Chandler Police - Youth Academy

Earlier this month I sent my daughter to the Youth Academy at the Chandler Police Department - she enjoyed it so much! AND....She has already asked to again next year (even though she threatened to have me arrested for forging her signature on the sign-up form).  The Academy was five days, from 9am-4pm where they learned about all aspects of law enforcement. The classes were led by some of the nicest individuals who presented the kids with a side of law enforcement that most people do not see. T-shirt, lunch and snacks all included in the fee. By the way the fee is FREE!

I am still so jealous that I could not do this too (well... actually I signed up for the Citizens Academy - can't wait!). Criminal law, self defense, forensics, the artillery range and K9 training are just a few of the topics they learned by doing hands on activities.

I must thank the Chandler PD for giving their time and talents to the kids and help them see that there is a difference between how law enforcement is portrayed in the media and how they are in real life. They host this four times a year. The local restaurants donate the lunches and a local print shop donates the t-shirts.

Special Thank you to Katie for helping to write this review.
http://chandlerpd.com/youth-academy/

Phoenix COMICON 2015

This was my family's first time at Phoenix COMICON and it was so much more than I thought it would be.  Three floors of merchandise, LEGO, cosplayers, anime, and photo ops. There were so many amazing and creative costumes that it was fun to just sit and watch characters walk by. It was crowded to be sure, but everyone was polite and made sure that all children were given first chance to get to their destination. There were lots of special events to attend and you would really need to attend several days to soak it all in. A local gaming group hosted open gaming tables and the winners were given cool prizes. Overall it was a very family-friendly event and we look forward to going back again.

Special thank you to Katie Prator for their contributions to this edition.

National Weather Service -- Tempe

My daughter and I took a tour of the National Weather Service. We learned about all of the technologies and people needed to collect and analyze atmospheric data that is then used to create accurate weather forecasts. They also spring into action during severe weather to help keep people safe and provide information to local first responders. It was about an hour long and we asked thousands of questions. This is not a tour filled with bells and whistles, there is no WOW picture. But if you have an interest in science, a desire to travel or are curious how to be a weatherperson on television or in print, tornado chaser etc... then this is for you.

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/psr/

Crafting at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Recently I have discovered the many wonders of the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.  Not only is it a beautiful place to explore and learn about various plants and trees, they also host different classes throughout the year. Recently I learned the art of turning wine bottles into wind chimes and even took my daughter to a Woodworking class. Let's not forget that this is a beautiful place to hike and take hundreds of pictures. There are several trails to hike and places to picnic so that you can return several times throughout the year and keep enjoying something new.

It is a quick and easy drive from Phoenix and is open practically year round.  The list of classes available for adults and youth visitors is long and I hope to take several more!

https://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu

Horseback Riding at Fort McDowell Adventures

Have you ever just wanted to mount  a horse and ride? Cross the Verde River, see some wildlife against the backdrop of the beautiful Arizona desert? Fort McDowell Adventures offers just that and much more.

Fort McDowell Adventures is a venue my daughter and I visit at least three times a year. They are so friendly and really work at making your visit relaxing and enjoyable.  They match your horse with your riding skill, so if you are a beginner there is no reason to fear - you will be just fine so sit back and enjoy the trail. They offer all sorts of different adventures and we look forward to trying something new from them soon.

http://www.fortmcdowelladventures.com/about-our-venues/horseback-riding/

My daughter is 12 have practically "Jane Wayne".  She loves these mornings alone with me and I love that she keeps and eye on me!

We crossed the Verde River 4 times and saw wildlife as we made our way across the changing landscape for the 90-minute ride.

Kayaking the Upper Salt River

Every day is a good day for adventure, for trying something new, and so this past Mother's Day I asked to go kayaking. My family jumped at the chance!

Capt Ted is a wonderful tour guide. Thru him we had everything everyone needed for our adventure - Kayaks (single or tandem), wet bags, life vests and park passes. He guides you with expertise and calmness. We stopped twice along the journey to stretch our legs on  beach and have a snack. Throughout our 9 mile - 4 1/2 hour trip we witnessed wild mustangs, cattle, beavers, bald eagles, coyotes, turtles, road runners and other wildlife. We took our children too. My 15 yr old boy and 12 year old daughter had the best morning and have asked to back and next time they want a solo kayak.

I would recommend Capt Ted and am looking forward to another adventure. Perhaps Father's Day?

Balboa Park and Museums, San Diego CA

Next to the San Diego Zoo is a great park hosting 15 museums, gardens, theatre performances and so much more! My family and I had the pleasure of spending the weekend in April here and enjoyed ourselves so much. Panama 66 is a lovely al fresco restaurant with a menu that was tastier than I ever expected. There are a great variety of museums for almost any interest and the park has lots of places to explore. The park itself is a sprawling area originally used by San Diego to host a Panama - California exhibition celebrating the opening of the Panama Canal in 1915 and also used to host United Nations events in the 1950s. The park visitors center sells different types of passes allowing you entrance to multiple attractions in a day or over the span of a week.

During our visit the San Diego Turtle and Tortoise Society held an event in one of the exhibition halls and they host different events throughout the year so check the schedules for things of interest to enhance your visit. The Turtle exhibition was just our first stop in our day-long adventure to the Air & Space Museum, Museum of Man, Automotive Museum, an al-fresco lunch at Panama 66, and then a tour through the impressive Museum of Natural History (it was a very full day).

The San Diego Museum of Man is the only museum dedicated to anthropology in the Southern California region and you can learn about the history of mankind and even see real mummies and other ancient artifacts. While we were there the museum was hosting a special engagements on the Instruments of Torture Tour - a limited engagement with historical artifacts from the era of the Inquisition in Europe - was thought provoking to say the least and may not be appropriate for all audiences.

Another "extra" tour we took was the California Tower Tour within the Museum of Man. The building the museum is housed within was one of the three remaining original buildings from the 1915 exhibition and was designed to look like a classic Spanish Mission with a ten-story "bell tower" (which was purely decorative and never actually housed any bells). There has been no public access to that view for more than 75 years. The tour takes you up 164 steps to the 8th floor of the tower where you will enjoy panoramic views of San Diego. It was wonderful! Instead of large cast bells, the Tower’s music comes from an electronic carillon installed in 1946 and upgraded in the 1990s. A musician sits at a standard musical keyboard and plays the tunes, which are translated to signals for programmed bell-ringing later. The bells are small but highly amplified – real metal is hitting real metal when the Tower’s tones are heard.
















The Air & Space Museum was a huge hit with the family and contained a variety of exhibits spanning the history of powered flight and included artifacts from the Apollo 9 mission around the Moon. The museum includes some hands-on exhibits and knowledgeable docents providing rich details about the items on display.

Stop at the Balboa Park Visitors Center which is open from 9:30am-4:30pm daily. The Visitors Center offers brochures, maps, audio tours, free guided tours of the Park, transportation information, dining advice, and more.

We could not see it all and plan on returning and would need to spend at least four days to enjoy all of the attractions.