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Thanks, Frank! Students at this year’s College for Kids posed for a photo with Chef Frank Palazzolo of Nonna Maria’s Pizzeria last week. Kids made their own pizzas and enjoyed eating them. Jennifer Carnes | Miner
Deb Breen talks to the College for Kids students about Zumba.
John Hernandez | Miner
Everybody Zumba! John Hernandez | Miner
San Manuel Miner
The Central Arizona College Aravaipa Campus College for Kids began last week. Around 50 kids are participating in this year’s program.
This is the 28th year that the summer program has been offered. The program offers second through sixth grade students from the surrounding areas opportunities to learn and explore different subjects in a hands-on way.
This year’s theme is “Food” and will include learning about the importance of nutrition and exercise. The kids will keep a daily journal recording everything they eat, the amount and what kind of food.
The first week the kids learned about bees from Oracle’s own beekeeper and expert Fred Terry. Fred taught the kids about the importance of bees to our food supply (they are the most important pollinator on earth) and the nutritional value and medicinal properties of honey. The kids also learned a little about the history beekeeping and honey harvesting as well as how agrichemicals are lowering the population of bees and bats. The kids asked a lot of questions, keeping Fred longer than expected.
They also learned about arid food crops from presenter Jeff Amthor.
Deb Breen, exercise enthusiast from Oracle, taught the kids about Zumba. She told them about the three rules of Zumba which are:
1. Have Fun;
2. Move Safely;
3. Keep moving.
Deb had the kids jumping, laughing and exercising to the beat of some fun music.
On Wednesday, the students made the bus ride to Oracle to visit Nonna Maria’s Pizzeria and Ristorante and Chef Frank Palazzolo. After a brief tour of the kitchen, the kids settled down at their tables to make their own pizza. Once the pizzas were cooked, they chowed down on their masterpieces.
The College for Kids program concludes July 15.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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