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Stellar Roadtrip for the Kids

Whenever family comes to town for a visit, my wife tries to plan some type of tourist trip for them. Since we have young kids, as the saying goes, “we don’t get out much,” so it is generally something we genuinely look forward to as well. This past weekend, we ventured up to check out the Griffith Observatory overlooking metro Los Angeles. It was closed in 2002, for a four year renovation and expansion project after decades of heavy use.

The visit is free (including parking), and includes all of the exhibits in the main halls, “The Once and Future Griffith Observatory” video (24 minutes) in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater, as well as the Zeiss Telescope on the roof (7-10pm on those rare clear nights, of course).

There is currently a show entitled, “Centered in the Universe” (33 minutes), playing in the planetarium but since we had the toddlers in tow we did not venture. For those of you interested, please know that they do admit children 4 years and under but only to the first show of the day.

The main exhibits are stuffed with interactive kiosks describing everything from the relationship between the ocean’s tides and the moon, what happens during an eclipse, what the surface of Saturn is like and why Pluto is not considered a planet anymore. There is a lot to take in and fortunately the experience was very tactile (good to keep the kids entertained).

After soaking up the exhibits, be sure to walk along the southern edge of the observatory (outside the planetarium), you will experience an breathtaking views of Los Angeles. The lawn by the Astronomer Monument was a perfect place for the boys to work off some of that pent-up energy and have a snack in the shade.

If you do decide to go on the weekend, go early. The parking lot fills up quickly.

Related Sites:
Griffith Observatory

Tags: 13-18 years, 6-8 years, 9-12 years, educational, technology

Digging Fossils in Los Angeles

Tucked in the expansive Exposition Park (between USC and the Los Angeles Coliseum), the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is a crown jewel of Los Angeles’ museums. Touted as the national leader in exhibitions, education and research, the Museum was L.A.’s first cultural institution to open its doors to the public in 1913. It is the largest natural and historical museum in the Western United States, with a collection of more than 35 million different specimens and artifacts, so it is fair to say the Museum is worth a few visits if you want to give it it’s due diligence.

Last week, I took the kids to see as much of the three floors of permanent exhibits as we could cover. We were greeted by the towering “Dueling Dinosaurs,” complete skeletons of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops in battle in the majestic Grand Foyer. At that point it was clear to me that this museum was going to be in pure Hollywood style – all about the lighting. Pools of light pulled us into each of the grand halls and past each of the exquisite dioramas.

In addition to special exhibitions (currently you can look through the glass and over the shoulders of the Museum’s paleontology team as they prepare the fossil of the Tyrannosaurus rex nicknamed “Thomas” in a specially designed exhibit room and lab) , the Museum boasts magnificent permanent halls that feature grand dioramas of African and American mammals, rare dinosaurs and fossils, marine animals, Pre-Columbian culture, and historical artifacts from California and Southwest history, as well as early Hollywood memorabilia. The exquisite Gem & Mineral Hall features the largest collection of gold in the United States.

At lunch we walked passed the Butterfly Pavilion (I think it is currently being transformed into the Spider Pavilion for the Fall Season), and grabbed a picnic table within view of the Rose Garden and enjoyed our spread.

The kid-friendly Ralph M. Parsons Discovery Center and Insect Zoo, located on the ground floor (more like the basement since you enter from above), provides interactive family learning with “handle-able” specimens such as shells and fossils; terrariums filled with insects, reptiles and amphibians; and Gallery Interpreters who answer questions and offer daily animal presentations.

In the Paleo Dig Pit [*photo above] which is also on the ground floor, kids learn can about excavation by digging for dinosaur bones and they get to spin off some energy. There is jars of molted snake skin for the kids to feel as well as leathered snake hide to handle.

Sited Links:
LA Museum of Natural History

Tags: 6-8 years, 9-12 years, dinosaurs, educational, geology, kid friendly, museum, natural history, science

Bigger Than Life Posters for the Kids Room

826LA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Their services are structured around our belief that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.

They have two locations in metro Los Angeles; one in Venice and one in Echo Park. Aside from providing tutoring services they have helped published collections of short stories, musings, poetry and essays from area kids and have a basket of t shirts and posters that are too cool for school!

(Via 826la.Org)

Tags: 13-18 years, 6-8 years, 9-12 years, design, kids room, school, tutoring

New 2008 Motor Vehicle Wireless Telephone Laws

Moms and Dads please take note of two new laws dealing with the use of wireless telephones while driving go into effect July 1, 2008 in the state of California. The two laws were the result of SB 1613 and SB 33, authored by Assemblyman Joe Simitian and signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September 2006.

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions concerning these new laws.

Q: When do the new wireless telephone laws take effect?
A: The new laws take effect July 1, 2008.

