, Billy Joel, Elton John and Stevie Wonder. As performed by the Symphony Orchestra Augusta. 7:30 p.m. Bell Auditorium. www.soaugusta.org or 706-826-4705.

February 14. Back on Broadway. Ten star-struck performers arrive in the Big Apple looking for their big break on Broadway. With their newfound book, How To Succeed on Broadway, how could they pos-sibly fail? Celebrate the magic of the Great White Way through dazzling production numbers per-formed by the next generation of Broadway stars. Part of the USC-Aiken Cultural Series. 7:30 p.m. USC-Aiken Etherredge Center. 803-641-3305.

February 20. The Suchon Wind Quintet With Mi-chiko Otaki. The Suchon Quintet consists of the leading wind players of the Slovak Sinfonietta Zilina. As the oldest chamber ensemble within the Sinfo-nietta, the wind quintet embarks on its �rst tour in the United States. They will be joined by Michiko Otaki, renowned concert pianist, who tours often as a soloist and collaborative pianist with chamber en-sembles. Part of the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Series. 7:30 p.m. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre. GRU campus. 706-667-4100.

February 20-22. West Side Story. Presented by the Augusta Players. Feb. 20-21, 8 p.m. Feb. 22, 3 p.m. Imperial Theatre. For tickets, www.augusta-players.org.

February 21. Beethoven’s Second. Conte’s Sinfo-nietta, Bruch’s Kol Nidrei, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2, and Paganini’s Variations on the G String on a Theme From Rossini’s Moses. Featuring Milton Masciadri, bass. 7:30 p.m. First Baptist of Augusta. Feb. 20, 8 p.m. Aiken’s First Baptist Church. www.soaugusta.org or 706-826-4705.

February 24. GRU Choral Ensemble. 7:30 p.m. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre. GRU campus. 706-667-4100.

February 24. Richmond County All Elementary School Choral Festival. 7 p.m. Sacred Heart Cul-tural Center. 706-826-4700.

February 25. Heart. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in-ductees Ann and Nancy Wilson �rst showed the world that women can rock when their band Heart stormed the charts in the ’70s with hits like “Crazy on You,” “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” “Straight On” and many more. Not only did the Wilson sisters lead the band, they wrote the songs and played the instruments too, making them the �rst women in rock to do so. 7:30 p.m. Bell Auditorium. www.

SEWING CLASSESMY BEST FRIEND'S SEWING ROOM

3850 Washington Rd.706-993-8819 or [email protected].

www.mybestfriendssewingroom.com.Call or email for class fees. Pre-registration is

required for all classes and events.

February 2. Feeling Quilty. Calling all quilters. Bring your quilt and sew a while. WIP’s (Works in Progress) are especially welcome. Bring a sack lunch. 10-2 p.m. This is a free adult event.

February 5, 12, 19 & 26. Stitching’s Cool. This after-school club meets Thursdays and is for kids dedicated to learning sewing on a weekly basis. Must commit to the entire month. 4:30-6 p.m. Ages 9 & up

February 5. Project Funway for Teens. This monthly club is a beginning sewing class for the older girls. A new sewing technique will be taught each month. For ages 13 & up.

February 5 & 19. Sewing Lab. Do you have some sewing projects to work on, but your sew-ing room is a hot mess? Or perhaps you’d enjoy the company of other sewers? Bring your own project, supplies and thread and rent a machine. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. For adults only.

February 14. Mommy and Me. Make a Val-entine’s Day date with your daughter and sew heart-shaped pillows. Supplies are included. 10-12 p.m. Children must be ages 9 & up.

February 16 & 17. Kids Sewing Camp. School is out, so come learn the sewing basics in this 2-day camp and complete two cool projects. Bring a sack lunch. 10-2 p.m. Ages 9 & up.

February 19. Sew Blessed. An open sewing event for adults. Bring your own project and borrow a sewing machine. Plus, a fabric bowl will be taught, kit included. Requesting dona-tion to Julie’s House in lieu of class fee. Bring a sack lunch. 10-1 p.m.

February 19. Head Wrap. Donate your time and make a head wrap for a cancer patient. All head wraps will be given to 3 Chicks, LLC, for their head wrap program. Adults or teen sewists. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Free.

February 21. Sewing Seeds Club. Learn the basics of sewing, a valuable life skill, while completing a fun project. Sewing machine and kit provided. This club meets the third Satur-day of every month. 10-12 p.m. Ages 9 & up.

