February's Family Fun Guide
Created by Great Lakes Bay Parents - Informing parents since 2012!
SAVE THE DATE

August 13 at 10 am - 2 pm

@ Bay City State Park

COMMUNITY NEWS
2022 Talking is Teaching Campaign Starts
For the month of February we are talking about ART!

Let’s talk about ART! When your little one shares her artwork with you, you can encourage her creativity while also having a great conversation! You can ask questions like, “Tell me about your art!”, “How did you do that?” and “How do you feel about what you made?” 

Bay Area Breastfeeding Coalition Newsletter
Bay Area Breastfeeding Coalition Newsletter features:
  • QI TRACS Breastfeeding Initiative.
  • Challenges we are facing locally
  • 5 Myths about Black woman and breastfeeding
  • Great Lakes Mother/Baby Cafe
  • Breastfeeding Resources

NEW DATE for the Arenac Children's Play Group
IT'S A PIZZA PARTY - ARENAC CHILDREN'S PLAY GROUP with special guest Blippi!

Join the fun at the Arenac Community Center on March 15 at 12:15 - 1:30 pm.

Ages 0-5 years old.

Your Employer Can Help You Pay For Child Care.
Your workplace can help with your CHILD CARE EXPENSES through the MI Tri-Share Child Care Program. This program will assist qualifying employees, who work with participating regional employers, with child care expenses. Through the program, child care expenses are shared by an employer, the employee, and the State of Michigan with each contributing one-third of the costs. ​

Time to Register Your Child for Kindergarten
The Bay City Public Schools is hosting events for parents to learn more about Kindergarten Registration.

Auburn Elementary - February 8 at 5:30-6:30pm
Hampton Elementary - February 8 at 5:30-6:30pm
Kolb Elementary - February 7 at 6-7 pm
Mackensen Elementary - February 9 at 5:30-6:30pm
MacGregor Elementary - February 8 at 5-6pm
McAlear Elementary - February 8 at 5:30-6:30pm
Washington Elementary - February 10 at 5:30-6:30pm

RESOURCES
DELTA COLLEGE PUBLIC MEDIA'S FAMILY READING & WRITING CHALLENGE
Delta College Public Media and The Michigan Learning Channel (MLC) are here to help you make reading and writing fun. Learn about the Reading & Writing Challenges and how to be entered into a raffle.

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOLS
Great Start to Quality Resources Center helps parents find quality licensed programs, for children ages 0-12.

NEMSCA EARLY HEAD START
Building the foundation for school readiness by supporting close, positive relationships with parents, caregivers, extended family, and community.

Questions: (989)464-0172 or EichmanJ@nemcsca.org.

CONSUMER ENGERY BILL ASSISTANCE
Visit the Consumer Energy website to learn about how they can assist you with paying your energy bill.

Learn about:
Consumers Affordable Resource for Energy (CARE)
Public Assistance Programs
Payment Plans

MSU EXTENSION
Online Extension Extras Parenting Hour: Importance of Outdoor Play February 1 at 8 – 9:30PM

Guiding Principles for Highly Successful parenting: Webinar Series
February 2, – March 2 at 7 - 8:30 PM

Online Extension Extras Parenting Hour: Purpose of Play
February 8 at 8 – 9:30 PM

Postive Discipline
February 11

Online Extension Extras Family FAQ's Parenting Children with Autism
February 17 at 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Online Extension Extras Parenting Hour: What Children Need to Know to Start School
February 22 at 8 – 9:30 PM

MCLAREN BAY REGION
Infant and Child CPR & First Aid - Family Class February 16 at 6-9pm

4 Week Childbirth Series
February 22 - March 8

Baby Class for BIG KIDS
March 1 at 7-7:30pm

Breastfeeding Class : Health
March 7 at 6-9pm

FREE FAMILY EVENTS
Visit Great Lakes Bay Parents' KIDS DAILY CALENDAR for a full listing of story times, family/ kid events, and new places to discover in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
The 2022 STEM Passport Mobile App is Here!
The Great Lakes Bay Region STEM Passport is a learning resource for 19 different hands-on, dynamic STEM organizations in the community. Now locating them is easy! The app is a great resource to access information about current STEM-based activities and events in the region.

FEBRUARY 2, 9, 16 & 23
Standish: FREE – Storytime for Preschoolers @ Mary Johnston Memorial Library
DATE: February 2, 9, 16 & 23 at 11:15 am.

LOCATION: 114 N. Court St.. Standish

Join us at the Mary Johnston Memorial Library and explore new books, activities and crafts every week. Recommended for children 3-5 years old.

FEBRUARY 2 &16
DATE: February 2 & 16 at 4:30 pm.

LOCATION: 583 E. Cedar Street, Standish

Drop in for an evening of fun. Connect with other parents, and learn about upcoming events and local resources. Each family will receive a meal kit to make at home.

FEBRUARY 2, 9, 16 & 23
DATE: February 2, 9, 16, and 23 at 6:30pm – 7:00pm

LOCATION: Zoom

Stories, music, movement and rhymes that develop early literacy skills and encourage everyone in the family to share their love of reading. Ages 6 & under + participating caregiver.

Zoom information will be emailed to you after registering.

FEBRUARY 2, 9 & 16
DATE: February 2, 9 & 16 at 4:30 pm.
Location: Online


Weekly Sessions:
Feb. 2: Recognizing Emotional Responses
Feb. 9: Emotional Connection Card Game
Feb. 16: My Worry

FEBRUARY 3, 10, 17 & 24
Bay City: FREE – MotherBaby Cafe @ Bay City Town Center
DATE: February 3, 10, 17 & 24 at 10 am - 12 pm

LOCATION: 4101 East Wilder Rd., Bay City

Join other mothers and their children for weekly themes, Question and Answers, and guest presenters. Meetings will be at the Bay City Town Center in the Community Room near Game Stop.
Prizes will be raffled.

