The North Face Launches Free Virtual Camp Experience

by Jennifer SwartvagherJuly 13, 2020

If you are looking to get your kids up and active this summer your options may lie right in your backyard. The North Face is bringing together its diverse group of global athletes to offer two free weeks of online and offline programming that will safely bring the spirit of the outdoors to kids wherever they are. Families can register now for The North Face Summer Base Camp, which will begin Jul. 20.

The free two week program includes three interactive half day activities per week hosted by members of The North Face athlete team and each will offer a video tutorial and instruction on how to complete the activity, all encouraging campers to explore the outdoors and spark curiosity and courage to embark on adventure.

Week 1

7/20 — Adventure Photography with Jimmy Chin

Campers join photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin for a crash course in snapping epic shots and learning to make their own pinhole cameras.

7/22 — Geometric Designs with Nina WIlliams

Climber Nina Williams teaches campers about natural formed patterns and shares how to create a masterpiece with items found in the backyard

7/24 — Snacks to Pack with Ashima Shiraishi

Who’s up for a snack attack? Campers head to the kitchen with climber Ashima Shiraishi for tips on making healthy (and delicious) trail-friendly treats

Week 2

7/27 — Map Making with Coree Woltering

Ultrarunner Coree Woltering teaches map making and other handy navigational tricks for getting out (without getting lost)

7/29 — Survival Skills with Manoah Ainuu

Campers circle up with climber Manoah Ainuu to learn sic essential skills for surviving in the wilderness

7/31 — Backyard Basecamp with Hilaree Nelson

Ski mountaineer Hilaree Nelson shares what it’s like to climb Mt. Everest and teaches campers how to build (and pack for) at-home base camps.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of The North Face

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Will Our Preschoolers Remember Sheltering in Place?

By ALEXANDER FERNÁNDEZ

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

May 25, 2020

Photo: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Hey Kid,

I’m taking some time to write you a note because by the time you’re big (yes, I know you’re big, you tell me every day), you’re probably not going to remember any of this—at least I hope you don’t. I hope you read about it in your world history class. And that the memories you’re making now, as a 3-year-old, are only fleeting.

Today, was hard.

You had a fit as we scootered past the park because you wanted to play, and I had to physically yank you away. You devolved into a puddle of tears on the sidewalk howling so hard I thought the neighbors were going to call CPS.

“The park, I want my park.”

“Remember, honey, we talked about germs and how we have to play inside and away from other people for a little while; we really can’t go into the park; get on your scooter and race to the house now.”

Showing your whiplash resilience and the coordination of an Olympic athlete, you jumped on the scooter and raced down the block home, beating Baba and me by several minutes. You are remarkable. Today, you fought a dragon. You donned your John Snow cosplay costume and challenged Baba the Dragon to a death match in the backyard, breaking the dragon’s wand deftly with your mighty blows. You laughed.

You ran fast fast fast; falling, stumbling—picking yourself up. Stopping to “work” in the dirt; digging into a flowerpot; moving soil from one barrel to the next. “I’m working,” you said. “Yes you are,” I said as I watched with wonder.

Today, was hard.

You wanted desperately to play with your friend next door. And as her mother and your fathers struggled to set up a playdate across the fence, you adapted as we had a picnic lunch separated by 15 feet and two wooden fences. There was a lot of screaming and a lot of fun!

Today, you worked on your three-point-grip, the letter “V,” and painted a sky. You do not sit still. Your teachers are miracle workers. As I sit in the living room and hear you take a bath upstairs, I can do nothing but smile.

Today has been a hard, good day.

“Are you kidding me?” You ask Baba. Why? I have no idea. But that fact that a 3-year-old has the chutzpah to utter such a sentence gives me hope for our world. Step by step we go on.

You fought a dragon, you had a playdate, you learned limits, you grew—a virus notwithstanding.

