Expert Q&A
Q We’ve been distance learning this school year, and doing the best we can, but I’m worried my 2nd grader is falling behind in reading. How can I make sure she learns to read on time? A Every parent is in a similar boat this year. Relative to their peers, it’s unlikely that your child will be…
Overnight Breakfast Bake: Chilaquiles
Could there be a more “parent-friendly” dish than an overnight bake? Assemble in the evening and effortlessly enjoy in the morning! Feeding up to eight, with this dish, there’s barely any prep work come sunrise on Sunday morning when tiny, hungry hands are tugging you out of bed. One of my favorite breakfast dishes is…
Winter Calendar
January-March Junior Snow Ranger Program OUTSIDE – This outdoor winter event is open to children of all ages. The Bend Fort Rock Ranger District of the Deschutes National Forest and Mt. Bachelor present this hands-on fun learning experience for youth. A great chance for kids to learn about snowshoeing, winter safety and the science behind…
The Perfect Match
Think back to when you were a kid. Was there an influential adult in your life to whom you weren’t related? How did they help you get to where you are today? This thought process is precisely what’s behind Big Brothers Big Sisters, says Program Director Sandy Cassio. Surprisingly, children who have parents who are…
Buy Nothing. Give Freely. Share Creatively
Did you know that there is a hyper-local gift economy where parents across Bend are actively creating community? Buy Nothing Bend North and South are Facebook groups with just under a combined 2000 members who strive to buy nothing, give freely and share creatively. Formed using the model of the original Buy Nothing Project, which…
Fun (and a Little Messy) Valentine’s Day Craft
Nothing quite says “I LOVE YOU” like a hand-made heart-shaped card covered in gorgeous, swirly, vibrant, marble colors! You will need: • Thick piece of white cardstock • Pair of scissors • Flat dish (plastic art tray, cake pan, cutting board, etc.) • Can of foamy shaving cream (NOT gel!) • Spoon or spatula for…
It’s a Desert Out There
Sarah Bystrom is a sales director and working mother of a family of four in Bend. She and her husband are raising two boys—one 3 years old and another age 20-months. On a workday, Bystrom leaves the house at 7:20 am to drop her youngest son at his daycare in northwest Bend and her older…
The Aerodynamics of Youth
Brrmmmm… the sound of the engine roars to life as the small plane rumbles down the runway and ascends quickly into the sky. On board the 1971 Grumman Yankee AA-1A is longtime veteran pilot Kim Muinch and his fearless passenger, 16-year-old Lucas Tracy, a junior at Ridgeview High School in Redmond. Just a few miles…
Bend-La Pine Schools Names New Superintendent
Bend-La Pine Schools’ new superintendent will take the reins starting this July, replacing Interim Superintendent Lora Nordquist. Cook is currently the superintendent for the Coeur d’Alene School District in Idaho and served in various leadership roles, including acting superintendent, for the Douglas County School District in Colorado prior to that. “I am excited to come…
Free-Roam VR Unleashed
Families with teens looking for something exciting to do will want to check out Zero Latency, the new VR arena, which recently opened in Wagner Mall, where Nature’s used to be. I recently had the pleasure of testing out the VR arena and the experience was incredible! After a brief introduction where they tell you…
Let’s Get Out There!
If you live in Central Oregon, you know that winter is not a time for hibernating, but a time for getting out in the glistening snowy wonderland. As we jump into the full swing of winter amidst pandemic restrictions, you may be wondering what activities are still on offer for kids in Bend and beyond.…
Bookshelf
Ice! Poems About Polar Life by Douglas Florian What animals live in the polar region? Discover the Arctic through a selection of animal poems and interesting facts. What is a Ptarmigan? Does it live in the Arctic? And why is everyone eating krill? Get ready to yell out rhyming words, howl like a gray wolf…
Editor’s Note
Although small businesses are still struggling due to closures and difficult regulations, I am hopeful for this new year, hopeful that the ship will soon right itself. Here at Bend Nest, we are ever thankful for the businesses that have stuck by our side during the pandemic and for you, dear readers, for staying engaged.…
Best of the Nest 2021: It’s time to vote!
It’s that time of year again—time to vote for your favorite family friendly businesses in Central Oregon! From food to vets to pediatricians, there’s lots of love to give around! Where’s the best place to eat out with kids? Which preschool is the place to be? Who has the yummiest sweet treats? Vote for all…
