Month: June 2017

City School students shine at STEM showcase

Arlington Elementary School students Tyreek Brown, Kaylen Randall, Aubrey Smith, Keith Stevenson, and their classmates identified a problem in their community and saw the evidence of it: Rats! To address the problem, they designed the inner workings of an electric rattrap.

To help them along the process, the 4th graders participated in an after-school STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) program at their school, which met twice a week, three hours each day. The group participated in a six-month student-driven project to identify problems in their community – and came up with a solution. After months of learning, researching and understanding the engineering design process, the students presented their findings.

Students from 10 public schools participated in a STEM showcase at Johns Hopkins University’s Newton White Athletic Center, during the 4th quarter of the 2017-2018 school year. With over 60 different projects and nearly 600 attendees, the event celebrated the educational STEM achievements and student-driven projects during in-school lessons and after-school programs.

Baltimore City Councilman Leon F. Pinkett III (D. 7th district) was among the supporters at the event to see each invention.

Many of the students, including those at Arlington Elementary attended a previous STEM showcase and said they looked forward to participating in more events. In addition to developing the inner workings of an electric rattrap, students designed a poop-scooping robot, a portable shelter for the homeless and a trash truck with mechanical arms.

With the advancements of overlapping disciplines, STEM has opened up exciting career fields for elementary school students that were not around 15-20 years ago.

“We recognize the amount of time and support that’s required to spotlight the STEM projects of our SABES students and we applaud their achievements,” said Alisha N. Sparks, elementary school SABES program manager at Johns Hopkin University Whiting School of Engineering.

The National Science Foundation awarded a $7.4 million grant to Johns Hopkins University School of Engineering and Education in 2012. Sponsored by STEM Achievement in Baltimore Elementary Schools (SABES), a partnership between Baltimore City Public Schools and Johns Hopkins University, SABES is a five-year grant funded program that culminated this year. Program organizers hope to bridge the gap and improve educational outcomes for nine targeted schools: Arlington Elementary/Middle School, Barclay Elementary/Middle School, Dallas F. Nicholas Sr. Elementary School, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary/School, Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School (#215), Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School (#237), John Ruhrah Elementary/Middle School, Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle School and Pimlico Elementary/Middle School.

The program has impacted more than 2,200 Baltimore students and trained 147 STEM facilitators and teachers. Research suggests students who’ve participated in the STEM program display more confidence, greater analytical thinking and an increase interest in a STEM career. The number of students interested in becoming an engineer has increased by 27 percent as a result of the program.

“Watching the children develop into critical thinkers and asking thought-provoking questions proved they are engaged and interested in STEM careers,” said Martha Syed, a three-year STEM facilitator at John Ruhrah Elementary School and Arlington Elementary School. “Students become self-aware when they understand that STEM impacts their home life, school and community.”

The end-of year SABES STEM Showcase which incorporated the nine partner schools from three communities— Greater Homewood, Park Heights and Greektown/Highlandtown, according to Sparks. One of the organization’s goals is to expose the students to STEM careers so that they are globally competitive, be solution-oriented and have a greater understanding of the world.

“The SABES STEM Showcase is a visual reminder to our students that they can do anything they put their minds to,” said Sparks. “[And] shows students that everyone can succeed in STEM and bring innovative solutions to solve problems in their local communities.”

Sparks says the STEM Showcase dispelled the myth that it’s ‘uncool’ to be smart.

Epsilon Omega’s 5th Fabulous AKA Day at the Races

BALTIMORE — On Sunday, May 28, 2017, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Omega chapter and the Epsilon Omega Foundation hosted the 5th Annual AKA Day at the Races at Pimlico Race Course. The event boasted over 300 guests and included a lavish buffet brunch, a silent auction, a raffle, and live horse racing all in the name of charity.

This year, WBAL’s news anchor, Jason Newton, served as the guest emcee of the very popular “Hat-itude” contest where attendees donned beautiful hats and fascinators with gloves to complete the winning look.

“The Epsilon Omega chapter just celebrated its 95th Anniversary, and one of the first ways in which the charter members began giving back to the Baltimore City community was to establish a college scholarship fund. This event puts the fun in fundraising and supports the vision of our charter members by continuing to help students from our city go on to pursue their dreams of higher education. We are very proud that for 95 years our chapter has assisted students from our city in achieving their professional goals by awarding a four-year college scholarship to students who have gone on to become attorneys, doctors, professors, nurses and even a marine biologist,” said event Chairman Cylia Lowe-Smith, Esq. who created the event five years ago.