February 27. Sip and Sew. Make a burlap door hanger at this open sewing event. Be-ginners are welcome. Sewing kit included. 7-9 p.m. This class is for adults only.

February 28. American Girl Doll Party. Make a blanket and pillow for your American Girl doll at this open event. Don’t forget your doll! 10-12 p.m. Ages 9 & up.



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augustaentertainmentcomplex.com.

February 26. GRU Wind Ensemble. 7:30 p.m. Max-well Performing Arts Theatre. GRU campus. 706-667-4100.

February 27-28, March 1 and 6-7. Auntie Mame. Auntie Mame was a sparkling, scatterbrained and warm-hearted lady who brightened the American landscape in the late 1920s through her whimsical gaiety, her slightly madcap adventures and her de-votion to her young nephew. Feb. 27-28 and March 6-7 at 8 p.m. March 1 at 3 p.m. Aiken Community Playhouse. 803-648-1438.

Morris Museum of Art1 Tenth St. 706-724-7501 or www.themorris.org.

February 1. Artrageous! Family Sunday: Sixth Annual Book Reading Spectacular. Coco Rubio, Gavin Hamilton and Sala Adenike Jeter-Allen read music-themed children’s stories. Afterwards create your own artist book. Free. 2 p.m.

February 1-15. An Artist’s Story: Civil War Draw-ings by Edwin Forbes. This exhibition features the work of a leading 19th-century-American land-scape painter and etcher Edwin Forbes, who �rst came to public attention as a very young artist for his dramatic and detailed Civil War sketches. He is known for the vividness and blunt truthfulness of his imagery.

February 1–March 1. Knowledge in Depth: Sculp-ture by Brian Dettmer. Widely known for his altera-tion of preexisting media such as old books, maps, record albums and cassette tapes, contemporary artist Brian Dettmer earned a BA in �ne arts from Columbia College Chicago, where his principal fo-

cus was painting. His signature technique is expos-ing select images and text in books to create intri-cate, three-dimensional works that reveal new or alternative interpretations of the books.

February 1-April 12. American Dreams: Paint-ings by John Mellencamp. According to Mel-lencamp, “German painting remains the basic foundation for what I do, same as folk music is the foundation of my songs. Discovering Beck-mann to me was like discovering Woody Guthrie or Bob Dylan.” American Dreams: Paintings by John Mellencamp features 50 oil and mixed-me-dia paintings, including several that have never been seen by the public.

February 5. Mommy and Me: Beautiful Books! View an exhibition by book sculptor Brian Dettmer. Afterwards, tell your own story in a handmade book. Registration required. Call for fees and to register. 10-11 a.m.

February 5. Art Now Artists Talk: Brian Dettmer. Learn how sculptor Brian Dettmer transforms books and found objects into intricate assemblages. Free. 6-8 p.m.

February 6. Films on Friday: King Creole (1958). Af-ter viewing the �lm, museum director Kevin Grogan leads a discussion. Participants are invited to bring a lunch. Free. Noon.

February 10. Southern Circuit Film Series: Broth-ers Hypnotic. The �lm details the formation of the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, eight sons of jazz maver-ick Phil Cohran. After viewing the movie, participate in a question-and-answer session with �lmmaker Reuben Atlas. Free. 6 p.m.

February 15. Lecture: Joni Mabe the Elvis Babe.

Artist Joni Mabe discusses her fabulous Elvis-themed work on display. Free. 1 p.m.

February 15. Music at the Morris: Jeff Barnes. Award-winning Elvis tribute artist performs your fa-vorite tunes by the King of Rock and Roll. Free. 2 p.m.

February 20. Art at Lunch: Expressionism, Neo-Expressionism and the Art of Mellencamp. Michael Schwartz, art historian and professor of art history and humanities at GRU, discusses expressionist and neo-expressionist art movements, correlating historic images with painting by John Mellencamp. Catered lunch. Paid reservations due by Feb. 18. Noon.

February 21. Draw with the Morris: Charcoal with Cyndy Epps. Open to any skill levels. All supplies included. This begins a six-session series, but par-ticipants can choose to take one or more sessions. Call to register and for fee information. 1-3 p.m.

