Our 2011 Holiday Giving Campaign was a great success thanks to you, our generous readers! We decided to run two campaigns this past year, one through JOIN to help a local homeless family move into stable housing, and one through Mercy Corps to help alleviate the devastating, ongoing suffering in the Horn of Africa. More…

You might think things would slow down after the winter holidays, but there are still plenty of exciting activities for families with kids of all ages. Here are a few of our picks for the weekend ahead. Once you’ve had a gander at these, be sure to check out of online calendar for even more family fun every day.

ALL WEEKEND

Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats OPENS. This touring exhibit reveals the wonders of the world’s only flying mammals. Runs Jan. 21 through May 6, 10 am to 5 pm. More…

Parenting is the most rewarding job you’ll ever have, but let’s face it, we all need a night off every now and then. If you’re not one of the fortunate few with a steady, reliable babysitter ready to pop over at a moment’s notice, don’t despair. There are other options. In fact, this Saturday there’s a Parents’ Survival Night scheduled at the Little Gym of Lake Oswego, just one of the many Parents’ Night Out events held regularly throughout the area. More…

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Chuc Mung Nam Moi! The Year of the Dragon is nearly upon us, and the Chinese and Vietnamese New Year’s festivities happening around town offer an especially entertaining and engaging way to introduce your kids to different cultures.

Lan Su Chinese Garden hosts two full weeks of celebrations, beginning Jan. 23 this year, including lion and dragon dances, performances, crafts, story telling and much more! Check their website for a schedule of events.

You’ll also find celebratory events at local libraries, and at A.C. Gilbert’s Discovery Village in Salem. Here’s the scoop: More…

Free admission to national parks, Chinese New Year activities, live music, lots of opportunities for kids to get creative and a whole lot more … that’s what’s on this long holiday weekend! Take a look at our picks below, then check out our online calendar for even more enticing events every day.

ALL WEEKEND

Free National Parks. All national parks are offering free admission Jan. 14-16. Ft. Vancouver has cultural demonstrations from 9 am to 4 pm on Jan. 14 & 16, and noon to 4 pm Jan. 15. More…

It’s that time of year again: time to start thinking about what school your child will attend next fall. The choices are plentiful, which is wonderful but can make the task of narrowing the field and selecting the school that best fits your family’s needs daunting. We’re here to help! More…

When most of us contemplate how to educate our children about the dangers of drugs, we think about illicit and controlled substances. We rarely think about over-the-counter pain killers, prescription medications stashed in the back of our medicine cabinets, or even our daily vitamins. More…