The event has grown every year and is a very popular component is the Epsilon Omega Scholarship Fund Raffle, which gives guests an opportunity to win great prizes for a great cause.

This year’s co-chair Shante Jones along with Erinn Gross and Tiffany Wallace added a silent auction that was very well received, and all the proceeds from the raffle and silent auction went to Scholarship Fund.

The success of this fundraiser is due in large part to the wonderful partnerships that have been established with local businesses such as Mano Swartz Furs, Charles “Chizel It” Harris, Basignani Winery, and Margie Hicks Custom Made Unique Hats; all have supported the Day at the Races with generous donations every year since its inception.

With the popularity of the event steadily increasing, growing year-after-year, this year’s affair again included guests from the Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia area along with guests from as far as New York, Pennsylvania and even Atlanta, making the 5th Annual event so popular it sold out weeks in advance!

There were also a number of very special guests such as the International Secretary of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Mrs. Charletta Wilson Jacks who served as the guest judge for the Hat-itude contest!

“Now more than ever is the time for a laser focus on increasing opportunities for excellence in education. The Epsilon Omega Foundation is to be applauded for accomplishing this task and hitting the bull’s-eye,” Jacks said.

In addition to hosting a current International Directorate member, several other former board members were in attendance to show support for this great cause, including: 27th North Atlantic Regional Director Regional Director, Erma Barron; the 29th North Atlantic Regional Director, C. Edith Booker; former International Secretary and current International Risk Management Chairman, Susan Simms Marsh; and former Undergraduate Member at Large and current North Atlantic Representative to the International Standards committee, Jacquie Jones.

“It was truly an honor to have so many current and former leaders in attendance.” Lowe-Smith remarked. “Alpha Kappa Alpha has grown to over 75,000 active members in 1,006 chapters throughout the world and to have the support of our leadership time and time again in our city is truly appreciated.”

Other noteworthy guests included: North Atlantic Representative to the International Membership Committee, Wanda King; North Atlantic Representative to the International Protocol Committee, April Hamilton; and the presidents of nine local AKA chapters.

The Epsilon Omega Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit and tax exempt, 501 (c) (3), corporation established to acquire resources to support and promote programs and services to meet the changing needs of citizens of the Baltimore metropolitan community.The Foundation was created and incorporated in 1991 with the mission to assist the Epsilon Omega chapter to meet the challenges of the community through service, education, and cultural development. For more information visit:

www.EpsilonOmega.org

Temecula Wife Hides Pregnancy While Naval Husband Is Deployed, Saving Reveal for His Homecoming

(CNN) — When a military wife in Temecula found out she was pregnant she knew it would be the best surprise for her husband to come home to, so she took pains to hide the news until he returned to the states.

Natasha Daugherty found out she was expecting her fourth child a week after her husband, Chris, was deployed with the U.S. Navy. Rather than sharing the big news via email, Natasha wanted to save the reveal for when he got off the ship.

“It was kind of unexpected,” she said. “We didn’t think it was going to happen, and he was only home for a short time.”

When Chris returned home after six months on assignment aboard the USS Carl Vinson on Friday, he was greeted in San Diego first by his kids, then Natasha — who was hiding her pregnant belly behind a sign that read “Welcome home baby daddy.”

The moment was captured on video, with a shocked Chris asking, “Is that real?”

Throughout the first two trimesters, Natasha strategically masked her midsection in family photos she shared with Chris.

“She was very good at hiding it, whether it was emojis or hiding behind somebody,” Chris laughed.

At times it was difficult to keep up the charade and conceal the life-changing news, especially when Chris’ deployment was extended for a month as the USS Carl Vinson was ordered to make a show of force near the coast of North Korea.

“I got emotional about it and I was wondering, ‘Should I tell him? Would I feel guilty if something happens and he doesn’t know?'” Natasha recalled. “I went back and forth about it.”

But she ended up holding out, and at eights months pregnant, Natasha finally got to share the secret. Chris said he was glad to find out the way he did.

“She said, ‘Surprise!’ and dropped the sign, and I was confused,” Chris said. “And then I actually poked her belly because I wasn’t sure if she was playing a trick on me or not. Clearly, she was not.”

The baby is due in late August, and as family and friends were gathered for Chris’ homecoming party the couple shared one last bit of news: It’s a girl.

