Hi there,

I hope you had a lovely weekend! Our family kept busy with swimming, Mini & Me Yoga, play time at the park… and our little one figuring out how to walk. Whoa!

I’ve also been working on an exciting project that I’m excited to share with you in the coming weeks. So, instead of burning the candle at both ends, I’m keeping this week’s newsletter short & sweet.

Let’s jump right in!

–Megan

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Every Kid Sports: Helping More Kids Get in the Game

If sports or activity fees have ever made you pause before signing your child up, Every Kid Sports might be exactly what you've been looking for.

Every Kid Sports is a national nonprofit and it’s based right here in Bend! It provides grants that help cover recreational sports and activity registration fees for families enrolled in OHP, SNAP, or WIC. We're talking swim lessons, dance, recreational sports leagues…if it's a structured program that runs at least four weeks and costs no more than $500 for the season, there's a good chance it qualifies.

Applications open three times per year. The current Spring window is open now through March 5th. If you miss this one, the next window supporting Fall sports opens June 23, 2026.

One important note: this program does not offer reimbursements. Families need to be approved before registering for an activity, so if you think you might qualify, it's worth applying before you sign your kids up.

👉 To learn more or start an application, visit everykidsports.org.

Activities & Events

Here’s what’s happening this week!

Monday 2/23

🫟 Toddler Time: Messy Monday!
9am–12pm • Ages 5 & under • More info
📍Mountain Air (20495 Murray Rd. #150)

A perfect combo of big movement and hands-on fun, with open jump time at the trampoline park followed by sensory play in the activity room.

🌊 Ocean Art Play
10:00am • Ages 2-6 • Free • RSVP Required
📍Two Suns Art Studio (70 SW Century Dr.)

A sensory art class where little ones dive into an ocean-themed world of paint, light, and hands-on materials. Fully child-led, this open-exploration class is all about the creative journey rather than the finished product.

📚 Preschool Story Time
10:30am • Ages 3-5 • Free
📍Deschutes Historical Museum (129 NW Idaho Ave)

A lively storytime packed with stories, songs, and rhymes to get little ones excited about reading and build early literacy skills.

👩‍🍼 New Moms Meetup
3:00pm • Moms (+ babies!) • Free • RSVP requested
📍Tula Movement Arts (2797 NW Clearwater Dr)

A relaxed gathering for new moms to connect, share, and build community, with babies and little ones welcome.

🧘 Kids Yoga
4:00pm • Ages 4+ • More info
📍Namaspa (1135 NW Galveston Ave)

Kids get their own fun, interactive yoga class while you unwind in a Vin/Yin session next door. A win for everyone!

🖨️ Kids 3D Printing and Design Workshop
5:30pm • Ages 9–17 • Register
📍DIY Cave (444 SE 9th St)

A hands-on class where kids learn the basics of 3D printing, experiment with beginner-friendly design software, and create a custom project to take home

Tuesday 2/24

🤸 Playmania
9-11am • Ages 5 & under • More info
📍Central Oregon Gymnastics Academy (63060 Layton Ave)

A drop-in open play session packed with climbing obstacles, push cars, trampolines, a ninja course, and full access to COGA's gymnastics equipment.

⛸️ Parent-Tot Open Skate
10–11:15am • Age 5 & under
📍The Pavilion (1001 SW Bradbury Way)

Instructors are on hand to help new skaters and their parents find their footing during this family skate session. Admission is $8 per person, includes rentals, and kids under 3 skate free!

🧘🏼‍♀️ Baby + Me Yoga Fitness Fusion
10:30am • Ages 6 weeks–crawling • More info
📍Juniper Fitness (800 NE 6th St.)

Designed for parents and babies aged 6 weeks to crawling, this mindful fitness class focuses on core connection, alignment, stretching, and breathwork to help you rebuild strength postpartum.

📚 Baby Story Time
10:30am • Ages 0-18 months • Free
📍Deschutes Children’s Foundation (2125 NE Daggett Ln)

Settle in for a sweet 15-minute storytime designed just for babies 0–18 months, with simple stories, songs, and rhymes that are just the right length for tiny attention spans.

