December 2009 Newsletter

Greetings from Flow Circus

Juggling for Disney

Gobbler's Run for WF Boys & Girls Club

Summer 2010 Library Tours Set

Holiday Shopping Ideas

 

Read Yourself Silly

Flow Circus helped the Wake Forest Branch Library celebrate its 13th Birthday this weekend with a performance of Read Yourself Silly. It was a beautiful November day in North Carolina ....nice enough to perform outside. The article below from the December 2009 Rolesville Buzz describes the event. For more pictures from the Wake Forest Library show, visit the Flow Circus Photo Gallery.

During the 2009-10 school year, Flow Circus will be performing Read Yourself Silly at schools and libraries throughout the East Coast. Juggling, magic, and balloons captivate audiences and help deliver a memorable message.......visit the library to learn new skills!

Playful Staff Development

Flow Circus finds that working with adults can be just as much fun as working with kids because adults need to laugh & play too! This month we conducted two different staff development sessions. The first was held at Camp Silver Beach for the Peninsula Metropolitan YMCA. Our half-day workshop was part of a two day retreat focusing on the book Juggling Elephants by Jones Loflin and Todd Musig. As the authors point out in the book: People sometimes need to laugh, relax, and not take themselves too seriously. Our session taught participants how to juggle and use a variety of skill toys. Learning these new skills gave the group an opportunity to reflect on the learning process and how to overcome a fear of failure in order to improve their very own own 3 ring circus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

This past week we conducted a workshop for the staff of Mauney Memorial Library and Cleveland County Library System (pictured above). For this workshop, we used balloons to set up different team challenges that emphasize the importance of good communication, clear objectives, and understanding strengths/weaknesses when working together in teams. Creative thinking and team brainstorming resulted in the commercials below which promote the wide variety of services that libraries provide in the 21st Century. Watch and enjoy their results.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp0eIEK7Nhc[/youtube]

 Visit our website to learn more information about Flow Circus Staff Development Workshops.

Lights on Afterschool Celebration

The Afterschool Alliance celebrated the 10th Annual Lights on Afterschool which included  more than 7,500 events nationwide. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan recognized the importance of afterschool programs with his statement: Learning doesn't just happen in a classroom between school bells. Children learn all day long. So it's vital to give students and their families the tools, the facilities, and the opportunity to continue working on traditional academic subjects as well as a place for broader lessons in areas like art and music to enrich their lives. The Afterschool Alliance also released the results of a new study America After 3pm which reports how American children spend their afternoons.



 

Flow Circus was on tour in the Washington, DC area during Lights on Afterschool and helped the Greater Washington Boys & Girls Club celebrate the event with a performance of Read Yourself Silly.  Program director Ron Diokno commented after the show that the kids were simply too engaged and mesmerized. I guarantee you they had a great time, in fact, too much fun for one of our kids that couldn't stop laughing throughout the show!  If more activities were like this, then more of our kids would learn and be inspired to achieve in their own ways.



 

Flow Circus works with a number of wonderful afterschool programs throughout the year through both hands-on programs and performances. We wanted to highlight the importance of these vital programs by joining in this important celebration. We were happy to inspire the club members and staff with our playfulness.

We look forward to participating in the Lights on Afterschool celebration again next year.

 

Juguetes - Exhibition at Brooklyn Public Library

When visiting New York City in October, we saw a listing for an exhibition about toys and knew we had to go! The exhibition at the Brooklyn Public Library included yo-yo's, kites, and other toys made from recycled materials by children in the Dominican Republic. Along side the toys were beautiful images taken by Jaime Jimenez capturing the curiosity, determination, and joy of children at play. This project Juguetes was inspired by the creativity of traditional toys and games made by children. In the book with the same title, Jimenez writes:

Over the past decade and a half, the lives of the people in the Dominican Republic have changed drastically. This has much to do with globalization. It has transformed and will continue to transform everyday life. The creativity in the children has changed due to the fact that now there are more mass produced toys available. This is why I find it necessary to document the children as much as possible while making their creations.