Chris is expected to be home until January, so he’ll be able to be there for her birth.

St. Louis teens leave messages of hope on vandalized memorial

ST. LOUIS (CNN) — A group of St. Louis students took lessons learned in their social justice program and put them into action when they encountered vandalism hundreds of miles away.

Students participating in the Cultural Leadership program returned Tuesday night from a 21-day journey across the country to places in the US with civil rights and social justice significance.

The teens met Supreme Court Justices and Congressmen, they traveled from New York to Washington DC to Alabama. But it was in Money, Mississippi that they encountered something troubling.

At the memorial for Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American boy who was kidnapped and lynched in 1955, they discovered vandalism.

“I couldn’t fathom that someone would disrespect this man and his death and we know he died unjustly,” said Promise Mitchell, a student with the Cultural Leadership program.

The sign on the Mississippi Freedom Trail was defaced, the facts and quotes about Till were stripped off, damaged by vandals.

So the teens took action.

“We figured we’re here to make change, so how can we make change at this monument? So we get out our loose leaf paper and we decide to write down facts and draw pictures,” said Dani Gottlieb, a student in the group.

So while the paper notes they wrote might not last, the lesson this group learned will remain. According to the organization in charge of maintaining the sign said it would be removed this week for repairs. It’s the second time the sign has been vandalized in the last two years.

No more lies as ‘Pretty Little Liars’ comes to a close

(CNN) — “Pretty Little Liars” — a show that for seven seasons prided itself on engineering implausible yet addicting twists that kept its cult-like following coming back for more — ended its run on Tuesday with the five young women at the center of the series joined in a group hug as one of them prepared to embark on her honeymoon.

“For some reason, it feels like it’s the end of something,” Ali (Sasha Pieterse) tells her friends.

Indeed, it was.

When it debuted in 2010, “Pretty Little Liars” was quick to gain attention for its youth appeal — featuring high school drama, outlandish thrills and powered by the group’s tormenter, a villain known only as “A.”

The constant flow of mystery and intrigue may have been the hook that kept “PLL” — as fans would abbreviate it — at the top of Twitter trending topics. But the life blood of the show was always the young teen girls who may have looked like they’d been plucked straight from the pages of a Teen Vogue, but fought with endless conviction to protect themselves and their friends from harm and danger.

Sure, they would fight amongst themselves at times, but their friendship was always a North Star of hope.

“Pretty Little Liars,” which began with the girls as teens and followed their journeys into young adulthood, made a powerful statement about enduring female bonds. The show pit the girls against a number of almost cartoonishly evil foes, but they were no match for the Rosewood quartet.

Before “Pretty Little Liars,” young teens had the likes of “Gossip Girl” to fill their hunger for fabulous OMG-entertainment. But even that show, which had a female friendship at its core, was rooted in a cattiness that “PLL” mostly tried to avoid.

“I do hope that we showed our fans what friendship looks like: girls supporting girls, women supporting women,” showrunner I. Marlene King told Teen Vogue in May. “I didn’t want the girls to be catty with each other. I wanted them to have mature, healthy relationships.”

While stories about female friends are in larger supply these days thanks to a wave of television created for and about women, there will be a hole where “Pretty Little Liars” once stood.

During Tuesday’s finale, “PLL” network Freeform ran several promos for a series called “Bold Type,” about a trio of young women trying to make it in the magazine world. It’s not a stretch to say those who tuned into “Pretty Little Liars” for its more bombastic qualities will not find their fix in this series, but it was clear that Freeform was trying to make a connection with the younger “PLL” base who wouldn’t necessarily see themselves reflected on a show like “Big Little Lies.”

The jury is out on how TV history will remember “Pretty Little Liars,” but when it comes to teaching young women about the power of having like-minded, murderer-battling badasses at your side, this series undoubtedly gets an “A.”

Elmo: Refugee kids are just like us

(CNN) — Sesame Street’s Elmo says refugee kids are just like kids everywhere.

“They like to play and learn just like Elmo and all his friends at Sesame street” he said during a Facebook Live interview with CNN on Monday.

The 3 1/2-year-old Sesame street character visited a refugee camp in Jordan back in February, and described the trip as “really wonderful because Elmo got to meet a lot of new friends.”

“Elmo thinks it’s important to know that everybody is the same deep down and that’s very important.”

