Target the Stars Blog

Two years ago we started our Alphabet Adventures and we began celebrating the letters of the alphabet throughout the summer.  This spring I finished writing a book that to inspire caretakers to structure summer activities around the alphabet based on our experiences and additional research.   The book is filled with colorful photographs and a multitude of ideas and inspiration. There are 68 pages with lots of summer activity ideas including tips for creating your own neighborhood craft camp, and even two lullabies I wrote myself.  Readers will be astounded by the neighborhood connection, creativity, language, and vocabulary development their children gain when encouraged to generate ideas and activities around the letters of the alphabet.   Here's the best part, you don't have structure your entire summer around the alphabet or even use the alphabet because the book is chuck-full of great summer activity ideas that can be used with or without the al...

Today was as GREAT day as we celebrated the letter G and W by dressing up like a bunch of gnomes and hiking through Wood Lake Nature Center. Before we were eaten by gnats , we found a gnome in the woods and left a little note for him.  Can you find him the next time you're taking a hike?  I did my research ahead of time and read the classic, " Gnomes " book from the 1970s.  I remember when my mom gave it to my grandfather for Christmas. I also took a good look at the history of garden gnomes by reading Gnomeland . I taught the kids all I knew about gnomes including the Garden Gnome Liberation Front .  We did a few crafts and watched Gnomio and Juliet and had a little gnocchi for lunch. I wish I could get one of these lawn gnomes .

Free and Frugal Family Fun will be posted every two weeks during the summer. Richfield Concerts in the Park , Thursday, June 21 (Tim Patrick and His Blue Eyes Band), June 28 (33 Degrees North), 7 PM, 70th and Nicollet Ave, FREE! MALL of AMERICA EVENTS Space Jam -  Sat, June 23; The Goonies - Sat, June 30, 10 AM, Free Family Flicks at the Mall of America, first-come, first-served, as seating is limited to the theater capacity. FREE! Click here for future showings     Toddler Tuesdays: Wonder Pets! Circus Party, Tues, June 19, 10 AM - noon, Rotunda Midwest Regional Yo-Yo Championships, Saturday, June 23, 10 AM - 4:30 PM, Rotunda Toddler Tuesdays: Kiddie Karnival, Tuesday, June 26, 10 AM - 12 noon, Rotunda Junie B. Jones Stupid Smelly Bus Tour , Friday, June 29, 11 AM, Rotunda American Girl Doll Store Events - all events FREE and open to the public! McKenna "Take the Challenge" Scavenger Hunt , June 20 and 27 (1 - 5 PM)  American G...

Today was a long and rainy summer day. The kind of day that's perfect for board games.  The problem with board games is that they can get a bit boring.  So, why not take the boredom out of board games and make them come to life by visiting some of our local Twin Cities attractions. Stop by the Galaxy Drive-In in St. Louis Park for a life sized game of checkers or chess. If you want to feed that sweet tooth and the Candyland game is just making it worse, go to the real Candyland either in downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul.  My all time favorite board game come to life is in Bloomington at Chutes and Ladders aka Hyland Play Area.  Just make sure you go to Candyland first then Chutes and Ladders...you know, so they can burn that sugar off.

Check out our Updated Summer Camp Resource Page page Book 'Em , Bloomington Crime Prevention Association's 20th annual Used Book Sale, June 2 - 16, 9801 Lyndale Avenue MALL of AMERICA EVENTS Mouse Hunt , Sat,June 9, 10 AM, Free Family Flicks at the Mall of America, first-come, first-served, as seating is limited to the theater capacity. FREE! Click here for future showings LEGO Creation Cele bration , Fri, Jun 8 - Sun, Jun 10, 11 AM - 6 PM, Mall Wide Caringbridge: "That's a Lot of Love" Celebration , Thurs, Jun 7, 10 AM - 9:30 PM, Rotunda American Girl Doll Store Events - all events FREE and open to the public! McKenna "Take the Challenge" Scavenger Hunt, Wed, June 6 (15-5 PM EXHIBITS, MOVIE, & THEATRE EVENTS Click here to enter to Win a Year of Museum Adventures MacPhail Center for Music FREE Family Music Seies MN Children's Museum's Let Your Imagination Go Bananas with Curious George , May 26- Oct 7 Arty Pants a...