Visit the Juguetes website to see images and learn more about Jimenez's project.

We were excited to see that many of the toys were variations of the skill toys that we teach as part of our programs. Toys that we selected because they do engage kids for hours yet are so simple in design. They do not need electricity or internet access, they can be used inside or out, and most importantly there is no limit to what can be done with them!

November 2009 Newsletter

Greetings from Flow Circus

America's Librarians Got Talent

Lights on Afterschool

National Gaming Day

Summer's Taking Shape

Winter/Spring Schedule

Fall Tour - Showcase, School, & Libraries!

 

Flow Circus traveled to the North East last week to share a little playfulness with librarians, students, and families. We started out the week at the Nassau Library System Performer Showcase where we met creative librarians looking for exciting new programs for their communities. We look forward to returning to NY this spring/summer.

Next, we visited the Manchester Branch and Berkeley Branch Libraries in Ocean County, New Jersey to entertain families and to encourage them to Read Yourself Silly! To see more pictures from these shows, visit our photo gallery.

We wrapped up the tour with a visit to Mother of Divine Providence School in King of Prussia, PA. For school shows, Paul uses juggling and magic to captivate audiences while leaving them with important lessons. For the younger grades, the theme of the show is read - find things that you want to learn how to do and then use the library to find books about that activity/topic. For the upper grades, Paul challenges the students to Find Your Passion - Research Your Career Options - Excel in Your Efforts! These steps can help students to think more creatively about careers related to their interests.

 We enjoyed all of our visits and look forward to visiting these communities again in the future. If you saw Paul perform on this tour, please feel free to share your comments here.

October 2009 Newsletter

October 2009

Greetings from Flow Circus
Obama Kendama Goes to the White House
New Teen Programs Postcard
Showcase Season is Underway
2009-2010 Tour Schedule

Obama Kendama Goes to the White House

Dear Mr. President,

I'm sure you have received many gifts during your campaign and presidency, but I bet this personalized kendama is unique! This toy is popular in Japan and one of the many skill toys that I teach to children. During your presidential campaign, I realized that "Obama Kendama" had a nice ring to it. I sent it to artist Christopher Bordenca to paint your face on it and thus the Obama Kendama was born. To my knowledge it is the only one like it. During your campaign it traveled to Washington, D.C. and to one of your campaign rallies in North Carolina (there are videos of its travels on YouTube).

I have decided to send the Obama Kendama to you now because playing with the kendama exercises and develops the important 21st century skills that you outlined in your September 8th Back to School speech to students. At the same time, it draws attention to an important aspect of education that should not be overlooked - the critical hours between 3-6pm.

Highlights - 2009 Summer Reading Program Tour

We wanted to say thank you to the over 70 libraries that we visited this summer & we thought the best way would be to provide you with a few more laughs! This 6 minute video includes clips and images from the entire summer. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the memories!

$50 prize awarded our summer video contest winner!

Entries are in, videos are reviewed, and a winner for the July Express Yourself contest has been selected. Based on the criteria of originality, skill level, and choreography (connection between routine and music)........ the winner is Sabrinah! It should be noted that she chose to learn and perform the one prop that wasn't taught in one of our skill toy workshops. Congratulations Sabrinah for being a Flow Circus video contest winner. Your $50 certificate to the Flow Circus Skill Toy Store in on its way!

Thanks to the Rowan County Public Library teens for their submissions! To be informed of upcoming video contests keep an eye on our blog or sign up for our contest mailing list at www.FlowCircus.TV.

The End of Summer is Bittersweet!

Flow Circus officially finished its Summer Reading Program  activities with a performance and Juggle Me This workshop in Hoke County, North Carolina this week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have thoroughly enjoyed visiting over 70 libraries this summer to bring laughter & play to families up and down the East Coast......but it has been a busy few months. Now it is time to kick into gear for the school year which includes staff development sessions, school performances, Skill Toy Programs, and strategic planning for 2010. We look forward to working with you in the upcoming year.

