Kids go to winter camp

Cedarsong Nature School invites all kids ages 6 to 10 to participate in the first annual Holiday Nature Camp. Join naturalists Erin Kenny and Robin Rogers in decorating the forest and its hideouts, creating found object art, playing nature games, running through the forest, jamming on musical instruments and story- telling by the campfire.

The camp will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, at Camp Terra on Vashon. The cost is $39 for one day or $75 for both.

For more information or to register, check out the Web site at www.cedarsongnatureschool.org.

Cedarsong Nature School is a nonprofit organization operated by the Ancient Forest Education Foundation, and financial aid is available to qualified families.

— Erin Kenny

Unitarians talk about ‘old ways’

The Sunday Morning Conversation, a Unitarian community forum, will continue a series on the variety of world religions and belief systems. The Dec. 14 discussion will explore “The Old Ways” (Native American religions) and other nature-based religions including animism, paganism and naturalism. A panel of community lay people will open the discussion sharing some of the nature-based beliefs and practices that have influenced their spiritual journeys, life practices and celebrations. Such belief systems may originate through direct experience with the natural world, contact with indigenous and ancient traditions or through modern writing by transcendentalists, naturalists and proponents of deep ecology. An awareness of the natural order and its relatedness to our humanness physically, spiritually, morally and emotionally is considered by some to be a critical element in the survival and well-being of the species and the planet.

Presentations will be followed by an open discussion.

The moderator is Bob Norton at 463-6113.

The Unitarians meet in Lewis Hall behind the Burton Community Church at 23905 Vashon Hwy. S.W.

Coffee, tea and goodies are available during the conversation, with religious exploration offered for K-12 aged children.

— Wendy Wharton

Dember on VoV TV

Voice of Vashon’s television programming on Comcast Channel 21 for the upcoming week will feature the newest edition of Susan McCabe’s Vashonia. McCabe will be interviewing Greg Dember about his upcoming appearance at Café Luna. Vashonia can be see at 7:02 p.m. starting on Dec. 14, with an additional showing at the same time on Dec. 16.

For the full broadcast schedule, including both audio and video schedules, see www.voiceofvashon.org. If you have been creating your own video that you would like to share with your Vashon/Maury neighbors, please e-mail dans@islandimage.net.

— Dan Schueler

Vespers are open to all

Holden Vespers will be sung at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, and Sunday, Dec. 21, at the Episcopal Church, the church across from Vashon Community Care Center.

The service will run about 20 minutes; those who attend are welcome to sing along (music is provided) or simply allow the words and music to surround them.

All are welcome.

— Debbie Butler

Foster families gather

A Fostering Together family potluck will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the VYFS Play Space located at the intersection of Gorsuch Road and Vashon Highway. Join us to share ideas, resources, food and friendship. Hot cider and nibbles will be provided. Consider bringing a favorite holiday recipe or story to share as well as a dish or food item of your choice.

If you are a current or potential foster parent, adoptive parent or relative caregiver, we hope you can join us.

Contact Rebecca Rumburg at 567-4924 or me at 463-5783 or vashon.fostering@gmail.com.

— Michele Eastly

Kiwanis helps at Christmas

The boxes for depositing toys and clothes to fill requests are at True Value Hardware, Thriftway, Island Lumber, Vashon Pharmacy and Vashon Island Fire & Rescue. They’ll be picked up Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Depositing the box at the fire department challenged the fire department. Toy drive chair Joyce Smith vowed to put $10 in the fire personnel “boot” as a donation to the Burn Foundation for every toy and clothing request form the fire personnel fulfill.

The Burn Foundation helps young burn survivors. Firefighters stand on corners with their “boots” to collect donations for the burn foundation.

Real estate agent JR Crawford upped the challenge when she heard of it. She said she also would put $10 in the “boot” for each request fulfilled. Nine children have requests tags on the fire department box.

Toy drive donors may either adopt a child who otherwise faces a meager holiday or just drop unwrapped gifts in the box, Smith reminded.

All tags should be returned with gifts, so we know which child you want to give your gifts to.

Pickup for those who have requested gifts is Dec. 20 at the vacant Island Variety Store between NAPA and Vashon Market. Toy drive volunteers match donated gifts with requests from individual children.

The Toy Drive is one of three Vashon Kiwanis programs currently under way. Details are available at www.VashonKiwanis.org.

— Jay Becker

VIPP calendar now on sale

Vashon Island Pet Protectors’ 2009 pet calendar is now available for $15 at the following locations: Pandora’s Box, Books by the Way, Fair Isle Animal Clinic and Vashon Bookshop.

— Victoria Rohlfs

VIGCC gears up for holidays

There is a lot happening at the Vashon Island Golf & Country Club (VIGCC) in December. The Women’s Club Awards Gathering is 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, and all Women’s Club members are encouraged to attend.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the club for the Children’s Holiday Party from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. The event includes lunch and a small gift for the children. Reservations are requested.

The Eighth Annual Candlelight Dinner Weekend is Dec. 19 and 20. Chef Nate has created a truly memorable menu for both nights. It’s a great way to celebrate the season.

We’ll finish off the year with a Gala Dinner Dance on New Year’s Eve. The party starts with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at 7 p.m. then a dinner at 8 p.m. Stay to see the old year out and dance to Bill Brown & the King Bees from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Reservations are required for this event. Please call early.

If you are looking for a place to hold your company party or a holiday family gathering, there are still some dates available. Please call me at 463-9410 for more information.

If you need to make reservations or get more information about these events, please call 463-2005.

— Victoria Miner