Best of the Nest 2024 Winners!
Loving what you do and working hard at it are the keys to success. Thanks to our vibrant community of dedicated individuals and businesses who deliver top-notch services and products on the daily, raising a family in the high desert is a dreamy endeavor. This year, Nest followers rallied in great numbers to voice their…
Best Midwife: Kelsey Spanbauer, Engedi Wellness
BN: How long have you been practicing midwifery in Central Oregon? KS: I was born in Bend and I’ve been a midwife here for more than 13 years. BN: What can a woman expect on her first visit with you? KS: We start by discussing the mother’s vision for her birth experience. Our role can…
Best Children’s Clothing Store: Hopscotch Kids
BN: What’s new and exciting at Hopscotch Kids this season? BB: We just expanded our store space, and we’ve revamped our website. Since we took over the space next door, we have more inventory and a greater selection, especially for baby essentials like car seats and strollers, plus travel and outdoor gear for parents and…
Nest Bookshelf: A Bear, A Fish, And A Fishy Wish
A Bear, A Fish, And A Fishy Wish Words by Daniel Bernstrom and Art by Brandon James Scott Who will get their fishy wish?” Hungry Bear hopes it will be him! Little ones will smile as Bear goes on a new adventure along the river. Follow him as he chases a fish through the flowing…
Nest Bookshelf: Welcome to the Wonder House
Welcome to the Wonder House Poems by Rebecca Kai Dotlich & Georgia Heard. Illustrations by Deborah Freedman We are all born with a sense of wonder.” In this poetry collection, even simple objects such as a window, door or tree house inspire verse. Readers walk through the Wonder House, where each room is filled with…
Health Expert Q&A
Q: I know my kids need to eat healthier, but I don’t know where to start. There are so many convenient pre-packaged food options that I seem to fall into the trap of buying what’s easiest. How can I reset my way of thinking? A: Eating processed foods is at the heart of our modern-day health…
Family Mocktails
Summer takes the cake when it comes to unstructured schedules. Tis the season of slower mornings and MUCH later nights, thanks to our PNW latitude, and the time for being together instead of going every which way. Summer begs us to go off-script and do things just for fun. So, in between the camps and…
Cuts, Bruises and Blisters
Summertime adventuring is what we live for in Central Oregon. The lakeside strolls, river wading, tadpole catching and lazy paddles fill our idyllic summer days. If your kids are anything like mine, they can often be found rock jumping, traipsing barefoot around campsites and scrambling up any tree in their path. As we let kids…
Kirstin Vlodica, Chidlren’s Pastor at New Hope Church
Kirstin is a wife, mom and a pastor at New Hope Church in Bend, where she has worked in family ministry for 16 years. She and her husband, Tyler, have two daughters, Avaree (14) and Maycie (11). When she doesn’t have her nose stuck in a book, she loves family time, riding bikes on the…
Central Oregon Junior Golf Association Expands Offerings
The Central Oregon Junior Golf Association just unveiled its 2024 development programs for youth, ages 4-18. Through interactive and social games, movement and play, young golfers will learn foundational skills necessary for the game, as well as gain valuable life lessons. As golfers grow, COJGA builds on this foundation with strategy-driven tasks and cooperative learning,…
Bend La-Pine School District Brings Back Free Summer Lunch Program
The Bend-La Pine School District announced it will offer healthy meals at no charge to those 18 and younger at four Central Oregon locations this summer. There is no registration or fee to receive a free lunch through the program that begins June 24 and continues through August 23 (closed July 4 and 5). All…
Family-Friendly Food Park Opens in Redmond
A new family-friendly food cart pod focused on good food and no alcohol recently opened in Redmond. The pod, called Redmond Food Park, is located at 122 SW 5th St. in downtown Redmond and creates a space for guests to eat, play cornhole and relax with friends and family in a non-drinking atmosphere. The park currently…
Editors Note Summer 2024
What are your travel plans this summer? Experiencing various cultures and environments tends to have a positive impact on developing minds. Having just returned from a rejuvenating family vacation, I feel like I gained some insight into slowing down, spending more time with family and friends and valuing quality over quantity. As we anticipate the…
Become a Junior Park Ranger
Families who have visited one or more of the U.S. National Parks may be familiar with this motto and the Junior Ranger program. This is a super fun and educational way for kids to learn about the variety of natural landscapes throughout the country. Plus, you get to collect cool badges! I have a healthy…
Best Veterinarian: Pawtown Veterinary Care
BN: How long has Pawtown been in business? LS: We opened here two years ago, in March of 2022. We have really enjoyed watching the practice grow, while meeting a lot of new patients and families. We have a great support staff who are good friendly people enjoying what they do. BN: Does Pawtown offer…
It’s a Magical World
While summer vacation conjures dreamy images of family time and no homework, all parents know that keeping kids entertained throughout the break is no easy task. Without the daily routine of school and extracurricular activities, it’s easy for children to complain of boredom. Furthermore, in this age of smartphones and digital devices, it’s even easier…
Best Children’s Therapist: Lark Song Counseling
BN: What types of therapy does Lark Song offer children? AT: Play therapy is often the best way to begin with young children, but we have different approaches for different ages. We tend to take a non-directive or child-centered approach, meaning that we discover how they will best be able to communicate in the therapeutic…
What’s Hot in 2024
As the sun stretches its golden rays across Central Oregon, families can almost taste the arrival of summer – a time most certainly filled with outdoor adventure. With the season fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to explore the latest and greatest in kids’ summer gear for enjoying our natural playground. We asked local store…
Best Sports Physical Therapist: Denny Dragan, MS PT Redbird Physiocare
BN: You were voted Best Sports PT. What differentiates that type of physical therapy from others? DD: Most of the sports injuries we see come down to biomechanics, fine tuning what the athletes need to improve their sport. With regular PT, most people come in needing to get back to walking up and down stairs…
Fun in the Sun for Central Oregon Kids
Abstract in Motion Camp Ages 6 and up 541-505-3318 abstract-in-motion.com /campsandevents Apex Football Ages 6-12 541 977-1358 apexfcbend.com/club/campsclinics These four-day camps taught by experienced soccer professionals have a specific theme each week and focus on dribbling, shooting, receiving, as well as feature small-sided games. Three weeks at Big Sky Park are available: July 15-18, July…
BendNest Calendar: Summer 2024
Wednesdays Bend Farmers Market LOCAL – Showcasing 100% Oregon-produced goods, this family friendly event features food, drinks, flowers, crafts and more. 11 am–3 pm Brooks Alley, Downtown Bend | Free bendfarmersmarket.com. Backpack Explorers EXPLORE – Come on an adventure! Children ages 3-5 and their caregivers learn science, art, music and more together with an assortment…