 

Be Creative@Your Library - Last Summer Tour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flow Circus wrapped up the summer with a 2 week tour of camps &  libraries in Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania.

If you have had a chance to see one of Paul's shows or if you participated in a teen workshop, please feel free to share your comments here. More photos from these shows & workshops can be found at the Flow Circus Photo Gallery.

 

Flow Circus Entertains.....Even During a Fire Drill!

Shortly after arriving at a Connecticut library this summer, the fire alarm went off & everyone had to evacuate the building. Luckily there was no fire & the alarm went off before the show started.....although I'm sure Paul would have incorporated it into the performance if it had been during the show!! Needless to say, there were lots of people milling about outside the library as we waited for the fire department to arrive and confirm that it was safe to reenter the building. Paul decided that it was time to play & brought out jitter rings and Japanese kendama for the staff and families to play with while waiting. Hopefully we made the waiting a little more enjoyable for everyone!!

Another Amazing Week of Camps!

  

Flow Circus just had another wonderful week working with campers ages 9-14 years old in our Juggling, Magic, & Balloons Sculpting camps. This week, we taught a beginner camp in which we introduced basic skills in all three areas. Our campers were creative, playful, and showed amazing improvement as the week progressed.

We also taught an advanced camp for kids that have taken the beginner camp at some point in the last year or two. We loved having campers return and were impressed by their skills. In addition to more complex magic & balloon sculpting, we spent time playing with a variety of skill toys.

You can see more pictures from camp at the Flow Circus photo gallery. If you or your child participated in one of our camps, please share your comments about the camp with us.

We look forward to seeing campers again next summer!!

August 2009 Newsletter

August 2009

Greetings from Flow Circus

Flow Circus Offers a Unique Approach to Staff Development

Express Yourself @ Your Library - Skill Toy Video Contest

Fall Library Programs & Teen Read Week 

 Grant Opportunity Updates

Flow Circus Hits 100 Facebook Fans! 

Flow Circus Visits Fairfax County

 

Another busy week. Paul is in the middle of performing at 11 libraries in Fairfax County, Virginia ..... in 4 days! He has adapted his Read Yourself Silly show to fit with the Fairfax County theme: Read Around the World. If you have seen one of the shows, please feel free to share your impressions.

To see images from the tour visit the Flow Circus photo gallery.

Flow Circus Visits North Carolina Libraries

Flow Circus spent this past week visiting several libraries in North Carolina. This photo was taken in the Biscoe Community Center just a few miles from the geographic center of the state. The library and this theater are located in a building that is one of the oldest public school buildings in NC. A beautiful space & a fun audience - a wonderful combination!!

In addition to Biscoe, Paul enjoyed performing at libraries in High Point, Oxford, Creedmoor, and Greensboro. If you saw one of these shows, please share your comments about the show. To see photos from the shows visit our photo gallery.

Juggling, Magic, & Balloon Sculpting Camps

 

Flow Circus took time off from performing this week to teach 2 Beginning Juggling, Magic, & Balloon Sculpting camps at the Cary Academy Summer Quest Program. We have been amazed by the skills these 9-14 year olds have developed in such a short time! Visit our photo gallery to see images of campers sculpting giant palm trees, mastering a variety of skill toys, and performing magic tricks like the cup and ball routine!

If you or your child was a camper, we would love to hear what you enjoyed most about the camp. Feel free to post your comments here.

We will be teaching another beginner camp in addition to an advanced camp the week of July 27th. If you are interested in more information, visit the Summer Quest website.

On Tour in York County, South Carolina

During our tour of libraries in York County, SC this past week, we were reminded about the invaluable role that libraries play in preserving a community's history and identity. Driving into Clover, we passed an old decaying mill building. When I asked one of the library staff about it, she was able to tell me some of the history of the mill and it's role in the town. She then referred me to several books in the reference section with photographs showing the mill in it's heyday.