FEBRUARY 3, 10, 17 & 24
Online: FREE – 2-5 Year-Old Storytime *RSVP @ Bay County Library System
DATE: February 3, 10, 17, and 24
10:30am – 11:00am

LOCATION: Zoom

Preschoolers develop a love of reading through stories, rhymes, music, movement and more! Ages 2-5 years old. Participating caregiver required.

This session will be held live over Zoom. Zoom information will be emailed to you after registering.

FEBRUARY 4
Online: FREE – Friday Fun: Find a Friend (ages 2-5) *RSVP @ Bay County Library System
DATE: Friday, February 4, 2022
11:00am – 11:30am

LOCATION: Zoom

Ages 2-5 + Adult

Celebrate friendship with stories, songs and craft. This is a Zoom event led by a librarian.

FEBRUARY 11
Online: FREE – Young Scientists: Zoology (ages 2-5) *RSVP @ Bay County Library System
DATE: February 11, 2022 at11:00am – 11:30am

LOCATION: Zoom

Ages 2-5 + Adult

Fun scientific exploration through craft guided by a librarian on Zoom.

Supplies will be provided and ready for pick up two weeks before the program. If registration is within the two weeks pickup window, please allow two business days for supplies to be sent to your requested library branch.

We request an adult supervise all children participating in the session in case they require assistance with the technology.

FEBRUARY 12
Bay City: Winter Birds & A Stranger in the Woods @ Bay City State Park
DATE: Saturday, February 12 at 12 – 3 pm

LOCATION: 3582 State Park Dr., Bay City

Story time at the Saginaw Bay Visitor Center and build a special winter bird feeder along with a winter bird ID game with prizes! Come visit the park for a great time with the whole family.

FEBRUARY 18
Online: FREE – A is for Art: Colorful Heart Suncatcher (age 2-5) *RSVP @ Bay County Library System
DATE: Friday, February 18, 2022
10:30am – 11:00am

LOCATION: Zoom

Ages 2-5 are invited to attend. Make a beautiful suncatcher to share with a loved one!

Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. All supplies will be provided to registered children. Please indicate which branch you prefer to pick up your supplies from when you register. Supplies will be ready to be picked up 2 weeks before the program and may be picked up inside the library or via our curbside pickup service. Please contact the branch you would like to pick supplies up from to arrange curbside pickup.

Zoom info will be emailed to registrants in advance of the program. We request an adult supervise all children participating in these crafts in case they require assistance with the craft or technology.

FEBRUARY 19
Bay City: Winter Festival @ Bay City State Park
DATE: Saturday, February 19 at 9 am – 3 pm

LOCATION: 3582 State Park Dr., Bay City

We will have lots of great activities this year at the 2022 Winter Festival for all ages.  Free fishing for everyone all Weekend. Great prizes, snacks and more.

FEBRUARY 20
Bay City: FREE – Movie Sunday “Luca” @ State Theatre
DATE: February 20 at 4:15 – 4:45pm

LOCATION: 913 Washington Ave., Bay City

Free with a food donation

On the Italian Riviera, an unlikely but strong friendship grows between a human being and a sea monster disguised as a human.

2021 (91 MINUTES)

FEBRUARY 21
Bay City: FREE – Leap Into Science Week (age 3-10) *RSVP @ Alice & Jack Wirt Public Library
DATE: Monday, February 21, 2022 at 4–5pm

LOCATION: 500 Center Ave., Bay City

Join us for a week long celebration of science! Our Leap into Science light and shadow workshops invite children and families to experiment with light and explore the ways that light interacts with objects to create shadows, reflections, and more.

FEBRUARY 22
Auburn: FREE – Leap Into Science Week (age 3-10) *RSVP @ Auburn Area Branch Library
DATE: Tuesday, February 22, 2022, 5–6:00pm

LOCATION: 235 W Midland Rd
Auburn

Join us for a week long celebration of science! Our Leap into Science light and shadow workshops invite children and families to experiment with light and explore the ways that light interacts with objects to create shadows, reflections, and more.

FEBRUARY 23
Pinconning: FREE – Leap Into Science Week (age 3-10) *RSVP @ Pinconning Branch Library
DATE: Wednesday, February 23, 2022, 5–6:00pm

LOCATION: 400 S Kaiser St., Pinconning

Join us for a week long celebration of science! Our Leap into Science light and shadow workshops invite children and families to experiment with light and explore the ways that light interacts with objects to create shadows, reflections, and more.

FEBRUARY 24
Bay City: FREE – Leap Into Science Week (age 3-10) *RSVP @ Sage Branch Library
DATE: Thursday, February 24, 2022, 5–6:00pm

LOCATION: 100 E Midland St., Bay City

Join us for a week long celebration of science! Our Leap into Science light and shadow workshops invite children and families to experiment with light and explore the ways that light interacts with objects to create shadows, reflections, and more.

FEBRUARY 25
Online: FREE – Science Club Jr: Dancing Candy Hearts (age 2 – 5) *RSVP @ Bay County Library System
DATE: Friday, February 25, 2022 at 10:30am – 11:00am

LOCATION: Zoom

Become a junior scientist as we create a chemical reaction using some of our favorite Valentine treats!

Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. All supplies will be provided to registered children. Please indicate which branch you prefer to pick up your supplies from when you register. Supplies will be ready to be picked up 2 weeks before the program and may be picked up inside the library or via our curbside pickup service. Please contact the branch you would like to pick supplies up from to arrange curbside pickup.

Zoom info will be emailed to registrants in advance of the program. We request an adult supervise all children participating in these crafts in case they require assistance with the craft or technology.