SFkids  January Newsletter

Happy New Year
from SFkids.org! 

Saving Money in the New Year 

San Francisco has so many free and low-cost, family-friendly activities and programs, here are a few ideas:

• Several San Francisco musuems are always free including The Randall Museum, the Maritime Museum, San Francisco Botanical Gardens, and Musee Mecanique. Most San Francisco Museums also have a free day once a month, see our Museum Page for a comprehensive list.

• Great free or low-cost adventures can be had all over the City.  See our City Sights Page our Hidden Gems.

• Take a winter swim at one of the great San Francisco Pools. Sava Pool has just reopened and is beautiful.

•  City College Child Observation Classes begin this week. 

• Great art supplies don't need to cost an arm and a leg — check out SCRAP! 

•  Check out your local Family Resource Center for great, free activities and support.

• Check the SFkids.org calendar, we have many, many FREE events listed every day.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Remember Martin Luther King, Jr. and teach your children about his great work.

•. View MLK Jr.'s speech on Youtube. 

•  Get information and resources about MLK from the King Center Website and Wikipedia. 

• Check for venues open on MLK Jr. Day on the SFkids.org Calendar

Participate in the National Day of Service, January 19th 

Established in 1994 to honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s dedication to service, this day is receiving a renewed commitment this year as President-Elect Obama calls for spending the holiday giving back.

• Read this article from the Washington Post about the National Day of Service. 

•  Find local, family-friendly volunteer opportunities from MLKday.gov.

•  See the SFkids.org Volunteering Page for more resources.

Snow!  

Even though the weather has been unusually balmy, there's still snow in the mountains. Take advantage of the fact that some of the best skiing in North America is right in our backyard (well, almost).  See our article Family Snow Adventures for great resources for lodging, gear and more.

Procrastinators' Corner

A few friendly reminders to keep us all on track:
• It is that time to sign up for January and spring programs.  See our Classes and Sports and Fitness Pages for some ideas.
• For the young ones it's time for SF Rec & Park Tiny Tots and City College Child Observation classes.
• Need summer camping reservations?  California State Parks and National Parks registration begins January 1, 2009 for July reservations.
• Spring SF Little League, Register now for Spring Little League Teams.  Kid Pitch and Juniors baseball registration closed on December 17, but Farm baseball registration closes on February 13th, Girl's softball registration closes on January 11th, and the Challenger program registration closes on March 1st. Paid teen/adult umpires are also needed. 

Tax Time 

Tax time is right around the corner.  The United Way of the Bay Area’s “Earn It! Keep It! Save It! San Francisco” free tax preparation campaign has a goal to help over 15,000 San Francisco families avoid paying to have their taxes prepared and get the millions of dollars of refunds they deserve.  Get more information about this program as well as about other tax preparation resources and tips on our Money Page.

• Don't forget to file for the Working Families Credit.

Camp Mather

Camp Mather signups are earlier this year than usual. Online registration began January 4th and continues until February 8th. Camp Mather is one of the best vacation values around. If you're strapped this year, try a tent site for as low as $164 for the week (meals extra). There are also Camperships available. Camp Mather information is also available in Chinese, Spanish, and Russian.

Become a Fan of SFkids.org on our Facebook Page 

We've joined the Facebook revolution. Become a fan of SFkids.org. See the SFkids.org Fan Page here. 

We Want Your Family! (well, at least pictures of them) 

Upload your favorite photos of your family to the SFkids.org Flicker Page by tagging them "SFkids.org". The only requests we have are that the pictures you upload are pictures you own and are of either your own kids or kids you have parent permission to post. We may contact you and ask you if we can post the pictures on SFkids. Everyone who posts will be entered in our monthly drawing for a $20 gift card.

Summer Camps and Summer Jobs 

Save the date:
Saturday, March 14, 2009 
Mayor Gavin Newsom's 4th Annual Summer Resource Fair at the Concourse Exhibition Center (8th & Brannan Streets).  Find information about camps, classes, programs, and services from over 200 exhibitors. Young people ages 14 to 18 will also find everything youth need to get work this summer from workshops and mentors at the youth workforce development section of the fair called Jobs Space.
 