When we arrived at the next library, I went to the reference section while Paul was setting up for his show. I was surprised to learn that the community we were in - York, SC - had been the winter home of the Barnett Family Circus. There were pictures of the community's Christmas Parade with Santa riding down the street on an elephant! The circus spending winters here inspired a York based family of brothers to start another circus - the Bennett Family Circus. The librarian told us that after the circus closed, many of the members decided to live and work in York because it had become their home. She was able to direct us to the buildings in which the elephants were kept and the building picutred here which housed the circus members. It was an honor for Paul to perform in a community so rich in the circus arts!

As you travel this summer, be sure to visit the local library to gain an insider's perspective on what makes that place unique. To see pictures from the performances, visit the Flow Circus Photo Gallery.

Flow Circus July Update

July 2009

 

Greetings from Paul

Flow Circus Featured in Creativity Counts at ALA Conference

New Teen Workshops for Libraries

21 New Variety Artists Cultivated!

Fall School & Library Tour Schedule Set

 

 

 

Halfway through the summer and Dawn and I are having more fun than ever. One of the highlights has been working with groups of tweens and teen developing circus skills through workshops, camps, and Skill Toy Programs. Last week we ran 2 camps at Cary Academy here in North Carolina. We enjoy having the opportunity to watch the campers transform throughout the week - a shy child becomes more comfortable in front of peers and an awkward, clumsy child becomes more sure-footed and confident. We love when a parent comments that his or her child comes home each day excited to share the new skills learned in camp.  

 

We are not surprised when we see teens and tweens skipping to our programs.  We do it too.

  

Playfully yours,

Paul

Flow Circus Moves Up the East Coast!

Paul started a busy day performing his Just Paul show for families at this beautiful outdoor pavilion in Gaithersburg, Maryland this morning.

Next on the tour was Strafford, Pennsylvania where we taught a Twisted Fun Workshop to tweens & teens at Tredyffrin Public Libraryto kick off their Express Yourself Summer Reading Program. The workshop was followed by a performance for all ages.

Tomorrow Paul will have more library performances in Sloatsburg, New York and Rye, New York. If you have seen any of these shows, please feel free to comment here.  If not, we will be back in PA, NY, and CT in August!

More pictures from this tour can be seen at our photo gallery.

Be Creative@Your Library - North Carolina Tour

Flow Circus visited libraries in Durham, Rowan, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Lincoln, and Rutherford Counties in the last 2 weeks to encourage families to Be Creative this summer!!

Paul has introduced new routines, but his silly antics are still amusing audiences of all ages. If you had a chance to see one of his shows in NC - let us know what you thought.

To see more pictures, visit our photo gallery.

Bringing Juggling & Skill Toys to Libraries

Flow Circus kicked off Skill Toy Programs at 3 locations in Rowan County & the North Regional Branch of Durham County Libraries this month. We were excited to introduce tweens & teens to a variety of Skill Toys such as the Japanese kendama, diabolo, spinning plates, and flower sticks. We also taught a juggling workshop to teens in Elkin, NC.  All of these props are so simple, yet provide hours & hours of entertainment (without needing to be plugged in!)

To see pictures from the workshops, visit our photo gallery.

Summer is Here!!

Flow Circus kicked off the 2009 Summer Season with performances in Alabama last week. Paul debuted a new performance, All The World's a Circus, to fit with this summer's theme Be Creative @ Your Library. In this performance, Paul turns the world around him into a playground filled with toys, magic, and wonder. He tosses and twirls objects around him to discover new games, tricks, and magical experiences.

To see more pictures from the Alabama performances visit our photo gallery. If you saw one of the shows at Daphne Public Library, Marjorie Younce Snook Public Library, Bay Minette Public Library, North Shelby Library, Vestavia Hills Public Library, or Gadsden Library, we would love to hear what you thought. Feel free to post your comments here.

June 2009 Newsletter

Greetings from Paul

Be Creative@ Your Library
Fun Summer Activities for Your Kids
Grant Writing Tips
Kick Off the School Year with Read Yourself Silly!
Join Our Newsletter

Skill Toy Residency Wraps Up

   

We just wrapped up a 6 session residency at the Chapel Hill High School's Newcomer Center. The center provides high school and middle school ESL students with a smaller classroom environment to help with the transition to US language and culture. The majority of the students are refugees from Burma and have spent time in Thai refugee camps before coming to the US.