SPORTS

February 22. GRU Augusta Half Marathon and 10K. Presented by Augusta Family Insurance, this event is billed as the half as long, twice as cool race. Gentle stretch yoga offered at the �nish line by Oxygen Fitness. Race starts and �nishes at Lake Olmstead. 8 a.m. For more information, 706-823-6609.

Augusta-Richmond County Recreation DepartmentEast Augusta, May Park, 622 4th St. 706-724-0505. South Augusta, Fleming Athletic Of�ce, Daniel Street. 706-796-5047. West Augusta, Eisenhower Athletic Of�ce, 488 Eisenhower Dr. 706-821-2801.

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February 2-27. Adult Spring Athletic Registra-tion. Divisions: Open Coed & Men’s Open, Men’s & Women’s Church, Open–Coed Church & Open–Men’s Industrial. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Diamond Lakes Regional Park Adult Complex, 108 Diamond Lakes Way, Hephzibah. Call 706-771-2980.

February 16-20. Youth Baseball & Softball Regis-tration. Coed T-Ball (boys & girls ages 5-6); Pitch-ing Machine Baseball & Softball (boys & girls ages 7-8); Live Pitch Baseball & Softball (boys & girls ages 9-10); Dixie Youth Boys Baseball (boys ages 11-12); Midget Girls Fast Pitch Softball (girls ages 11-12); Junior Boys Baseball (boys ages 13-14) Junior Girls Fast Pitch Softball (girls ages 13-14). Registration from noon-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Columbia County Recreation Department5445 Columbia Road, Grovetown.706-863-7523.

February 2–13. Spring Baseball & Softball Regis-tration. Baseball, boys, ages 7-14. (Age control date: May 1, 2015.) Softball, girls, ages 7-12. (Age control date: December 31, 2014.) T-Ball, coed, ages 4-6. (Age control date: May 1, 2015.)

CSRA Defensive Arts803-221-0330 or csraDefensiveArts.com.Martial Arts Classes. Ages 8-adult. Goshinjitsu, Kin-dai Karate and Kobojutsu. Call for information.

Martinez Evans Little Leaguewww.mellbaseball.org

February 7. GRU Jaguars/Little League Baseball Clinic. Held at the Augusta GreenJackets Baseball stadium, Milledge Road, Augusta. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

February 7. Live Registration Event. Held at Dick's Sporting Goods, Augusta Mall. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

February 18. Registration Closes: Majors.

February 19. Majors Tryouts. 6-8 p.m. 1475 Collins Dr., Martinez.

February 19. Majors Draft. 8010 p.m. 1475 Collins Dr., Martinez.

February 20. Registration Closes: Minors and Ma-chine Pitch.

February 21. Minors and Machine Pitch Tryouts. 6-8 p.m. 1475 Collins Dr., Martinez.

February 22. Minors and Machine Pitch Drafts. 6-8 p.m. 1475 Collins Dr., Martinez.

RECREATION PROGRAMS

Champions Made From AdversityP.O. Box 980, Evans, Ga.706-364-2422.www.cmfa.us.This nonpro�t organization strives to advance the lives of people with physical disabilities and their families through sport and leisure opportunities.

Current weekly schedule:Monday—Adapted �tness at the Kroc Center, 2-4 p.m. and wheelchair basketball at Garrett Elemen-tary School, 6:30-8 p.m.Tuesday—Swimming at Fort Gordon, 9-11 a.m., and quad rugby at the Kroc Center, 6-8 p.m.Wednesday—Wheelchair basketball, 6:30-8 p.m.Thursday—Swimming at Fort Gordon, 9-11 a.m., and Adapted Fitness at the Kroc Center, 3-5 p.m.

Friday—Adapted cycling at the uptown VA, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

The Family YFinancial assistance is available for all Family Y pro-grams. Register at any branch or online at www.the-familyy.org or call 706-922-9622.

February 2. Registration for Men’s Basketball at the Wilson Family Y. Season begins March 16. Reg-istration ends March 2. Ages 18 and up.

February 2–April 19. Miracle League Baseball Reg-istration. Miracle League is a baseball league spe-ci�cally designed for youth and adults with physical and developmental disabilities. Spring season will be April 25-June 13. Games are played on a rubberized surface �eld at the Miracle League Field behind the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center on Wrightsboro Road. Games will be Saturday mornings between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact Rina White at 706-922-9597.

