I can’t help but think of how much has changed since I last wrote you a March greeting. One year – it’s been an entire year since COVID-19 wrecked our world and turned all of our lives upside-down. In a way, it’s impossible to believe we’ve been at this for a whole year, but then again, it feels like forever since we attended a concert, since our kids hugged their grandparents, since we cheered on the Flying Squirrels and the Richmond Kickers and the VCU Rams and the UR Spiders. All of us at RFM miss you all terribly – seeing you out at area events, making crafts together, singing along to the live entertainment. We know this won’t last forever, but boy does it feel like it needs to hurry up already, doesn’t it?
But hey, there is good news – spring is just around the corner! Having more daylight in the evening and the warmer temperatures will undoubtedly lift our spirits, and with each passing day, more of us are getting vaccinated, and we’re inching closer to the end of this pandemic. And with spring comes a family tradition that is returning in all its glory in 2021 – summer camp season!
After a summer of hardly any camps in 2020, this year’s camp lineup is looking pretty darned fabulous, with lots of options highlighted throughout this issue and on our online Camp Finder at RFMonline.com. We’ve been updating the Camp Finder for a couple of months now, and more updates and additions are coming in daily, so be sure to head online to find the perfect camps for your kids (who are surely as ready to get out of the house and explore new adventures this summer as you are).
We also have an exciting announcement about our longstanding RFM Summer Adventure Expo: It will be back in 2021 – virtually! We will miss seeing you in person, but the good news is that you will be able to explore the Virtual Summer Adventure Expo anytime, as often as you’d like, from the comfort of your couch. Summer camps are currently busy preparing their videos to show you and your kids what they have in store this year, and we’re gathering prizes and other fun experiences as part of this year’s Expo. Join the event on our Facebook page, and keep an eye on our RFM eNews, our website, social media pages, and the April issue for more details.
In this issue, you’ll meet an RVA summer camp legend, Kevin Tobin, who you likely have seen if you’ve visited our Expo over the past ten years. He’s the guy who makes it all run smoothly and always brings the fun, and you’ll enjoy learning more about him and his passion for all things outdoors, beginning on page 32.
We’re also giving away a week of summer camp fun at one of our favorite places for families, Visual Arts Center. Flip to page 12 to check that out, then head to our website to enter to win. Good luck!
There’s so much in the issue for everyone in your family – book recommendations for all ages, a fun craft for the kids, mindfulness tips, tech help for the seniors in your life, and an important article from the person we’ve seen so often on our local news for the last year, Dr. Danny Avula (I’m not gonna lie – I get a little star-struck every time I see him appear in RFM!). Enjoy this issue, and enjoy the start of spring!