Elmo also noted some of the differences between kids here and there. “It was really sad because Elmo’s new friends told Elmo that they had to leave their homes because it wasn’t safe for them to stay,” he said. “And that made Elmo really sad and sometimes a bit scared.”

Elmo likened the experience to when Big Bird’s nest was destroyed. “That was really sad at first. But then the whole community came and rebuilt Big Bird’s nest and it was all better.”

“It’s really important to help people when they need help,” he added.

Elmo went to Jordan as part of a pilot program with Sesame Workshop and the International Rescue Committee. The two organizations are partnering to provide preschool education along with educational materials to refugee children across the Middle East.

Sherrie Westin, Sesame Workshop’s Executive Vice President of Global Impact, explained how the partnership came about.

“Sesame has had a long history at looking at issues from a child’s perspective and given the staggering number of children who are displaced today, we knew this was an area where we really had to try to do something to help and we knew we couldn’t do it alone” she told CNN’s Clarissa Ward.

Westin appeared alongside Elmo and David Miliband, CEO of the IRC.

“Look at us all, we’re all smiling,” Miliband said. “Whenever Elmo is with his friends we smile and that’s the same for the children we serve around the world.”

He went on to explain the global refugee and displacement crisis facing the world.

“25 million refugees, 40 million more people inside their own countries displaced by war and persecution and half of that total is children. These are children who don’t just lose their homes, they lose their childhood really. They lose their chance at education of the kind of nurture and support that many people would take for granted.”

He said projects like the one with Sesame Street give refugee children “a dose of normality.”

“Even in the midst of terrible chaos, I’ve seen in tents that are run by IRC staff around the world in Lebanon, and Jordan, and all across Africa, even in clearings, the dose of normality that says there’s a teacher, there’s a class, there’s some paper, there’s some crayons.”

Miliband also addressed the US Supreme Court’s decision to uphold parts of Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban and the President’s stance on refugees.

“It’s worth saying, perhaps especially today, that this country, the US, receives very few refugees and there’s a lot of fear and loathing being put out. Countries like Jordan, a million refugees. Uganda, where I’ve just been, a million refugees. People there see the refugees as their brothers and sisters, not as terrorists who are coming to get them, and there’s a real lesson in humanity and compassion from countries that are much poorer than us that are doing so much more.”

“It’s a myth that most refugees are in rich countries,” he said. “They’re not. Most refugees, 90% are in poor countries. The Jordanians, the Ugandans, the Lebanese, they really are teaching a lesson of what it’s like to actually reach out and help people.”

Ward asked Elmo about the importance of the project. “Elmo just thinks it’s really important to be kind to people and to treat people the way you would like to be treated,” he said. “Because it’s important to bring joy to everybody.”

North Carolina teen missing for more than a year found in Georgia

(CNN) — 17-year-old girl who left her home in Charlotte, North Carolina has been found at a home in Duluth.

Hailey Burns left her home more than a year ago according to authorities. She was recovered at a home in the 2700 block of Seneca Trail.

Michael Ren Wysoloyski, 31, was taken into custody in Georgia. He faces a number of charges including false imprisonment, aggravated sodomy, interference with custody and cruelty to children involving first-degree deprivation.

Neighbor Jennifer Elmore says Wysoloyski moved into the home just months ago and kept to himself.

“The blinds would always be closed, night and day. I did see a younger female with him but I didn’t think anything of it at all,” said Elmore.

Burns has been reunited with her family.

According to North Carolina station WBTV, Burns’ father said she left a diary behind in May of 2016 that detailed a plan to run away with a 32-year-old man she met online. Family members said Burns has Asperger Syndrome.

Wysoloyski is scheduled to hear a formal reading of his charges Monday afternoon in a small courtroom inside the jail.

Surfing, falconry and other summer vacation pursuits

(CNN) — Catch a wave off the California coast, pedal a mountain bike in Utah’s red rock canyons or try your gloved hand at falconry in Vermont.

The kids may be out of school, but the summer season presents a range of adult vacations so fun they won’t feel like learning. Plenty of fresh air, luminous light and Instagram-worthy scenery are part of these hands-on holidays.

If you’re looking to recharge your mind, body and spirit, the following 10 vacations may remind you just how enjoyable exploring a new skill can be.

Surf’s up in San Diego

For those who dream of hanging 10, this five-day Southern California coastal plunge is straight out of a Beach Boys song.