Love ya lots,

Papi

ALEXANDER FERNÁNDEZ

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Father, children's book critic, writer, judge, director, actor and amature photographer—together with his husband of 25 years—raising an energetic four-year old! "Parent is not just a noun, it's a verb. If you're ever in doubt as to what to do, substitute the word caregiver. It will steer you in the right direction."

Hope Solo Announces Birth of Twins

by Jennifer SwartvagherApril 24, 2020

It’s a boy…and a girl! Hope Solo is now a mom of two. The former U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team star announced on Instagram that she and her husband, former NFL player Jerramy Stevens, welcomed twins Vittorio Genghis and Lozen Orianna Judith on Mar. 4.

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Vittorio Genghis Stevens Lozen Orianna Judith Stevens 3/4/2020

A post shared by Hope Solo (@hopesolo) on Apr 23, 2020 at 2:34pm PDT

“What have we been doing during our time in quarantine? Well, as you can see, we’ve been incredibly busy,” Solo said in an Instagram video shared by athlete empowerment brand Uninterrupted. “Please meet Vittorio and Lozen Stevens, both born in the middle of a pandemic.”

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@hopesolo introduces a couple special guests for the first time and has a message to everybody on the frontlines of this pandemic ❤️🙏🏽

A post shared by UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) on Apr 23, 2020 at 2:33pm PDT

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Hope Solo via Instagram

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LeBron James & Lyft’s New Program Provides Free Bike Access to Teens & Young Adults

by Erica LoopJanuary 24, 2020

Basketball icon LeBron James is partnering with Lyft to give young people access to free bikes. Through his athlete empowerment company Uninterrupted, and in collaboration with the YMCA, James is helping to expand Lyft’s bikeshare program—with free one-year memberships to eligible 16 to 20-year-olds.

Transportation isn’t always easy to come by. According to Lyft, almost 4.5 million people in America don’t have access to reliable, affordable transportation. James’ new initiative is helping to solve this problem, one bike at a time.

James said, in a press release, “Growing up, a bike changed everything for me. It was more than a way to go see my friends or play basketball—it was a way of life. A bike opened doors, allowed me to get to safe places after school, and gave me access to opportunities I never would have known. I’m proud that Uninterrupted can join Lyft in bringing that access to kids and people in communities across the country.”

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John Zimmer, Lyft co-founder and President, added, “With LeBron as our inspiration, we want to demonstrate how transportation can be a spark that helps young people reach their full potential. The future of transportation is exciting, and we feel a deep responsibility to help make transportation accessible to all.”

Look for Lyft’s new bikeshare program to start this spring in New York City, with an expansion to Chicago and the Bay Area later in 2020.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Lyft via Instagram

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American Girl Announces 2020 Girl of the Year

by Erica LoopDecember 31, 2019

Mattel recently announced the American Girl 2020 Girl of the Year—and this year, the doll is the first doll with hearing loss to receive the title!

So who is the 2020 Girl of the Year? The American Girl doll is Joss Kendrick and according to Mattel she is, “A fierce athlete born with hearing loss and a passion for surfing and competitive cheer.”

Not only does Joss surf and cheer but she’s also an inspiration, encouraging girls to try new things, act as a team player and break stereotypes. To create this very special doll, American Girl teamed up with 17-year-old surf prodigy (and soon-to-be Olympic athlete) Caroline Marks, Women’s Deaf Shortboard champion Crystal DaSaliva, owners of Fury Athletics, Sara Jo Moen and Julie Peterson, Professor of English at Gallaudet University and a specialist in portrayals of deaf characters in adolescent literature Dr. Sharon Pajka, Ph.D., educational audiologist Jennifer Richardson, Au.D. and professional big wave surfer and co-founder of the Committee for Equity in Women’s Surfing, Bianca Valenti.