February 9–March 5. Wilson Family YMCA Swim Lessons. Offering swim lessons for all ages and skill levels, ages 6 months to adult beginners. Lessons are held in four-week sessions with twice weekly classes held Mondays & Wednesdays, Tuesdays & Thursdays, or Saturdays. Open to Family Y mem-bers and non-members.

February 9-March 15. T-Ball School Registration. T-Ball School offered at the Aiken County, Augusta South, Marshall, Steiner Branch and Wilson Family YMCA’s. Ages 3-4 years (Aiken County & Augusta South), Ages 4-5 years (Marshall, Steiner Branch and Wilson). Season begins April 27.

February 9-March 15. Spring Baseball Registra-tion. Spring Baseball is offered at the Aiken County and Wilson Family YMCA’s. Season begins April 27. Ages 5-6 years old (Aiken County), Ages 6-12 years old (Wilson).

February 9-March 15. Spring Coach Pitch Base-ball. Coach pitch baseball leagues offered at the Marshall and Steiner Branch Family YMCA’s. Sea-son begins April 27. Ages 6-7 years.

February 10–28. Swim Team at the Wilson Family YMCA. Swim Team bridges the gap between swim lessons and USA Swim with speci�c training in en-durance and stroke work. Each swimmer must be able to swim 50 yards continually in each of the fol-lowing: freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke. For ages 6-18 years old. Swim team sessions are Tues-days/Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. and Fridays, 5-6 p.m.

CHIC 2015—University Hospital and The Augusta Chronicle's

Premiere Women's Event

Columbia County Exhibition Center 212 Partnership Drive, Grovetown.

Bring your girlfriends for a day of fash-ion, beauty, �tness, health, shopping and more. If you plan to have lab work done or your blood sugar checked, please fast for at least eight hours for the most accu-rate results. This event is free and open to the public.

University Hospital’s Heart Attack & Stroke Prevention team will be on site to provide a limited number of plaque scans on a �rst-come, �rst-serve basis. Plaque scans check the carotid artery for early signs of heart disease.

· Lipid pro�le: LDL, HDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol

· Blood sugar · Blood pressure · Information on a variety of health servic-

es with an impact on women's health, including women's services; University Hospital Vein Center; Weight Manage-ment and Bariatric Surgery; Grovetown UMC Primary Care, Prompt Care and Wound Care; Cancer; Diabetes; Ortho-paedics and more.



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February 13. Freedom Friday at Family YMCA of Augusta South. Fun, entertaining night from 4-8 p.m. for kids ages 8 weeks-12 years. Freedom Fri-day is free for active duty military families. Registra-tion is required one week in advance.

Valentine’s Date Night OutFebruary 13. Wilson Family YMCA. February 14. Family YMCA of North Augusta and Family YMCA of Aiken County.Create time for you by giving your kids a fun evening at the Y. Kids will enjoy creative play, arts and crafts, and character development activities from 5:30-11 p.m. for ages 2-12.

February 14 and 28. Parent’s Night Out at the Mar-shall Family YMCA. Open to children ages 2-12. Kids enjoy activities, games, crafts, and fun from 6 -9:30 p.m. while parents enjoy a night out. Food pro-vided by Chick-�l-A or Papa John’s pizza.

February 16. School Days Out at Family YMCA of North Augusta. Learning doesn’t end when school is out. We continue the love of learning through inter-active games, creative arts and character develop-

ment of school-aged students. Please bring a lunch, snack and water bottle. Pre-registration is required.

February 16 & 17. School Days Out at Wilson Fami-ly YMCA. Learning does not end when school is out. We want to continue the love of learning through in-teractive games, creative arts and character devel-opment activities for school-aged kids. School Days Out activities from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Early drop-off at 7 a.m. and late pick-up until 6 p.m. are available at no additional cost.

February 21. Parent’s Night Out at Family YMCA of Aiken County. Open to children ages 2-12, with care from 5:30-9 p.m. Kids enjoy activities and fun while parents enjoy a night out.

February 21. Parent’s Night Out at the Steiner Branch Family YMCA. Open to children ages 2-12. Kids enjoy activities, games, crafts and fun from 6–9:30 p.m. while parents enjoy a night out. Food provided by Marco’s Pizza.

February 28. Parent’s Night Out at Family YMCA of Augusta South. Fun, entertaining night from 6-9:30

p.m. for kids ages 8 weeks-12 years.

February 28. Dodgeball Tournament at the Wilson Family YMCA. Proceeds from the tournament will go towards the Wilson Family YMCA Annual Cam-paign. Registration is open until February 14.