Over the six weeks we introduced juggling, flower sticks, Japanese kendama, spinning plates, diabolo, yo-yo, jitter ring, and footbag. Visit our photo gallery to see more pictures of the students using the different skill toys.

We look forward to returning again next year.

North Charleston Arts Festival

Flow Circus performed at the North Charleston Arts Festival for the 2nd year in a row. This fabulous nine day celebration of the visual and performing arts draws over 30,000 visitors each year.

It is always a pleasure to share the magic of the variety arts with families!

Visit our photo gallery for more images from the event.

Friday Institute MEGA Conference & NCCAP Synergy Conference

 

Flow Circus recently particpated in two North Carolina conferences to share juggling and skill toys with adult and student participants. The Synergy Conference hosted by North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs was attended by staff from YMCA's, 4H's, Boys & Girls Clubs and other afterschool providers. There was a wonderful energy and the schedule offered a variety of high quality key note speakers, breakout sessions, and vendor exhibitions.

At the MEGA Conference held at NC State's Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, we highlighted the use of our Skill Toy Program video sharing site to develop 21st Century skills such as innovation, collaboration, and communication. Conference attendees tried their hand at learning new hands-on skills such as juggling and diabolo and then viewed student created videos showcasing these skills. To learn more about our Skill Toy Club or to see student videos, click here.

We look forward to participating in both of these conferences again next year.

May 2009 Newsletter

Greetings from Paul

Twist & Earn! @ Your Library
Synergy Conference
Best Buy Grant
Flow Circus Fan Page on Facebook!
Summer & Fall Bookings

Twist & Earn! - Tween & Teen Library Workshop

 

 Teens and tweens at Fair Haven branch library in New Haven, CT learned how to Twist & Earn! during National Library Week. After learning basic balloon twisting skills and participating in a high-energy team building exercise, kids had the opportunity to Express Yourself @the Library making balloon hats. Some were big and some small, but all were very colorful!

These teens with the guidance of their wonderful teen librarian will be able to continue to twist balloons in their community to raise money, do community service, and advocate on behalf of the library.

Visit our photo gallery for more pictures of their wonderful creations.

National Library Week Tour

 

Flow Circus recently visited libraries in Connecticut to celebrate National Library Week. Danbury Public Library, Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, and North Haven Library were fabulous audiences for Paul's antics!

Visit our photo gallery to see more pictures from the tour. Feel free to post a comment on out blog if you were at one of the shows.

He will be returning to Connecticut in August - so check with your local library to see when he will be encouraging your community to Be Creative @Your Library

Connecting Cultures through Skill Toys

Flow Circus is currently conducting a six visit residency at the Chapel Hill High School's Newcomer Student Center. The center provides 21 high school and 15 middle school ESL students with a smaller classroom environment to help with the transition to US language and culture. The majority of the students are refugees from Burma and have spent time in Thai refugee camps before coming to the US. The English language skills of the students range, but they all understand the language of play!

 

So far we have introduced juggling, flower sticks, diabolo, and yo-yo. It has been wonderful to see the expression of joy and accomplishment as students get the basic flow of the prop or master new tricks. The objective of our residency which was arranged by the Durham Arts Council is to provide the students with a hands-on activity that will allow them to be creative, build self-esteem, and provide a new tool to create cross-cultural interaction with other students at the school. We are looking forward to an upcoming session when the students are going to introduce us to the Burmese game of Chinlon - a game in which a woven rattan ball must be kept off the ground at all times and hit over a net using only ones head, legs, and feet.

 

Skill toys provide a fun, playful way to engage all students in a discussion about history and culture. For more information about skill toys visit our website.

