Family Picks: Safety is key at Falls Lake life jacket giveaway

It seems the summer is flying by. Soon enough, it’ll be time for school – even sooner for some of you on the year-round schedule. Still, there’s plenty to do outside. Most importantly, some of these events focus on safety. As boring as that may sound, it’s also essential.

NOTE: The Safe Kids Wake County life jacket giveaway for this Friday has been canceled due to supply issues. Subsequent giveaways are still planned, but please call 919-350-8364 to confirm before going.

▪ This Friday, Safe Kids Wake County, an organization dedicated to child safety, will be giving out child-sized life jackets at Rolling View at Falls Lake. Every Friday through August 28, in fact, they’ll do the same at a different lake: July 17 they’ll be at Poplar Point and Vista Point Campground, Jordan Lake; July 24 at Sandling Beach, Falls Lake; July 31 at Seaforth, Jordan Lake; August 7 at Holly Point and Beaverdam, Falls Lake; August 21 at Parkers Creek, Jordan Lake; and August 28 at Beaverdam, Falls Lake. Play it safe and get one – particularly if you’re a boating family. Visit facebook.com/safekidswakecounty or call 919-350-8364.

▪ Ackland Art Museum’s Art Adventures are designed to give 6- to 9-year-olds guided tours of the galleries, followed by an opportunity to immediately apply the same techniques in a studio setting. Saturday’s theme is summertime sunsets, and sessions run from 10:30 a.m. to noon or from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. These cost $5 per session per child except in the case of museum members on the household level. Visit ackland.web.unc.edu.

▪ In late April, there was a tomato seedling giveaway at the Carrboro Farmer’s Market. We took our kids to this, and the seedlings they selected are about five feet tall now! Saturday, the same market celebrates that same red fruit with Tomato Day. There will be a raffle, family-friendly local music, recipes and samples. It’s free and it starts at 8:30 a.m. and lasts as long as the tomato supply does. Visit carrborofarmersmarket.com.

▪ Learn about the power of the sun this Sunday in Apex (and wear sunscreen, as the event page suggests). Cook using a solar cooker and use sunlight in art at this Crowder District Park program, which lasts from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. and costs $5 per family. Preregistration is required, so visit wakegov.com/parks/crowder.

This story was originally published July 9, 2015 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Family Picks: Safety is key at Falls Lake life jacket giveaway."