Drop and Shop ProgramsFamily Y of Augusta South. Drop your kids off and take the morning to go shopping, hang out with friends or just relax. No reservation needed. Mon-day–Friday from 8:30 am-noon for ages 8 weeks-4 years. . Family Y of North Augusta. Drop your kids off and enjoy a productive morning while your kids have fun at the Y! Monday-Friday from 9 am-noon. C.

Ongoing. Adapted Aquatics Special Populations at the Wilson Family Y. Individual half-hour classes (one-to-one ratio) for individuals of all ages affected by physical or cognitive disabilities and individuals needing aquatic rehabilitation. Specially trained staff use swimming and aquatic �tness skills to improve participant’s independence and quality of life. By


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appointment only—call Claudia Collins at 706-922-9664.

Ongoing. Tae Kwon Do at the Family Y. Lessons of-fered for all skill levels ages 5 and up at the Family Y of Aiken County, Family Y of North Augusta, Family Y of Augusta South and Wilson Family Y. Lessons are twice a week, days vary by branch.

Ongoing. Birthday Parties at the Y. Fun happens at the Y! Celebrate family milestones or plan your next event at the Y. Two-hour rental of activity rooms at various Y locations offered. Prices, fees and times vary. Contact your local Y for details.

Ongoing. Family Y BlazeSports Team. Swim team for all ages for physically challenged swimmers to train for competition. Part of the BlazeSports Clubs of America training future Paralympians) Fee: $35/month for members; $50/month for non-members.

Ongoing. Family Y Multiple Sclerosis and Parkin-son Disease Aquatics Class. Sponsored by the CSRA Parkinson Support Group and The Family Y. Group class designed speci�cally for ambulatory participants affected by Multiple Sclerosis and Par-kinson Disease. Monday and Friday at noon at the Wilson Family YMCA indoor pool. For more informa-tion, call Claudia Collins for fee and registration at 706-922-9664.

The Salvation Army Kroc Center1833 Broad Street, Augusta.www.krocaugusta.org.706-364-KROC [email protected].

February 3, 10, 17 & 24. Toddler Tuesday. Walkers up to 5 years. Enjoy the splash area and more. One adult is free per child admission. Parent must remain with the child. Swim diaper and plastic pants are re-quired for infants and toddlers. 10:30 a.m.-noon.

February 3-26. Swim Lessons: Still Krocin'. Ages 16 and up. Learn to swim or improve your skills. Tues-days and Thursdays from 11-11:45 a.m. or 7:15-8 p.m. Call to register and for fees.

February 4, 11, 18 & 25. Kroc Kids. Free and open to the community. Ages 4 years through 12th grade. Youth of all ages will build character, explore per-sonal strengths, develop life skills, make music and more. Program separated by age. 5 p.m. Call Kroc Church at 706-364-4278 for details.

February 6, 13, 20 & 27. Kroc Tots Activity Hour. Ages 18 months to 5 years. An action-packed play date for parents and toddlers featuring children’s literature, art and craft projects, and social play. A guardian must remain with the child during Kroc Tots. 9:30-10:30 a.m.

February 6. Kids' Night Out. Ages 2-12. Activi-ties may include swimming, gym play, in�atables or crafts. Dinner included. Children must be pot-ty trained. Children ages 5 and up should wear a swimsuit, bring a towel and change or clothes and wear tennis shoes. 6-10 p.m. Call to register and for fees.

February 7, 14, 21 & 28. Lifeguarding Saturday Classes. 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

February 7. Acrylics: Water Lillies. Ages 15 and up. Learn to paint like master impressionist Claude Mo-net in this step-by-step acrylic painting class led by Sharon Taylor Padgett. All levels are welcome. Sup-plies included. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Call for fee.

February 9-21. Lifeguarding Two-Week Class. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6-10 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

February 19. Coffee and Canvases. Ages 13 and up. Relax after a long day by letting your artistic side loose and creating your own masterpiece. No experience necessary. Great to enjoy with a group of friends. Coffee, cookies and canvases

provided. 6:30-8:30 p.m.

February 21. First Aid, CPR & AED. Be prepared to respond to common �rst aid emergencies including burns, cuts, head, neck and back injuries and car-diac and breathing emergencies in adults, as well as the use of automated external de�brillators (AED). 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

February 21. Books & Brushes: Follow the Drinking Gourd. Read a specially selected book and create an art project based on it. Ages 3 and up. 10-11:30 a.m.