Endless Summer Surf Camp instructors guide beginners through surf basics and help seasoned surfers take it to the next level. Choose one of three adults-only summer sessions or consider joining an all-ages group, popular with teenagers and families.

The owner’s Brazilian mother-in-law prepares bountiful meals with a dash of Latin flavor, so hearty appetites are welcomed.

When the sun sets, sleep deep in glamping-style tents at San Onofre Bluffs State Campground. Relax with your surf buddies under the stars and dream about spending another day looking for the perfect break.

Foraging in Asheville, North Carolina

While Asheville is a hotbed of locally sourced food, guests can take it one step further and go foraging in uncultivated fields and forests, searching for wild edibles.

Book an experience with No Taste Like Home and join a small group in search of mushrooms, greens, shoots, fruit, nuts, seeds and roots. The region is the richest temperate ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere.

When the three-hour guided walk is finished, guests bring the gathered goods to one of six local restaurants who partner with the class. Order lunch or dinner off the menu and the chef will create a free forage-to-table appetizer from the found ingredients.

No Taste Like Home also works with several Asheville hotels, including the Omni Grove Park Inn. The Omni offers a 90-minute abbreviated version of the foraging experience right on its sprawling grounds.

Forest bathing in Sedona

Listen to the wind rustle through the trees and water flow through Oak Creek. Soak in the red rock formations and green vegetation as you walk slowly and mindfully, taking the time to experience the elements of the natural world.

This is forest bathing at L’Auberge de Sedona hotel in Arizona. The practice is rooted in the idea that slowing down, quieting the mind and appreciating Mother Earth in a calm manner benefits physical and emotional wellness.

A certified forest therapy guide — yes, that’s a thing — leads guests through the practice of deeper awareness through sensory observation. The aim is to restore and refresh. With no cell phones, accessories or gadgets, it’s a brief disconnect from the modern world.

After the hour is over, guests may extend the experience by remaining outdoors on the tranquil grounds. Or they may retreat to their room, where the neutral color palette and uncluttered décor extends the experience.

Mountain biking in Utah

Soak in Southern Utah’s powdery-fine, rust-colored dust and red rock cliffs without barriers from the seat of a bike.

These epic vistas, an extensive trail network and diverse terrain make the area a mecca for mountain bikers.

For those who would like to learn to trail ride, Red Mountain Resort offers two different classes. For complete novices, nail down the fundamentals during its road biking 101 class, a two-hour introduction.

To get the adrenaline pumping, the basic mountain biking class is a four-hour lesson on Bearclaw Poppy Trail — an off-road, single-track trail in the desert dust with options for riders of all levels.

Even the easiest route is invigorating, with enough dips and drops to give everyone an adrenaline rush. (See if you can spot the namesake ivory-colored Bearclaw Poppy flower along the way.)

The resort is tailor-made for active visitors, with a full schedule of guided hikes, rappelling and kayaking, tempting cycling enthusiasts to try alternative fresh-air adventures.

Falconry in Vermont’s Green Mountains

Feel the majestic sensation of a bird of prey perched on a gloved fist. These trained but still wild creatures possess incredible strength yet are deceptively lightweight.

Falconry is a complex and nuanced art that can take a lifetime of dedication to perfect, but at Green Mountain Falconry School, participants are likely to handle a regal Harris hawk within 15 minutes.

Book the 45-minute introductory lesson with master falconer Rob Waite for the fundamentals of hawk handling and continue with the 45-minute hawk walk. The stroll echoes an episode of “Game of Thrones,” with two accompanying hawks weaving from tree to tree, awaiting the signal to return to the human hand.

Many participants stay at the nearby Equinox Golf Resort and Spa, a historic property across the street from Manchester’s quintessential New England village green.

Art in the Rockies

Anderson Ranch Arts Center is deep in the high peaks of the Colorado Rockies. The center’s instructors embrace visitors of all abilities, inviting them to participate in hands-on workshops as they breathe the sweet mountain air and commune with nature.

The ranch enjoys the privilege of having a forest service permit, allowing groups to work amid the twin peaks of Maroon Bells and other mountains.

Combine observation with imagination during a landscape-based watercolor class or get into the clay with a ceramics workshop. Even classes that are traditionally held indoors frequently venture outdoors for artistic inspiration.

Most classes run Monday-Friday, but there are a few that last longer. There are separate workshops for children age 4 and older as well as for teens, so families are welcome. Diversity is a core principle and the center has a scholarship program.