💃 Family Zumba in Spanish
6:45pm • Ages 5 & up • More info
📍Larkspur Community Center (1600 SE Reed Market Rd)

The whole family is welcome at this upbeat Zumba class taught in Spanish (but open to both Spanish and non-Spanish speakers!), with fun music that makes it easy to follow along, no dance experience required!

Wednesday 2/25

🎶 Music & Making Toddler Time
9am–12pm • Ages 5 & under • More info
📍Mountain Air (20495 Murray Rd #150)

Ms. Melinda of OTB Arts leads an hour of songs, creative movement, and music during toddler jump, free with regular entry.

📚 Hello! Storytime
10:30am • Ages 0-5 • Free
📍Roundabout Books (900 NW Mt Washington Dr)

Little ones are invited to join Ms. Kathy for a half hour of storytime and songs, with this week's theme celebrating the Lunar New Year of the Horse!

📚 Toddler Story Time
10:30am • Ages 1.5–3 years • Free
📍Deschutes Children’s Foundation (2125 NE Daggett Ln)

An energetic storytime packed with stories, songs, and movement rhymes to get kids up and moving!

🦄 Art with a Splash of Science: Unicorns and Fluffy Sparkle Slime
1-4pm • Grades K-5 • Register
📍Lets Paint @ Tower Theater (835 NW Wall St)

A unicorn-themed art & science class where kids paint their own unicorn creation and whip up a batch of fluffy sparkle slime in a fun science activity."

🥷 Kids Ninja Warrior After-School Camp
1:15-3:45pm • Ages 6-10 • Register
📍Free Spirit (320 SW Powerhouse Drive #150)

Kids work through Ninja circuits & courses with Free Spirit coaches, tackling climbing, parkour, gymnastics, and team games while building coordination, balance, strength, and agility skills

🔨 Kids Woodworking - Build a Birdhouse
5:30pm • Ages 11-17 • Register
📍DIY Cave (444 SE 9th St.)

Young makers will learn to build and decorate their own wooden birdhouse in this hands-on workshop, with all materials and step-by-step guidance provided. Perfect for all skill levels!

Thursday 2/26

🛝 Toddlers & Tots Play
9-11am • Ages 1-5 • More info
📍Cascade Indoor Sports (20775 High Desert Ln.)

Toddlers get the run of the Bigger Play Thing during this open play session, with climbing and sliding at a pace that suits them. Strider bikes, balloons, soccer balls, and more are also available!

🤸 Toddler Open Play w/ Bubble Party
9am–12pm • Ages 10mo–5 years • More info
📍Free Spirit Yoga Ninja Play (320 SW Powerhouse Dr. Ste 150)

Climb, jump, and slide during this open play time with obstacle courses, climbing walls, and chasing bubbles!

💪 Kiddos & Me TB Strength & Core
10:30am • Ages 3mo–4 years • More info
📍Juniper Swim & Fitness (800 NE 6th St)

A full-body strength and core class for parents with babies 3 months and up through age 4, using body weight, resistance bands, and stability balls in a welcoming, kid-friendly environment.

🎧 Museum & Me
4-6pm • All ages • More info
📍High Desert Museum (59800 S Highway 97)

Families with children who have physical, intellectual, and/or social disabilities are invited to explore museum exhibitions during this quieter after-hours session, with sensory packs including headphones and fidgets available to borrow.

🧑‍💻 SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices® with KIDS Center
5:30pm • Parent Event • Free • RSVP required
📍Deschutes Children's Foundation (2125 NE Dagget Ln)

A two-hour training developed by the San Diego Police Foundation to help parents and kids navigate technology safely, ethically, and confidently, with tools for managing online life at every age. Hosted by Deschutes Public Library & KIDS Center.

🍄 Mushroom Crafts
6pm • Ages 7-15 • Register
📍Samara Learning Center (230 NE 9th St)

A hands-on mushroom crafts class where kids and grown-ups create together, choosing from magnets, fabric garlands, or felt plushies while learning fun-gi facts along the way!

Thank you for reading the Bend Family Loop today. If you found something useful, please share it with a friend 💛

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