As you may have heard, a total solar eclipse will hit the skies on August 21st, 2017. While Birmingham isn’t in the total phase of this solar eclipse, it can be observed here as a partial eclipse. Total solar eclipses occur when the New Moon comes between the Sun and Earth and casts the darkest part of its shadow, the umbra, on Earth. A full solar eclipse, known as totality, is almost as dark as night.
Tips on viewing the Solar Eclipse with your kids:
Protect Your Eyes
Never look directly at the Sun, eclipsed or otherwise, without proper protective eyewear. The Sun’s UV radiation can burn the retinas in your eyes, and cause permanent damage or even blindness.
To watch a solar eclipse safely, wear protective eclipse glasses (Click here for a list of libraries offering free glasses) or project an image of the eclipsed Sun using a pinhole projector.
If you’re planning to travel to a location of a full black out, when it becomes as dark as night, you can remove your glasses and look directly at the eclipse. The corona of the sun will have blossomed out from the black face of the moon. The sight is spectacular, but make sure to put the glasses back on when totality ends, after only a minute or two. And if you are only seeing a partial eclipse (like here in Birmingham,) you MUST keep the glasses on for the entire time.
Plan your location
If you are near the Path of Totality, be sure and figure out exactly where you plan to view the eclipse from. Chances are, the areas are going to be very crowded so arrive early to get your spot. Find a spot without trees or buildings so your view won’t be blocked. It’s possible you will be in your spot for a couple of hours, make sure to have chairs and some things to keep you busy while you wait.
Educate
Get your kids involved and excited ahead of time by doing some research online, look up pictures and check out books at the library. Make it something you can all learn about together as a family. While watching the eclipse it will be fun to know what’s happening and why.
Ditch your phone/electronics
It is highly unlikely that you are going to get good pictures, so sit back and take it all in with your own (protected) eyes and don’t be distracted with your screens.
Enjoy the moment
The eclipse doesn’t last long, make sure you kids know this is something that won’t happen again for a long time, and something they might not ever see again.
Do you have plans to watch the eclipse, what are you doing to prepare?
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
Bailey written and illus. by Harry Bliss (Scholastic)
Oh No! Not Again!: (Or How I Built a Time Machine to Save History) (Or at Least My History Grade) written by Mac Barnett; illus. by Dan Santat (Hyperion/Disney)
Have you noticed beautifully painted rocks in random places this summer? You’re not the only one! It is becoming a very popular hobby to paint rocks and even add encouraging sayings and hide them in parks, outside of stores, or restaurants in hopes of brightening the finder’s day. Once you find a rock, you can re-hide it to pass along the fun. There are several Facebook groups dedicated to showing off the rocks you have painted and the rocks you have found. There is Alabama Rocks, 
3. Paint a primer coat on your rocks.
Join the Birmingham Museum of Art in Bart’s ArtVenture for a free family-friendly, drop-in art-making activity on portraiture on July 29 from 10:30am-1:00pm. Learn about drawing portraits from local artist Hannah Adamson, and view her new collaborative portrait installation in Bart’s ArtVenture. After you learn techniques and draw your own portrait, you can help them color their new collaborative portrait mural!
Twice as Nice Sale
2nd Hand Heaven
Whale of a Sale
Market on the Mountain
4. Bring your floats. And not just any ol’float, go with the tube! Or doughnut as my kids call it. You’ll be reminded of tubing in Helen in the calm spots. And you’ll be thrilled with the fun of riding down the small water fall. Even kids can enjoy the water fall in their tube!
Birmingham’s best food trucks will gather at 