Students may live in the comfortable dorm or the school will help find off-campus housing. The kitchen staff serves healthy food that is sourced locally.

Photography in Santa Fe

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains’ striking visuals and distinct light create a photographer’s paradise. That’s why participants flock to the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops every summer to improve their photography skills.

Taught by professionals, the mostly one-week workshops take advantage of the beauty of the American West, as students explore the dramatic landscape with their cameras. The campus itself, with adobe walls, shady courtyards and flower gardens, can also inspire its participants.

Most students live in comfortable rooms on campus, and tuition includes lunch. Students are on their own for dinner, which affords an opportunity to explore Santa Fe’s world-class culinary scene.

Golf on Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains

At Primland, the resort’s 18-hole Highland Course uses the natural landscape as a template, winding across ridge tops and valleys, immersing golfers in pastoral scenery.

The exclusive 12,000-acre property is a tableau of field flowers, songbirds and wild turkeys.

For vacationers who crave a back-to-the-land experience but don’t want to sacrifice creature comfort, this resort is both ritzy and rugged. (Culinary Director Fabien Beaufour has a Michelin star.)

The onsite golf school offers clinics, private lessons and a customizable two-day golf school just for couples. It includes two hours of expert instruction each morning, leaving plenty of downtime to enjoy the resort’s other outdoorsy offerings.

Build a boat in Downeast Maine

Each summer, nautical enthusiasts from around the world journey to the WoodenBoat School’s 64-acre seaside campus. Students saw, drill and hammer their way to building a bona fide seaworthy vessel.

The boat building takes place in a workshop steps from the water, so the song of the seagulls and the smell of salt air accompanies the sounds of construction.

Students may choose from a variety of one, two and three-week hands-on classes. For those who prefer their boats already built, classes in kayaking, sailing and marine photography are also offered.

Stay in down-to-earth student houses on campus. Those with their own boat may moor at the campus dock and live houseboat-style. For the budget-minded, there’s a campsite on the property.

Evening activities include the anticipated Friday night lobster bake, a traditional way to get acquainted with Maine’s favorite crustacean and celebrate the week’s accomplishments.

Heli-fishing on Vancouver Island, Canada

Watch eagles soar, dolphins leap and grizzly bears play in the not-too-far distance.

From a helicopter high above the Great Bear Rainforest, guests of Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort are treated to a bird’s-eye view of 50,000 square miles of untamed wilderness, defined by old-growth forest, dramatic fjords and sparkling rivers and streams teaming with wild Pacific salmon.

Guests who book the heli-fishing package are helicoptered to this untouched terrain. Heli-fishing is fit for seasoned anglers as well as those who have never cast a line. With pure waters brimming with aquatic life and a savvy guide, an abundant catch is almost guaranteed.

This exclusive eco-lodge is in harmony with nature, with half of it floating in the peaceful bay. A waterfall runs through it, supplying drinking water and green energy. Access is via floatplane and helicopter, so getting here is an adventure in itself.

This high-end wilderness immersion doesn’t come cheap. Rates start at $1,895 CAN per person, per night. Helicopter-based activities incur an additional cost.

Allison Tibaldi is a New York-based travel and food writer who has written for USA TODAY-Go Escape, Time Out New York, am New York, off Metro and other travel publications. Her work can be found at http://allisontibaldi.com.

Serena Williams on becoming a mom: ‘It just doesn’t seem real’

(CNN) — Serena Williams is still wrapping her head around her own pregnancy.

“It just doesn’t seem real … If you would have told me last year in October or November that I would have a baby, not be pregnant but have a baby, I would have thought you were the biggest liar in the world,” Williams told Vanity Fair in a cover story for its August issue.

The tennis champion appears on the cover in the nude, proudly showing off her baby bump. The photo was taken by Annie Leibovitz, who famously photographed a very pregnant Demi Moore in a similar pose back in 1991.

Williams, who is expecting her first child with fiancé and Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, said that she has done little to prepare for a baby aside from converting a guest room into a nursery.

“I don’t know what to do with a baby,” Williams said. “I have nothing … I’ve done absolutely nothing for the baby room.”

The 35-year-old said that she was gearing up for the Australian Open in January when she took a pregnancy test that changed her life.

“[I] did a double take and my heart dropped,” she said when seeing the positive pregnancy result. “Like literally it dropped.” She took five more tests — all positive.

