The Big Update Activity Ideas, Events and News for Bigs   July/August 2009 IN THIS ISSUE Safe Summer Bigs Recruiting Bigs Volunteer Opportunities Food Fun Sports Activities Nature Activities Music and Movies Festivals and Events BECOME A FAN Get connected to the BBBS network. Become our Fan on Facebook and receive updates on events and news. BIG LINKS Upcoming Match Activities Deals & Discounts More Activity Ideas Big Update Archive Match Support Tips BBBS Calendar Make a Donation SPECIAL THANKS! A Big thank you to Graphicolor Printing for nominating us to receive a free Constant Contact email account. Their kind sponsorship will help us continue to communicate with you and also cut costs! Greetings!  Summer is finally here, along with lots of fun, warm-weather activities. We've organized this issue of The Big Update by event type (sports, nature, music, etc.) to make it easier for you and to pick your activities. Don't forget about our online resources! Find Match Activities, Activity Ideas and Big Deal Discounts on our Web site. Connect with us on Facebook to get the latest social event updates and share them with your friends! Thanks for being a Big! Look for the next Big Update at the end of August. Safe Summer Help Your Little Have a Fun, Safe Summer Does your Little need things to do during the summer? Check out our online Safe Summer resources for supervised playground locations, free meals, cheap movies and more. Thanks for Spreading the Word Our Bigs are Great Recruiters! Thank you to everyone who has helped raise awareness of our need for Big Brothers. A few examples of Bigs helping to recruit new volunteers: Big Brother Lance D. helped us do a tabling and presentation at his employer, Harley-Davidson. Big Brother Javier C. shared his experiences at the May Mix@Six at Friday's Front Row Grill. Big Brothers Ian A. and John H., officers of the networking group NEWaukee, invited BBBS to a NEWaukee social event. Big Brother Matt D. spoke about his Little Brother at the June Mix@Six at Karma Bar and Grill, where Big Sister Heather A.'s friend signed up to be a Big Brother. Big Sister Amanda H. is helping us engage more volunteers at her employer, Johnson Controls. Aurora Health Care Bigs Teresa R., Ed M. and Jen T. all spoke about BBBS at Aurora meetings. Join these BBBS ambassadors and help get your employer or organization involved. Contact Kathy at 414-258-4778, ext. 245 or kmiller@bbbsmilwaukee.org. Summer Volunteer Opportunities Books for Kids - Summer "Read with Me" Wednesdays and Thursdays, July 8-August 20, 9-11:30 a.m. Next Door Foundation, 2545 N. 29th St., Milwaukee The Next Door Foundation is looking for children (age 9 and up) and adults to read to preschoolers. This is a great match activity! For more information, or to register for a day, contact Debi Schwid at 414-562-2929, ext. 109 or dschwid@nextdoormil.org. Help the Hunger Task Force at the Wisconsin State Fair Thursday, August 6, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. OR 2 p.m.-6 p.m. (Select a shift.) State Fair Park, 640 S. 84th St., West Allis We invite Bigs and Littles (age 12 and up) to help the hungry and enjoy the State Fair. Collect donations, give out ticket vouchers and sort and load food onto trucks. Participants will receive free admission to the fair on August 6! To register, contact Kerry at 414-258-4778, ext. 228 or kbloomquist@bbbsmilwaukee.org. Food Fun Kids Eat Free Many chain restaurants, like Denny's and Fazoli's, offer free or discounted kids meals on select days. Do some Web research or call around to find deals. Or go to our Big Deal Discount partner, Bella's Fat Cat, for a buy-one-get-one-free deal anytime!   Pick Your Own Berries Grab hats and gloves and head out to the farm! Barthel Fruit Farm, 12246 N. Farmdale Rd., Mequon (strawberries) Basse's Taste of Country, 3190 County Line Q, Colgate (strawberries) Witte's Vegetable Farm, 1006 Bridge Rd., Cedarburg (raspberries)   Sports Activities Free Bowling for Your Little June 1-August 31, every day until 7 p.m. Various area bowling centers (click here for locations >>) Cost: Free for Littles Sign up your Little for free bowling this summer. You'll also have the opportunity to purchase a discount bowling pass for yourself. Click here to register >>   Biking and Boating Along the Fox River Saturdays, July 25 and August 29, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. High Roller Fun Rentals, Frame Park, Waukesha Cost: 2-for-1 rentals, $5-$10 per 1/2 hour; 50% of proceeds benefit BBBS Present your BBBS Membership Card to get discounted bike and boat rentals and help raise money for BBBS. Choose from pedal go-karts, canoes, paddle boats and more. Nature Activities Twilight Delight "Firefly Patrol" Friday, July 10, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.; Register by Monday, July 6 Retzer Nature Center, S14 W28167 Madison St, Waukesha Cost: $5/person Join the Retzer naturalists to learn how these bright bugs illuminate the night skies and try to catch a few to examine. Bug catching jars will be provided.   One Wild Saturday Morning-Butterflies Saturday, July 18, 9 a.m.-noon Havenwoods State Forest, 6141 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee Cost: Free Drop in and learn how to tell a butterfly from a moth, discover how to attract butterflies to your yard and borrow a net to catch some butterflies.   