Jamie Cygielman, General Manager of American Girl, said in a press release, “American Girl has a rich legacy of creating timeless characters who encourage girls to reach for new heights and discover who they’re meant to be.” Cygielman continued, “We’re proud to welcome Joss Kendrick, whose stories are sure to instill confidence and character in girls who are learning to think about the possibilities in their own lives. Working with Olympic hopeful surfer Caroline Marks adds real-world inspiration about what can happen when you go ‘all in’ on your dreams.”

American Girl is partnering with the Hearing Loss Association of America in honor of Joss. The collab will include a $25,000 donation from American Girl to HLAA and support for the organization’s 2020 Walk4Hearing.

Joss is available in all American Girl retail locations and online at americangirl.com starting Dec. 31, 2019, for $98 (the price includes one Joss book too). You can also purchase the Joss-themed books from American Girl for $7.99 each. The doll comes with a swimsuit, hoodie, shorts and a removable hearing aid. Additional Joss products, such as a cheer backpack, competition shoes, slides and her English Bulldog, Murf the Surf Dog are also available. Look for a brand-new Volkswagen Surf Bus to go along with Joss next spring!

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of Mattel

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Steph Curry’s Courtside Daddy-Daughter Handshake Is Everything

by Erica LoopDecember 30, 2019

Steph Curry is more than an NBA superstar––the celeb athlete is a super-dad too!

During a recent Golden State Warriors’ game, the point guard, who wasn’t playing due to an injury, showed off a very special handshake with his daughter Riley.

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In a completely cute video clip, which the NBA shared on social media, Curry is seen high-fiving the seven-year-old. The daddy-daughter duo then launches into a complex handshake routine. Before the point guard returns to his teammates, Curry and Riley complete the handshake with a sweet kiss.

This isn’t the first time Curry’s daughter has turned the spotlight away from her famous dad and grabbed the media’s attention. In 2015 the then-two-year-old stole the show during a press conference.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Ayesha Curry via Instagram

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This Pro Football Player Just Wiped Out Over $7,000 of School Lunch Debt

by Erica LoopDecember 5, 2019

San Francisco 49ers’ cornerback Richard Sherman is an athlete and a major philanthropist. The football player recently helped Cabrillo Middle School in Santa Clara, California to eliminate its lunch debt.

According to recent reports, Sherman donated over $7,491 via his Blanket Coverage-The Richard Sherman Family Foundation charity, to the school to cover unpaid lunch debts.

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A post shared by Richard Sherman (@rsherman25)

In a letter to Cabrillo Middle School’s Nutrition Services Department, Sherman’s foundation wrote, “We have found that eliminating student lunch debt is one way to help assist students and their families in relieving some of the stress that comes with attending school on a daily basis,” according to KPIX5. The letter also continued, “The last thing any child should have to worry about is being able to afford eating breakfast and lunch at school; we aim to do our part in eliminating that obstacle.”

So how did this donation happen? In a letter published on the school’s website, Cabrillo’s Principal Garber wrote, “On Saturday, November 23rd, 49ers Cornerback Richard Sherman pulled me from my shift as a docent in the 49ers Museum to give me a personal check for $7,491.27 to cover Cabrillo Middle School’s cafeteria debt.” Garber continued, “Richard’s gesture created such goodwill for the 49ers that they went on to sack Aaron Roger’s and the Green Bay Packers the next day on national tv by a score of 37-8.”

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Richard Sherman via Instagram

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From Disney Stars to Athletes, These Are the Top Baby Name Trend Predictions for 2020

by Erica LoopDecember 4, 2019

Are you due in 2020? BabyCenter recently revealed its predictions for the top baby names of next year!

So what do the baby naming pros at BabyCenter think will top the charts in ’20? The site combined baby name data, pop culture picks and media faves to come up with a list that covers everything from old school selections to Disney+ picks.

photo: iStock

Next year marks a step into the next decade. Even though we’re entering the 2020’s, some of the popular names are throwbacks to the 1920’s. Jazz-age names such as Frank, Barbara, Richard, Ruth, Virginia and Tony are climbing the charts and predicted to pop in popularity next year.