“Oh my God, this can’t be — I’ve got to play a tournament,” she said. “How am I going to play the Australian Open? I had planned on winning Wimbledon this year.”

But for Williams it all worked out and she went on to win the Australian Open.

As for Ohanian, he couldn’t be more excited about the future they have together.

“I find myself just wanting to be better by simply being around her because of the standard she holds,” he said.

Surfing, falconry and other summer vacation pursuits

(CNN) — Catch a wave off the California coast, pedal a mountain bike in Utah’s red rock canyons or try your gloved hand at falconry in Vermont.

The kids may be out of school, but the summer season presents a range of adult vacations so fun they won’t feel like learning. Plenty of fresh air, luminous light and Instagram-worthy scenery are part of these hands-on holidays.

If you’re looking to recharge your mind, body and spirit, the following 10 vacations may remind you just how enjoyable exploring a new skill can be.

Surf’s up in San Diego

For those who dream of hanging 10, this five-day Southern California coastal plunge is straight out of a Beach Boys song.

Endless Summer Surf Camp instructors guide beginners through surf basics and help seasoned surfers take it to the next level. Choose one of three adults-only summer sessions or consider joining an all-ages group, popular with teenagers and families.

The owner’s Brazilian mother-in-law prepares bountiful meals with a dash of Latin flavor, so hearty appetites are welcomed.

When the sun sets, sleep deep in glamping-style tents at San Onofre Bluffs State Campground. Relax with your surf buddies under the stars and dream about spending another day looking for the perfect break.

Foraging in Asheville, North Carolina

While Asheville is a hotbed of locally sourced food, guests can take it one step further and go foraging in uncultivated fields and forests, searching for wild edibles.

Book an experience with No Taste Like Home and join a small group in search of mushrooms, greens, shoots, fruit, nuts, seeds and roots. The region is the richest temperate ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere.

When the three-hour guided walk is finished, guests bring the gathered goods to one of six local restaurants who partner with the class. Order lunch or dinner off the menu and the chef will create a free forage-to-table appetizer from the found ingredients.

No Taste Like Home also works with several Asheville hotels, including the Omni Grove Park Inn. The Omni offers a 90-minute abbreviated version of the foraging experience right on its sprawling grounds.

Forest bathing in Sedona

Listen to the wind rustle through the trees and water flow through Oak Creek. Soak in the red rock formations and green vegetation as you walk slowly and mindfully, taking the time to experience the elements of the natural world.

This is forest bathing at L’Auberge de Sedona hotel in Arizona. The practice is rooted in the idea that slowing down, quieting the mind and appreciating Mother Earth in a calm manner benefits physical and emotional wellness.

A certified forest therapy guide — yes, that’s a thing — leads guests through the practice of deeper awareness through sensory observation. The aim is to restore and refresh. With no cell phones, accessories or gadgets, it’s a brief disconnect from the modern world.

After the hour is over, guests may extend the experience by remaining outdoors on the tranquil grounds. Or they may retreat to their room, where the neutral color palette and uncluttered décor extends the experience.

Mountain biking in Utah

Soak in Southern Utah’s powdery-fine, rust-colored dust and red rock cliffs without barriers from the seat of a bike.

These epic vistas, an extensive trail network and diverse terrain make the area a mecca for mountain bikers.

For those who would like to learn to trail ride, Red Mountain Resort offers two different classes. For complete novices, nail down the fundamentals during its road biking 101 class, a two-hour introduction.

To get the adrenaline pumping, the basic mountain biking class is a four-hour lesson on Bearclaw Poppy Trail — an off-road, single-track trail in the desert dust with options for riders of all levels.

Even the easiest route is invigorating, with enough dips and drops to give everyone an adrenaline rush. (See if you can spot the namesake ivory-colored Bearclaw Poppy flower along the way.)

The resort is tailor-made for active visitors, with a full schedule of guided hikes, rappelling and kayaking, tempting cycling enthusiasts to try alternative fresh-air adventures.

Falconry in Vermont’s Green Mountains

Feel the majestic sensation of a bird of prey perched on a gloved fist. These trained but still wild creatures possess incredible strength yet are deceptively lightweight.

Falconry is a complex and nuanced art that can take a lifetime of dedication to perfect, but at Green Mountain Falconry School, participants are likely to handle a regal Harris hawk within 15 minutes.