February 21. Manga Club. Ages 10 and up. Join Xavier Jones to learn techniques for drawing Manga style artwork. No previous experience needed. Sup-plies provided. 1-5 p.m. Call for fees.

February 21. Drawing Boot Camp. Ages 15 and up. Nanette Langner will introduce basic skills and techniques used in drawing. Perfect for beginners or those who want to refresh their skills. Supplies included in fee. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

February 21. Gourd Chickens. Create a whimsical folk art chicken for your home with Suzanne Simo-neau. Open to all levels. Supplies included in fee. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

February 26, 27 & 28. Basketweaving: Nantuck-et. Ages 17 and up. Make beautiful and function-al baskets with North Carolina weaver Joni Dee Ross. Emphasis is on beginners, but all levels are welcome. Call 706-922-0171 for supply fees. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

February 27. Family Movie Night. This event is free and open to members and the public. Mem-bers can reserve a spot up to a week before the event. Seating is limited and spots will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Movie night begins at 6 p.m.

February 28. Cupcakes and Canvases. Ages 5-12. Create your own mini-masterpiece and enjoy a sweet treat. Register alone or in a group. 10 a.m.-noon.

February 28. Intro to Painting: Horses. Ages 15 and up. Learn about equine anatomy, proportions and movement to create an equine-themed painting with Gretchen Hash Heffner. Open to all levels, but a ba-sic knowledge of acrylics is recommended. Supplies included in fee. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

-Salvation Army Kroc Center-

February 4-March 11. Leonard Jones Art Exhibit. Free and open to the community. Enjoy the work of this Georgia folk artist in the Kroc Center Community Wing be-tween 10 and 11:30 a.m.

February 19. Discovering Dave: Film. Free and open to the community. This �lm tells the story of Dave Drake, a slave from Edge�eld, S.C., who created pottery in the 1800s. Post-�lm discussion with George Wingard of the Savannah River Archeo-logical Research Program. 6:30-8 p.m. All ages welcome.

February 21. Books & Brushes. Families are invited to join us as we learn about the underground railroad by reading Fol-low the Drinking Gourd and creating an art project based on it. All ages welcome. Reservations required. 10-11:30 a.m.

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FAMILY ACTIVITIES

Aiken Home SchoolTimes Playgroup803-648-7042 [email protected]. This playgroup is open to all home schoolers. Meets at the O’Dell Weeks playground for unstructured play for the children and time with other home school parents for the adults. Noon.

Augusta Jewish Community Center898 Weinberger Way.706-228-3636 or log on at augustajcc.org.

Ongoing. The Mothers Circle. Free course, resourc-es, education and events for women of other back-grounds raising Jewish children. Call for details.

Sign Up for Class! The AJCC offers a wide variety of classes for children of all ages and adults, in-cluding athletics, the arts, cooking, language and more. Log on to download a complete listing.

Classical Conversationswww.classicalconversations.com.kelli.c.graham@att.net.Classical Conversations is a community of home educators following a Christian, classi-cal model of education. Five locations currently serve families in the CSRA —Augusta, Evans/Grovetown, Grovetown/Martinez, North Augus-ta and Aiken.

Monkey Joe’s368 Furys Ferry Rd.706-922-JUMP (5867).monkeyjoes.com.First Sunday of Each Month. Special Needs Night at Monkey Joe’s. This event is held the �rst Sunday of each month after general store hours to ensure a calm environment for special needs children and their parents. 6-7 p.m.

North AugustaHomeschool PlaygroupMeets Thursdays at various North Augusta parks for play. Field trips will also be scheduled. All ho-

meschoolers are welcome. Call 803-613-0484 or e-mail [email protected].

HOSPITAL PROGRAMS

Georgia Regents Health SystemRegister online at gru.edu.

Ongoing. Support Group for Families Who Have Lost a Baby During Pregnancy, Childbirth or Early Infancy. Call 706-721-8299 or visit their website.

February 3. Autism Spectrum Disorder Support and Resource Group (The “A-Team”). Education and support for families, caregivers and friends of children with autism spectrum disorders in-cluding autism, Asperger’s and PDD NOS. 6-7 p.m. Children’s Hospital of Georgia, First Floor, Family Resource Library, Room 1801. Call Family Services Development at 706-721-5160 for more information.