 

Be Creative - Summer 2009 Schedule

Flow Circus will be busy again this summer, but we do still have a few openings left in our summer tours and camps. Please see the calendar below for when we will be in your state and contact Dawn to check our availability at dawn@flowcircus.com or (919) 604-3462.

                        Week of June 1st: Alabama Library Tour

                        Week of June 8th: North & South Carolina Libraries

                        Week of June 15th: North Carolina Library Tour

                        June 22-24: North Carolina Library Tour

                        June 25-26: Mid Atlantic State Tour (MD & PA)

                        June 30-July 3: York County, SC  - Library Tour

                        Week of July 6th: Beginning Juggling, Magic, & Balloon camp at Cary Academy Summer Quest

                        Week of July 13th: North Carolina Library Tour

                        July 20-23: Fairfax County, VA  - Library Tour

                        July 24th: North Carolina Library Tour

                        Week of July 27th: Juggling, Magic, & Balloon camp at Cary Academy Summer Quest

                                                     Advanced Juggling, Magic, & Balloon camp at Cary Academy Summer Quest

                        Week of August 3rd: Connecticut Library Tour

                        Week of August 10th: New York & Pennsylvania Library Tour

   

             

April 2009 Newsletter

Greetings from Paul - Worlds Connect @ Your Library
Jugglers, Jesters, & Fools
Connecting Cultures through Skill Toys
Adult Workshops - Connecting to Our Inner Child!
Summer Update - It's Not Too Late

NC Summer Reading Program Workshops

Flow Circus had the opportunity to conduct skill toy workshops for NC librarians this week at Summer Reading Program workshops in Salisbury and Pittsboro. We introduced a variety of props, and then let the participants develop their own skills with Japanese Kendama and Flower Sticks.

We enjoyed the playful energy in both groups and look forward to bringing juggling and skill toys to libraries across NC!

After the workshops, Paul performed as part of the Performer's Showcase. Click here for more pictures from the workshop and performance.

Flow Circus Presents at NC State of the Arts Conference

Flow Circus presented FIZZ: Safely Broadcasting Performance Learning Outcomes with Dr. Lodge McCammon and Andrea Gambino at the 2009 State of the Arts Conference at Meredith College in Raleigh on Friday, March 6th. In our session, we provided several models for incoporating web 2.0 technologies in classrooms and afterschool programs to develop 21st century learning skills.

The Flow Circus TV video sharing site that showcases Skill Toy Club created videos is a result of our partnership with Dr. McCammon and the Friday Institute at NC State. 

Our session at the conference provided teachers, artists, and museum staff with the opportunity to experience the process involved in preparing, executing, and uploading a music video.  We decided to include both takes of the video, because sometimes the "mistakes" produce exciting results!! You can also find "behind the scenes" photos at the Flow Circus Gallery.

Take 1 -

Take 2-

 

March 2009 Newsletter: Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Greetings from Paul

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Community Partnerships & Grants

Read Yourself Silly at End of School Year Celebrations

Summer Schedule: Camps, Performances, & Workshops

Share this Newsletter

Jugglers, Jesters, & Fools

Last week, we spent the day with 6th graders at Voyager Academy in Durham teaching juggling workshops that engaged students in active learning. Their study of the Middle Ages and Renaissance came to life as they learned first hand the skills of jesters and fools.

Did you know that there is evidence of juggling in Ancient Egypt and Greece? Just like many art forms, there is little documentation of juggling during the Dark Ages in Europe, but with the Renaissance came a rebirth of this unique art. Many other props such as the flower sticks and diabolo appear to have returned to Europe as trade with Asia became more frequent.

Throughout our workshop, we encouraged students to study the past by investigating the history of activities or topics they are interested in, such as toys or fashion or sports.  Looking at history in this way can make learning more captivating and of course, more FUN!

We enjoyed working with the Voyager Academy students & were impressed by their juggling skills! This residency was made possible through the Durham Arts Council CAPS program.