Q: What is the difference between the two laws?
A: The first prohibits all drivers from using a hand held wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle, (Vehicle Code (VC) §23123). Motorists 18 and over may use a “hands-free device.” Drivers under the age of 18 may NOT use a wireless telephone or hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle (VC §23124).

Q: What if I need to use my telephone during an emergency, and I do not have a “hands-free” device?
A: The law allows a driver to use a wireless telephone to make emergency calls to a law enforcement agency, a medical provider, the fire department, or other emergency services agency.

Q: What are the fines(s) if I’m convicted?
A: The base fine for the FIRST offense is More »

Tags: law

Great Rebate and Purchasing Incentives for LA Residents

Did you know that the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services will give each home up to seven free trees and deliver them to directly to your curb? They have a selection of one hundred and fifty different trees to choose from. And did you know the the Los Angeles Department of Sanitation has a free mulch program with half a dozen pickup locations that are open seven days a week? You can show up with a bin, bag or fill up the back of your pick-up with free mulch that is comprised of chopped trimmings from the trees that line the city’s parkways.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power have a number of resident and non-resident programs, including a High-Efficiency Washing Machines Rebate Program (just be sure to print out their list of pre-approved machines before purchasing) and Refrigerator Turn-in and Recycle Program as well as a Low Income Refrigerator Purchasing Program for qualifying low-income households. They also have a number of state-subsidized Solar Incentives that essentially offer rebates on the installation of residential photovoltaic systems.

To help promote solar power in Los Angeles and decrease our dependence upon traditional, scarce energy resources, LADWP offers a solar incentive program to make solar power more affordable. Our goal is 20 megawatts of solar power in Los Angeles by 2010… the solar power program has been authorized a total budget of $150 million through June 30, 2011.” ~ LA Department of Water and Power

The LADWP has a special division allocated just for the California State Solar Incentive and I have spoke with them a few times. They are very patient and helpful, understanding that the technology is constantly evolving and the formulas used for understanding a home owner’s (system) needs are complex, they will take the time to help you get going on the right track and even provide lists of qualified state-approved contractors in your area.

And for those of us living in Southern California there is two unique programs offered in the spring by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) — Low Pollution Leaf Blower Incentive Program and the Electric Lawn Mower Purchase Program with are both designed to offer no or low pollution solution for home owners and gardeners.

These machines are a significant source of smog-forming emissions. In one year, the average two-stroke backpack leaf blower emits as much pollution as 80 new cars. The blowers in the exchange program, manufactured by STIHL Inc., are nearly five times cleaner than the California Air Resources Board’s most stringent standard for new blowers. By scrapping 1,500 old blowers and replacing them with low-emission STIHL blowers, the program will reduce at least 14 tons per year of smog-forming emissions.” ~ AQMD

These offers happen now and their availability is limited so sign up with the AQMD for a reminder to be sent when the programs start again in the spring. And if you are interested in the Solar Incentive Program call them on the sooner side since their allocations are based on yearly stipends, so when the incentive is used up for the year, you have to wait for the program to start up again the next calendar year (call them for details or go to the California State Energy Commission).

Related Links;
TreesAreGood.Com | Tree Care
California Energy Commission | Current Rebates and Residential Incentives
Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services | Free Trees Program
Los Angeles Department of Sanitation | Free Mulch Program
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power | Washing Machine Rebate Program
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power | Refrigerator Recycling Program
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power | Solar Incentive Program
South Coast Air Quality Management District | Leaf Blower Incentive Program
South Coast Air Quality Management District | Electric Lawn Mower Purchase Program

Tags: better dad, better living, dad hack, family finances

JAG For The Kids

My oldest son is three and a half. He doesn’t particularly like the swings. He is wary of ladders. He’s flat footed. He’s cautious and we love him for it, nonetheless. It was suggested to us to have him try gymnastics and we did reluctantly. Boy have we been surprised at how much he fully enjoys his classes at the Josephson Academy of Gymnastics (J.A.G.). The instructor-kid ratio is nice and low. They seem to keep the kids constantly engaged with good pacing and direction. Our son loves it. It’s located in the Hayden Tract of Culver City between Jefferson Boulevard and National, off Higuera.

The gym itself is an expansive space (over 24,000 square feet) with classes ranging from babies (Bears and Cubs, Frogs and Tadpoles) to toddlers (Camels, Elephants, Kangaroos and Joeys) through school-aged dance and gymnastics classes. For the younger kids they have parent/kid classes as well as classes with no-parent involvement. Of course they have a cafe style waiting area for the parents the tikes tumble around on the floor.

Parent Tip: If you do sign your kid up for a class and you stick around to watch, go upstairs to get a great bird’s eye view of the gym floor. Downstairs experiences heavy traffic and it gets kinda crazy.

Related Sites:
The Josephson Academy of Gymnastics
Meta-DAD Review @ Parentography

Tags: 2-4 years, 3-5 years, 6-8 years, 9-12 years, kids activity, kids health