February 5. Infant CPR Training. This program al-

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At the BalletThe American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company is a classical ensemble made up of 14 dancers of outstanding potential. The mission of ABT Studio Com-

pany is to train young dancers in preparation for entering American Ballet Theatre’s main company or other leading national and international profes-

sional ballet companies. The Studio Company performances at the Imperial Theatre, February 7, will feature Stephen Mills’ Hush and Antony Tudor’s

Little Improvisations, and excerpts from Marius Petipa’s Le Corsaire and Merce Cunningham’s Duets. Presented by the Augusta Ballet. Imperial Theatre.

706-261-555 or www.augustaballet.org

Saturday, February 7 at 7 p.m. Imperial Theatre.

706-722-8341 or www.imperialtheatre.com.

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lows families and those caring for infants to learn the core skills of infant CPR and relief of choking. Taught by a certi�ed instructor. Registration required. Call 706-721-9351 or to go grhealth.org/classes. 6:30-8 p.m. Georgia Regents Medical Center, 7th Floor, Room 7001.

February 5 & 18. Cribs for Kids. Co-bunking and inappropriate infant furniture are putting area ba-bies at risk. Safe Kids Greater Augusta, led by Children's Hospital of Georgia, will teach caregiv-ers how to provide a safe sleep environment by showing what dangers to watch out for. Families who can demonstrate a financial need (Medicare, Peachcare or WICC) will receive a portable crib, fitted sheet, sleep sac and pacifier for a small fee. Call Rene Hopkins at 706-721-7606 to reg-ister. 5:45-8 p.m. on Feb. 6. 9:45 a.m.-noon on Feb. 19. Safe Kids Office, Building 1010C,1225 Walton Way.

February 6 & 11. Child Safety Seat Inspections. Four out of �ve car seats are used incorrectly. Schedule an appointment to make sure yours is in-stalled properly. Feb. 6 in Building 1010C, 1225 Wal-ton Way. Call Rene Hopkins, RN, at 706-721-7606 to schedule an appointment at the downtown location. Feb. 11 at Columbia County Sheriff’s Of�ce Substa-tion, 650 Ronald Reagan Dr. Call 706-541-3870 to make an appointment at the Columbia County loca-tion.

February 11. Your Amazing Baby. Includes topics such as baby's �rst hours, making the connection, diapering and bathing, sleep and crying patterns, normal newborn characteristics, hospital routines and infant safety. Both parents are encouraged to attend. Registration required. Call 706-721-9351. 6:30-9 p.m. Georgia Regents Medical Center, Sev-enth Floor South, Room 7524.

February 12 & 25. Car Seat Class. Safe Kids Greater Augusta offers car seat safety, education and train-ing. Financial assistance is available to Medicaid and Peach Care eligible families. Safe Kids Of�ce, Building 1010C, 1225 Walton Way. Call 706-721-7606 to register. 5:45-8 p.m.

February 17. Breastfeeding Class. A free class led by an International Board Certi�ed Lactation Con-sultant. Helps expectant parents gain knowledge and support to ensure successful breastfeeding. 7-9 p.m., Georgia Regents Medical Center, 7th Floor South, Room 7524.

706-651-3232 or doctors-hospital.net.

Call for class locations. Most classes held in Suite 310 of Medical Of�ce Building One, 3623 J. Dewey Gray Circle, on the Doctors Hospital Campus.

February 7 & 24. Safe Sitter. This nationally recog-nized program teaches students ages 11-13 safe and nurturing child care techniques, management and appropriate responses to medical emergencies. Call for time.

February 3. Ready and Able. This three-session class is recommended for late pregnancy. Top-ics include childbirth process, comfort techniques, medications/epidurals, relaxation, and breathing techniques. Intended to be taken with Showing and Glowing. 7–9:30 p.m. Call 706-651-BABY (2229) to register.

February 21 & 22. Short and Sweet. A weekend childbirth class covering the process of labor and delivery, comfort techniques and childbirth, medi-cation/epidurals and relaxation and breathing techniques. 9 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. on the 21st and 1-5 p.m. on the 22nd. Call 706.651. BABY (2229) to register.

February 12. Big Brother/Big Sister. Becoming a big brother or big sister is a big event! Class offers fun, educational, interactive activities so your chil-dren will be prepared to welcome the new baby. Call 706-651-BABY (2229) to register and for time.