Sidewalk Astronomy at Bayshore Wednesday, July 29, 7-10 p.m. Bayshore Town Center (on the Square), 5900 N. Pt. Washington Rd., Milwaukee Cost: Free Visually explore the heavens with one of the finest telescopes in the Midwest. View the Moon, Saturn and other celestial bodies.   Family Hike-Summer Flowers Saturday, August 1, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Havenwoods State Woods, 6141 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee Cost: Free Hike through the prairie and learn to identify wildflowers like orange butterfly-weed, purple coneflowers and yellow black-eyed Susans.   One Wild Saturday Morning-Prairies Saturday, August 15, 9 a.m.- noon Havenwoods State Forest, 6141 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee Cost: Free Drop in and print your own prairie T-shirt (bring your own T-shirt), learn what lives in a prairie and make a prairie watercolor. Outdoor Music and Movies Concerts in the Parks Monday-Friday in July and August Select Milwaukee County parks (click here for locations >>) Cost: Free Bring a picnic and enjoy outdoor music all summer.   Waterfront Wednesday Concert Series Wednesdays in July and August, 6-9 p.m. Lakefront Park, 222 W. Wisconsin Ave., Pewaukee Cost: Free Listen to rock, reggae, blues and more (weather permitting) at the Pewaukee Lakefront.   Cinema in the Sand Fridays, July 10 and August 14, 7:45 p.m. Lakefront Park, 222 W. Wisconsin Ave., Pewaukee Cost: Free See "The Wizard of Oz" or "Charlotte's Web" on the beach!   River Flicks Fridays, August 7, 14, 21 and 28, starting at dusk Pere Marquette Park, W. State and Old World Third St., Milwaukee Cost: Free Watch a family movie next to the Milwaukee River.   Civic Plaza Cinema - "Finding Nemo" Wednesday, August 19, 8:45 p.m. Brookfield Civic Plaza, 2000 N. Calhoun Rd., Brookfield Cost: Free Bring a blanket and enjoy an outdoor screening of "Finding Nemo." Festivals and Special Events There are so many area festivals that we couldn't possibly fit them all here, so we just picked a few. For a more comprehensive list, visit OnMilwaukee.com.   Great Circus Parade Festival Festival: Wednesday, July 8 - Saturday, July 11 Parade: Sunday, July 12, 1:30 p.m. Milwaukee Lakefront Cost: Free admission to showgrounds and parade Don't this Milwaukee tradition! The two-hour parade includes 350 horses, exotic animals, 450 performers and more.   Bastille Days Thursday, July 9 - Sunday, July 12 Downtown Milwaukee Cost: Free admission Enjoy food, music and a taste of French culture. Stop by the BBBS table in the Community Tent and receive a special restaurant coupon!   South Shore Frolics Friday, July 10 - Sunday, July 12 South Shore Park, 2900 S. Shore Dr., Milwaukee Cost: Free admission The Saturday parade and fireworks are highlights of this neighborhood festival, which includes a fish fry, "Idol Karaoke" and games for kids. Bradford Beach Family Days Sundays, July 12 and August 9 Bradford Beach, Milwaukee Cost: Free Enjoy the revival of Bradford Beach with beach volleyball for kids, treasure hunt, sand building contest and more.   Waukesha County Fair Wednesday, July 15 - Sunday, July 19 Waukesha County Expo Grounds, 1000 Northview Rd., Waukesha Cost: $3 Littles 6-12, $9 Bigs and Littles 13+ Animals, rides and fried food, without the big crowds of the State Fair. The Bonfire at B.E.D. Friday, July 17, 6:30-11 p.m. Bradford Beach, Lincoln Memorial Dr., Milwaukee Cost: $10/person Enjoy a bonfire, music and storytelling on the beach in support of Pathfinders Teen Homeless Shelter. Children are encouraged to organize a fundraiser for the admission fee.   North Shore Bank Taste of Lake Country Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25, 5-10:30 p.m. Pewaukee Lakefront, 222 W Wisconsin Ave, Pewaukee Cost: Free admission Food and music in Lake Country, topped off with fireworks. Milwaukee Art Museum Midsummer Garden Party Sunday, July 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. MAM, 700 N. Art Museum Dr., Milwaukee Cost: Free for Bigs, Littles and their families Travel back to the early twentieth century with period music, activities and prizes. Come early, bring a picnic and explore the museum. Bring your whole family and/or your Little's family!   Back-to-School Resource Fair Thursday, August 20, 5-8 p.m. Betty Brinn Children's Museum, 929 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee Cost: Free Help prepare your Little for the first day of school. Free school supplies will be available for children in need, while supplies last. Support Us When You Shop Pick 'n Save We Care Program Support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee when you shop at any Pick 'n Save store. Go to a store customer service desk, and update your Advantage Plus Savers Club card with our We Care charity code: 60530. Every time you use your Savers Club card, a percentage of your purchase will be donated to BBBS! Please Note: Inclusion in The Big Update does not constitute an endorsement by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee or its staff. Big Brothers Big Sisters is not responsible for cancellations, changes or errors in dates, times or any other information regarding the events listed in The Big Update. The information presented here was accurate as of 6/25/09.