Looking for Something? 

We have over 1,000 things to do, classes, camps, and places to go. 

• Adventures Pages - Visit a museum, playgrounds, and more.
• Activities Pages -  Family entertainment, kid celebration ideas, and more.   
• Out of the City Pages - Take a trip out of the City for a break.
• City Sights Pages - Cool ideas for playing tourist.
• Transportation and Getting Around Pages - A great day trip can be had just riding the rails while you spare the air!  

Plus tons of resources for family support, education, health, and safety.
• SFK Crisis Page
• SFF Health Pages - Environmental Health, Maternal Health, Medical, Vision & Dental
• SFK Parent Resources Pages - Green Families, Safety, Housing, Legal, Food, and more.
• Education Pages - Public, Private, Homeschool & Preschools

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Wednesday, 1/14
• New Mother/New Baby Class at Parents Place at 12:30–2pm. FREE 

Thursday, 1/15
• Bill of Rights Coastal Schooner at SF Maritime National Historical Park through February.
• Teens Get Your Game On: Apples to Apples at Visitacion Valley Branch Library at 3:30–5pm. Drop in at any time. FREE 
• SAT Refresher Review at Glen Park Branch Library at 5:30–7pm. For students who have previously taken the SAT. Held Jan. 15 and 22.  

Friday, 1/16
• Musical Theatre Works Presents The Sound of Music at the Randall Museum. Show dates and times are: 7:30pm, Friday & Saturday, January 16 & 17; 1pm & 7:30pm, Sunday, January 18. They ask that parents NOT bring children under 6 years of age to the performance.

Saturday, 1/17
• Saturdays are Special at the Randall Museum: People Pins. Create a twirly, boingy, springy people pin to wear home. $3 per child, $5 per parent/child combo.
• Kariktan Dance Company at the Ethnic Performance Series at Bay Area Discovery Museum at 11am. 
• Beauty and the Beast at Young Performers Theatre at Fort Mason. $10 per adult; $7 per child under 13. Saturdays, January 17–February 8.
• Chinese Lion Dancers performances at local libraries: Bayview at 11:30am, Bernal Heights at 10:30am (playground behind library), Glen Park at 5pm, Ingleside at 4pm, Merced at 12:30pm, Parkside at 1:30pm, West Portal at 3pm.

Sunday, 1/18
• SFMOMA Family Studios and Tour: Shake It Up, Stretch It Out, Movement in Art at 11am–4pm.
• 2009 International Rubik's Cube Competition at the Exploratorium.
• The Buddy Club at the Randall Museum. $7 per person.
• Ocean Beach Clean-Up Day at 10am-noon.

Monday, 1/19
• SoVoSó From the Soul to the Voice to the Song.at the Ethnic Performance Series at Bay Area Discovery Museum at 11am & 12:30pm.

Don't forget to tell them you saw it on SFkids.org!

SF Parent Wisdom

We have great articles by San Francisco Parents:

• A Love Letter to My San Francisco Public School by Robin Dutton-Cookston 

• Robin has also just published her new book The Foggiest Idea: Tales of a Displaced Texan in San Francisco Mamaland   

• Budget Basics: How San Francisco's Public Schools are Funded by Lisa Schiff

• Today’s Parent Involvement—Volunteering and Decision-making by Lisa Schiff 

• Helping your child through divorce and separation: No one-size-fits-all model by Jeff Cookston

• Living Well in the City: How All Families Can Enjoy San Francisco by Erica Sandberg 

• SF in Children's Books Part 1 by Laure Latham

• San Francisco in Children’s Books, Part 2: Chapter Books and Older Readers by Laure Latham

 SF Family Frugalness

Shop SF offers exclusive offers for families all over town like these... 

- 20% discount on general admission to the Aquarium of the Bay

- $3.00 discount off admission to the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf

- Ride MUNI on Sundays and your transfer is good all day.  Every Sunday through February 1.

- Through February 1 cars entering participating City-owned parking garages between 10am-6pm qualify for a free validation.  See the website for details.

Send us your City money saving tips!