Call Women’s Health Services at 706-481-7727 or visit trinityofaugusta.com for information and regis-tration. Please call for class times.

February 7 Saturday Express Lamaze Childbirth Education. Helps mother and support person un-derstand the �nal stages of pregnancy as well as labor and the birth of your baby. Covers natural and medicated deliveries, Lamaze coping techniques and more. 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

February 10. Childbirth Education 101. Learn about the signs and symptoms of labor as well as labor and delivery. 6-8:30 p.m.

February 13. Breastfeeding Support Group. Help, understanding and guidance in breastfeeding.

February 14. Growing Boys. Boys ages 9-12 ac-companied by their father, male relative or friend will �nd helpful information on what to expect in the pre-adolescent years. Knowing what to expect can help boys weather this transition without undue anxiety, confusion and frustration.

February 17. Infant CPR. Learn how to respond in an emergency situation using infant mannequins and a simple step-by-step method. 6-8 p.m.

February 21. Stepping Into Manhood. Boys 12-15 accompanied by their father, male relative or friend, join the instructor in frank discussions on sexual-ity, peer pressure and responsible decision making. This course teaches teenage boys the importance of making their own decisions and how to assertively say "no."

February 23. The Birds, The Bees and Me. This course brings together 12-15-year-old girls and their mother, female relative or friend for frank discus-sions on sexuality, peer pressure and responsible decision making. Course content deals with the changes, challenges and decisions that confront to-day's teenage girls.

Call 706-774-2825 or logon at www.universityhealth.org/calendar for information. Registration is required for most programs.

February 2-23 (Mondays), February 3-24 (Tues-days) or February 4-25 (Wednesdays). Prenatal Education. This multi-week series of childbirth preparation classes is designed to inform and prepare all expectant parents regardless of birth plans. Class topics include various stages of la-bor, breathing and relaxation and how to care for yourself and your new baby. 7-9 p.m. in the Women’s Center Third Floor Classroom. Registra-tion required.

February 6 & 7 or 20 & 21. Childbirth Preparation Weekend Class. A complete childbirth preparation class designed for those with time constraints or �uctuating schedules. Class meets from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Satur-day. Also included is a follow-up evening at the W.G. Watson, M.D., Women’s Center for a tour, question-and-answer session and review.

February 19. Breastfeeding Class. This class offers in-depth information on how to evaluate breastfeed-ing and get off to a good start. Registration is sug-gested. Call 706-774-2825. 7-8 p.m. at Babies R Us, 4225 Washington Rd., Evans.

February 26. Introduction to Infant CPR. Do you worry about knowing how to revive your baby should the need arise? This class provides an opportunity to learn and practice infant CPR on mannequins and learn other aspects of infant safety. Space is limited, so early registration is suggested. 7-8:30 p.m. v

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www.augustafamily.comwww.augustafamily.com

NATIONAL DENTAL MONTHNATIONAL DENTAL MONTH


First job: Working at a veterinary clinic. Dream vacation: Tahiti. I want to stay in a hut on the water. Quality she admires the most: Loy-

alty. Favorite food: Chick-�l-A. Super power she’d like to have: To slow down time. (Most of the time.) Might surprise people about

her: I take a nap any chance I get, which is not very often. Best thing about being a mom: The laughter and hugs and kisses. Hardest

part about being a mom: Worrying if you are doing everything right to mold them into responsible people. Favorite Indulgence: Godiva

chocolate tri�e from 5 O’Clock Bistro. Planner, dreamer or doer? I would say a doer. I do not procrastinate and can’t stand it when

people do. If something needs to be done, I do it. Of course I prioritize but eventually it will all get accomplished. I’m too busy to push

things off until later. Greatest hope: To enjoy life, no regrets. Is inspired by: My kids.

GirlGO

Ryan Rhodes, DVM | Exercise Enthusiast

Ryan Rhodes, 31, is a veterinarian. She and her husband, Scott, director for TaxSlayer Books, have three children, Jones, 4, Landers, 2, and Collins, 1. Rhodes loves to work out and her one-word description of herself is “active.” She’s embarassed to admit it, but 19 Kids and Counting is her favorite TV show. “I love the way she speaks to and handles her children in such a calm and loving manner all the time, no yelling (at least not on camera). I would love to sit down and have a conversation with her about child-rearing.

by Mallory Daniel

augusta family magazine february 2015

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