Along with the roaring ’20s, 2020 is also predicted to see the rise of the powerful female athlete name. Simone (as in Biles), Allyson (Felix), Coco (Gauff), Naomi (Osaka), Alex (Morgan), Megan (Rapinoe), Carli (Lloyd) and Dalilah (Muhammad) are all winners in 2020.

If you’re into Disney, popular picks in 2020 include High School Musical’s Troy, Gabriella, Nini and Ricky along with princesses Aurora, Ariel, Belle and Jasmine. Other Disney+ faves, such as Star Wars and Marvel flicks, may also have names that make a splash in 2020. Luke, Leia, Rey, Finn, Peter, Bruce, Natasha and Carol are all contenders for the top names list.

Country stars aren’t just topping the music charts, they’re also predicted to rank high on the 2020 baby names list. Maren, Kacey, Blake, Garth, Carrie and Kane are celebs with names to copy—for your baby, that is.

BabyCenter’s predictions also include a few nonbinary selections, such as Ari, Corey, River, Cameron, Tatum, Sam, Emery and Frankie.

—Erica Loop

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Sesame Street Is Premiering Its Historic 50th Season with a Primetime Special

by Shahrzad WarkentinOctober 25, 2019

Generations have grown up watching and learning with Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Elmo and the entire crew. Now Sesame Street is celebrating a special anniversary with a star-studded 50th season.

The special will take a nostalgic look back at the last fifty years on Sesame Street and reimagine some of the most classic segments and songs like “People in Your Neighborhood” and “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” Sesame Street’s 50^th Anniversary Celebration will premiere Sat. , Nov. 9 on HBO and Sun., Nov. 17 on PBS stations and the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel.

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The pecial event will feature returning and rarely seen cast members, like Kermit the Frog and nearly the entire human cast. Fans will also be treated to a parade of guest stars including Whoopi Goldberg, Patti LaBelle, Elvis Costello, Meghan Trainor, Sterling K. Brown, Norah Jones, Nile Rodgers, and Itzhak Perlman.

The first episode of the 50th season will kick off Sat. Nov. 16 on HBO. The new season will features guest appearances from Chrissy Teigen; musicians Charlie Puth, Dave Grohl, and Maren Morris; ballet dancer Misty Copeland; comedian Michael Che and Olympic athlete Chloe Kim. It will also include a new segment “Big Bird’s Road Trip,” which was filmed on location over the summer during the “Sesame Street Road Trip.” In the segment, Big Bird tours the United States to discover what kids love about where they live.

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A post shared by Sesame Street (@sesamestreet)

“As we mark our 50th season, we want to remind families everywhere of the timeless lessons Sesame Street has always taught,” said Steve Youngwood, President of Media & Education and Chief Operating Officer of Sesame Workshop. “Everyone, no matter where they are from, is equally deserving of respect, opportunity, and joy.”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Sesame Street via YouTube

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The Biggest Winners at the Track and Field Worlds Are Moms

by Shahrzad WarkentinOctober 9, 2019

It doesn’t take a study or research to know that moms are some of the toughest and strongest people on earth, so it should come as no surprise that it was not one, but four moms who took home gold medals at the IAAF World Championships for track and field.

Not only did Allyson Felix make headlines for taking down Usain Bolt’s record as the World Championship Athlete with the most medals, but she did it all just 10 months after giving birth to her daughter Camryn via emergency C-section.

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A post shared by Allyson Felix (@allysonfelix)

Felix wasn’t the only mom who made history at the IAAF World Championships. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica took home two world titles in the 100-meter sprint and the 4×100-meter relay.

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A post shared by World Athletics (@worldathletics)

Mom and Chinese competitor Liu Hong took home gold in the 20-kilometer race walk.

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America’s own Nia Ali took the top spot in the 100-meter hurdles in a surprising upset.

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—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Allyson Felix via Instagram

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