Getting ready to send the kids back to school is no small job. There’s the mental preparation as well as the hunter/gatherer work to be done for school supplies and new clothes to fit tiny tykes who shot up over the summer months. Unfortunately, students aren’t the only things that have grown. Inflation is at […]
Bend Nest
Bend Nest is a place to discuss, consider and laugh about all that parenting brings. A quarterly magazine produced by some of the finest writers, editors and photographers in Central Oregon, Bend Nest is smart and informed.
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Book Shelf
Merci Suárez Plays It Cool Written by Meg Medina Are you ready for middle school? Friendships are always changing, especially for Merci. Summer has been busy helping out with the twins and spending time with the rest of her family. It’s been forever since she’s seen her friends and now eighth grade is starting. When […]
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Easy Dinners for busy fall schedules
What’s for dinner doesn’t have to be hours in the making
Once daily routines fall back into place after summer activities, moving dinnertime back indoors, away from picnics and barbeques, can feel overwhelming. Here are some ideas to make suppertime simpler, more easygoing and of course, family-oriented. 1. Meal plan ahead of time. Write down at least a week’s worth of menu ideas in advance. Get […]
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Editor’s Notes
Growing up, back to school always meant a new pair of shoes. We’d load into the station wagon, hit the mall and return with magnificent new kicks to wear on the first day. That small trip suggested the changing of seasons and prepared us for a new school year. What is your family’s ritual to […]
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A little help goes a long way
MountainStar Family Relief Nursery Lifts Up the Children of Central Oregon
Most parents would agree that raising children is never a piece of cake, but for some, this sentiment crosses into the realm of the impossible. An individual who is ill-equipped for being a parent can create chaos and turmoil in a child’s life, which can then be detrimental to the child’s wellbeing down the road. […]
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Forging the Future
A radical new school opens in Bend
Imagine an alternative. Imagine your child’s day: They wake up, wolf down breakfast, get dressed and then head off to school-only “school” isn’t inside a fluorescent-lit, rectangular box. School takes place inside a traditional Native American tipi, replete with heated floors, swivel chair desks, a modern whiteboard and two teachers whose effervescence fills the room. […]
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Best Family Night Out
A Q&A with Scott Ramsey of Sun Mountain Fun Center
Sun Mountain, built and operated by the Ramsey family of Bend, has been dishing up fun in Central Oregon since 1995. During the pandemic, the facility underwent a major renovation, offering a more adult-friendly atmosphere as well as adding some new, active games for the kids. Owner Scott Ramsey talks more about the updates. The […]
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Best Summer Camp
A Q&A with Wildheart Nature School
Wildheart offers unique, nature-oriented educational programs for kids of all ages. In addition to spring and winter camps, classes are available throughout the school year for after-school or home school students. A mixed, preschool- Kindergarten class is Wildheart’s newest addition. Co-founders Amara and Rainbow Dreamer tell us more. How would you describe a typical day […]
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Best Art Instruction
A Q&A with Marlene Alexander
Artist and curator, Marlene Alexander, has been teaching children art in Central Oregon for 37 years. She recently shared about how the program began and what kinds of art she teaches today. How did you get started teaching art to kids? It came up one day when a group of us (former members of Art […]
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Best Nonprofit Serving Children
A Q&A with Family Access Network
Family Access Network began meeting the needs of Oregon families in 1993. Since then, the organization has expanded its scope from Deschutes County to greater Central Oregon, now serving almost every school district in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook Counties. FAN Executive Director Julie Lyche tells Bend Nest more about the program. How did Family Access […]