Calendar

 

The need for accurate and up-to-date resources when raising a child with special needs is paramount. Indeed, information is power. The more you know, the more you can take charge and bring about positive outcomes for your child and your family. The Fathers Network Events Calendar posts upcoming conferences and meetings in Washington State, the Northwest, the United States and Canada that will be of interest both to families and providers. For future postings, please send us disability information at least one month in advance of the event; include all specifics (date, time, costs, location, directions, etc.). Note that the listing of events does not constitute official endorsement by the Washington State Fathers Network. Events are listed for information purposes only. Thank you! The following is a listing of upcoming events:


Friday, June 13th, 2008 - Sunday, June 15th, 2008
Fathers Network Annual Campout
FATHERS NETWORK CAMPOUT-June 13, 14, 15, 2008 Washington Park, Anacortes, Washington WSFN hopes you are “surviving” the “wacky weather” we have experienced this past winter and spring! It may be a little early but we are excited about the upcoming 25th Annual Fathers Network Campout in beautiful Washington Park, just outside Anacortes, and wanted to get everyone well informed about the festivities! If you have participated in this before you know how fun it can be. If this is a new experience for you, plan on having a lot of fun, and meeting some extremely nice people! Kids love having the freedom to play, explore, eat, laugh, and get smoky smelling around the fire. It just doesn’t get any better! The campout officially begins Friday night, and ends about noon on Sunday. We will have the large group camping area plus the five tent spaces next to this area. This event is open to all families who have children with special needs. Family friends are also welcome, as we know some of these friendships are very special in the lives of our children, and ourselves. Come on out and meet some of the greatest people in the world…and become part of this auspicious event! Here is some basic information about the campout weekend. Arrival…some families arrive for a Friday night stay, but most families arrive on Saturday (14th), and particularly join the festivities for the evening BBQ and Fire Side Shinanigans. Many families do stay into Sunday (15th, Fathers Day!). Families bring a variety of accommodations-tents, trailers, and some even ‘motel it’ in Anacortes. Note: no 5th wheels allowed. When you arrive just let the ranger know you are looking for the Fathers Network site and you will be pointed in the right direction. There are no hookups for campers, but there is a covered cooking area, restrooms, and even hot showers close by in the campground. There is plenty of space so we have room for everyone! So bring that big ol’ tent, get some help setting it up, and plan on having a great time! Clothes…stay casual, and bring along an extra sweater or sweatshirt, so the evening activities will be comfortable. An extra set of clothes for the kids would be a good thing, as there is water (Puget Sound) nearby. Food…is your choice. Essentially, everyone brings their own food, utensils, cups, drinks, etc. However, on Saturday evening, we do share desserts, so fold that into food plans, and we’ll plan on having some extra fun around the campfire. There are grills on site so no need to bring the BBQ. Marshmallows will be provided, just to make sure we don’t run out! S’mores all around! (Continued) When do we eat? We’ll shoot for about 5:30pm for Saturday dinner. The campfire can be a very fun time for kids big and small. If you have a musical instrument, bring it along and we’ll break out some rusty voices and all have too much fun. Weather…Anacortes is in the Olympic rain shadow so it has sunny weather even when it may be damp in other places. So come on, have a relaxing and sunny weekend, with some very nice people! Washington Park is really a gem of a place, with cool activities for all kinds of kids…even the big kids, like moms and dads! It is located on Puget Sound, so the water and island views are stunning! The kids particularly enjoy the slides, the trails to explore, plus whatever you want to add, like bubbles, Frisbees, balls, etc. Location…The park is located 90 miles north of Seattle. Take the Anacortes turnoff from I-5, heading west. Drive through the town of Anacortes, and take the San Juan ferry road. The park is ½ mile west of the ferry turnoff. Watch for signs marking the Washington Park entrance. Warning…do not speed on the road from town to the park! We will post some signs indicating our camping area. Please park cars in the regular parking lot. Come on up, and join the fun! Call Greg Schell at 425-653-4286 (Kindering Center) with any questions. A huge “Thank You” to Ed and Jeannie Gegen, Anacortes residents, and an original WSFN family for arranging our visits over the years, particularly the 25th! The Fathers Network Campout Checklist (Use this handy reference to be mostly prepared for the campout! Note: there is no cost for camping on the reserved days!) __ We have enough clothes to stay warm and dry. __ We have remembered to bring the kids and all necessary adaptive equipment so we can all have a good time. __ We have planned for accommodations, ie, tent, ground tarp, mats, sleeping bags, pillows, lawn chairs, OR, we have hooked up the trailer, OR, made reservations at a motel. __ We have enough food, even for the hungriest of kids…and dad! Plus we have a dessert to share on Saturday evening. __ We know how to get to Anacortes…we have OnStar! __ We are ready to relax, have fun, meet some wonderful people, and celebrate many amazing years of the Fathers Network campout. __And, please write a letter to the Anacortes Parks Department after the campout thanking them for facilitating the WSFN Campout. Send to: Anacortes Parks Department, P.O. Box 547, Anacortes, WA 98221 See you all there!


Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
Pediatric Associates and Kindering Center 2008 Speaker Series
Pediatric Associates and Kindering Center 2008 Speaker Series All events take place between 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Kindering Center, 16120 NE 8th Street, Bellevue, Washington 98008. Please call Kindering Center (425.747.4004), the week of the event, to confirm that the program will be taking place. Tuesday, June 24th, Dr. Kathleen Zanolli, PH.D., Board Certified Behavioral Analyst “Autism 101 for Parents” Description: Learn about autism and its characteristics, including early signs, screening, and diagnosis. In this workshop, Dr. Zanolli will review the most recent research on early intervention for children with autism, and outline issues related to parenting a child with autism. She will provide tips on dealing with the diagnosis and what to expect when your child gets older. The talk will close with an overview of the things you need to do now to prepare your child for life. Who should attend: parents of children diagnosed with autism, and parents who are considering or waiting for a diagnosis. Speaker Bio: Dr. Zanolli is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked with children and families for nearly 20 years. Her focus is on child-centered, individualized, data-driven intervention for people with developmental disabilities, social skills deficits, challenging behavior, or autism. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology in 1990 from the University of Tennessee, with training in Applied Behavior Analysis and developmental psychology. Since then, she has taught, published research, and provided clinical services at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Kansas, and University of Washington. She is now in private practice. Tuesday, September 23rd, Barbara York, MS, RD, CD “How Do I Know My Child Is Eating Right?” Description: Is my child eating enough? Is my child overweight? What does the BMI really mean? Learn the answers to the questions you have from an experienced dietitian with expertise in pediatric nutrition and growth. Ms. York’s talk will include presenting key indicators of childhood nutritional health and growth plus red flag eating behaviors that warrant attention. Her workshop will offer practical tips for navigating a variety of childhood eating behaviors, media influences, and other common food obstacles with success. Attendees will gain a valuable prospective on today’s childhood nutritional issues while learning what steps they can act on now to positively impact their child(ren)’s nutritional intake, growth, and long term health. Speaker Bio: Ms. York is an experienced nutritionist with 16 years’ pediatric experience working with pediatric and adolescent families providing nutritional counseling. Previously at Children’s Hospital, she is now in private practice in Bellevue, and specializes in early age feeding and development, adolescent eating disorders, binge eating, and weight management.


Wednesday, September 24th, 2008
Valued Lives Conference - Yakima, Washington
Yakima, Washington, Yakima Convention Center. VALUED LIVES is an annual conference for people with developmental disabilities and their families, advocates, and supported living and other residential service providers. For more information, please go to: www.valuedlives.com