Upcoming Flow Circus Showcases

During February and early March, Flow Circus will be busy showcasing their stuff! These showcases are a wonderful opportunity for libraries, parks & rec departments, and educators to preview a variety of performers and identify good matches for their programming. Below is a list of upcoming showcases we are excited to be participating in:

Ramapo-Catskill Library System Performer's Showcase - Middletown, NY: February 27th

Westchester Library Association Performer's Showcase - White Plains, NY: March 3rd

Connecticut Recreation & Parks Association Entertainment Showcase - Hartford, CT: March 4th

Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library Sneak Previews- Norristown, PA: March 18th

National Library Week Resources

National Library Week is an annual celebration of the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians. This year it is being celebrated April 12-18, 2009. As we have toured libraries from Alabama to Connecticut, we are constantly impressed by library staff and their programs to engage children, teens, and adults.

 

Libraries truly are the center of the community and we need to make sure they remain vital even when budgets get tight. If you are a library, visit the ALA site for resources to help you promote National Library Week. For everyone else, please visit your your school, community, or college library and thank the fabulous staff that make it happen!

 

Flow Circus will be celebrating National Library Week with a tour of Connecticut libraries. We hope to see you there!

February 2009 Newsletter

Greetings from Paul

National Library Week Resources

North Carolina State of the Arts Conference

Upcoming Flow Circus Events

Summer Camp Schedule

Stand Up and Be Counted - Library Budgets & the Latest Depression

I just watched American Library Association Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels discuss making a case for libraries in bad economic times.  I found it uplifting -- despite the topic.

Fiels identifies education, democracy, and driving force in economy as 3 main public services that libraries deliver.  He also points out that attendance and circulation has grown significantly during this economic downturn.

The irony: as libraries become more valuable to the community, their budgets are increasingly jeopardized.

Summer 2009 Camp Schedule Announced

Flow Circus will be returning to Cary Academy Summer Quest Program for the 7th summer!  These camps are open to students in grade 4-8. You can register for these camps starting February 13th at the 2009 Summer Quest Camp Fair being held at the Cary Academy Dining Hall from 6-8:30pm.

More information can be found on the Summer Quest Website. If your children have been involved in our camps before - please help spread the word about the fun we have!!

 

                           July 6-10:   Juggling, Magic, & Balloon camp: 2 sessions offered 9am-noon and 1-4 pm

                           July 27-31: Juggling, Magic, & Ballon camp: 9am - noon

                                                      Advanced Juggling, Magic & Balloon camp: 1 -4 pm

Balloon & Juggling Workshops at High Point Library

 

Flow Circus taught 2 workshops to families at High Point Library this weekend. We started the morning with Twisted Fun where everyone learned basic balloon twisting. After mastering the balloon dog, the group showed their creativity & individual style with colorful balloon hats!

The second workshop Juggle Me This provided the participants of all ages with steps for learning how to juggle. It was fun to watch parents and children learning together and to hear the joy in people's voices as they improved! Paul will be back to perform at High Point Library this summer, so keep practicing so you can show us your skills when we return!!

Click here to see photos from the balloon twisting workshop.

2009 YMCA Campfire Conference - Game On!

We had the opportunity this week to travel to Black Mountain to participate in the 2009 Campfire Conference with YMCA camp directors from all over the Southeast. We enjoyed teaching juggling and skill toy workshops, but had the most fun at the informal juggling session Monday night in the conference center lobby! Whether people were learning the 3 ball cascade or trying out new tricks or passing to colleagues, the energy was super positive and playful......you can't get better than that!

We look forward to participating in the conference again next year - in the meantime, keep juggling!!

Flow Circus Visits Fairfax County!

 

 

Flow Circus, member of the Arts Council of Fairfax County, recently visited the SACC After School Program at Great Falls Elementary School, Great Falls Public Library and Newington Forest Elementary School to encourage children to Read Yourself Silly. Paul used his own story of how a trip to the circus inspired him to visit his library to learn how to juggle which then led to balloons, magic, and even the history of the circus! Teachers had students write letters to Paul after the show and above are some of the drawings and comments they made about what they want to learn from the library. Below are a few photographs from the library performance.