Book the 45-minute introductory lesson with master falconer Rob Waite for the fundamentals of hawk handling and continue with the 45-minute hawk walk. The stroll echoes an episode of “Game of Thrones,” with two accompanying hawks weaving from tree to tree, awaiting the signal to return to the human hand.

Many participants stay at the nearby Equinox Golf Resort and Spa, a historic property across the street from Manchester’s quintessential New England village green.

Art in the Rockies

Anderson Ranch Arts Center is deep in the high peaks of the Colorado Rockies. The center’s instructors embrace visitors of all abilities, inviting them to participate in hands-on workshops as they breathe the sweet mountain air and commune with nature.

The ranch enjoys the privilege of having a forest service permit, allowing groups to work amid the twin peaks of Maroon Bells and other mountains.

Combine observation with imagination during a landscape-based watercolor class or get into the clay with a ceramics workshop. Even classes that are traditionally held indoors frequently venture outdoors for artistic inspiration.

Most classes run Monday-Friday, but there are a few that last longer. There are separate workshops for children age 4 and older as well as for teens, so families are welcome. Diversity is a core principle and the center has a scholarship program.

Students may live in the comfortable dorm or the school will help find off-campus housing. The kitchen staff serves healthy food that is sourced locally.

Photography in Santa Fe

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains’ striking visuals and distinct light create a photographer’s paradise. That’s why participants flock to the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops every summer to improve their photography skills.

Taught by professionals, the mostly one-week workshops take advantage of the beauty of the American West, as students explore the dramatic landscape with their cameras. The campus itself, with adobe walls, shady courtyards and flower gardens, can also inspire its participants.

Most students live in comfortable rooms on campus, and tuition includes lunch. Students are on their own for dinner, which affords an opportunity to explore Santa Fe’s world-class culinary scene.

Golf on Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains

At Primland, the resort’s 18-hole Highland Course uses the natural landscape as a template, winding across ridge tops and valleys, immersing golfers in pastoral scenery.

The exclusive 12,000-acre property is a tableau of field flowers, songbirds and wild turkeys.

For vacationers who crave a back-to-the-land experience but don’t want to sacrifice creature comfort, this resort is both ritzy and rugged. (Culinary Director Fabien Beaufour has a Michelin star.)

The onsite golf school offers clinics, private lessons and a customizable two-day golf school just for couples. It includes two hours of expert instruction each morning, leaving plenty of downtime to enjoy the resort’s other outdoorsy offerings.

Build a boat in Downeast Maine

Each summer, nautical enthusiasts from around the world journey to the WoodenBoat School’s 64-acre seaside campus. Students saw, drill and hammer their way to building a bona fide seaworthy vessel.

The boat building takes place in a workshop steps from the water, so the song of the seagulls and the smell of salt air accompanies the sounds of construction.

Students may choose from a variety of one, two and three-week hands-on classes. For those who prefer their boats already built, classes in kayaking, sailing and marine photography are also offered.

Stay in down-to-earth student houses on campus. Those with their own boat may moor at the campus dock and live houseboat-style. For the budget-minded, there’s a campsite on the property.

Evening activities include the anticipated Friday night lobster bake, a traditional way to get acquainted with Maine’s favorite crustacean and celebrate the week’s accomplishments.

Heli-fishing on Vancouver Island, Canada

Watch eagles soar, dolphins leap and grizzly bears play in the not-too-far distance.

From a helicopter high above the Great Bear Rainforest, guests of Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort are treated to a bird’s-eye view of 50,000 square miles of untamed wilderness, defined by old-growth forest, dramatic fjords and sparkling rivers and streams teaming with wild Pacific salmon.

Guests who book the heli-fishing package are helicoptered to this untouched terrain. Heli-fishing is fit for seasoned anglers as well as those who have never cast a line. With pure waters brimming with aquatic life and a savvy guide, an abundant catch is almost guaranteed.

This exclusive eco-lodge is in harmony with nature, with half of it floating in the peaceful bay. A waterfall runs through it, supplying drinking water and green energy. Access is via floatplane and helicopter, so getting here is an adventure in itself.

This high-end wilderness immersion doesn’t come cheap. Rates start at $1,895 CAN per person, per night. Helicopter-based activities incur an additional cost.

Allison Tibaldi is a New York-based travel and food writer who has written for USA TODAY-Go Escape, Time Out New York, am New York, off Metro and other travel publications. Her work can be found at http://allisontibaldi.com.