AARRGH! FIND THE SUMMERTIME TREASURE
by Lucretia Voigt
We are down to the last few weeks of summer, and it feels like it went by too fast. The end of summer always feels like the end of childhood - time to go back to being an adult, or at least a schoolkid, be responsible, clean your room. Feeling a little rebellion in your blood? You can make the most of the remaining summer days by teaching your children how to be a pirate!

The first rule for playing pirates is that Mom is the Captain, so even if you are rebelling, you can't rebel against her. Consider it a dictatorship. Don't give a history of mutiny - better the kids think there is some sort of structure even in the pirate world. By the teen years they will have figured out that even pirates only ruled by democracy and mutiny was a regular occurrence.

Begin by reading a book to get your kid in the mood. "How I Became A Pirate" by Melinda Long and David Shannon, is a good selection for toddlers, as well as "Do Pirates Take Baths?" by Kathy Tucker, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott. If you have a girl who takes umbrage at the fact that most of the pirates in books are boys, try "Pirate Girl" by Cornelia Funke, illustrated by Kerstin Meyer. For older children, "Pirates" by John Matthews is a larger book in a scrapbook style, with tidbits of information and drawings.

Once you have them ready to swashbuckle and rule the high seas, it's time to get into true pirate character. For a costume, any bandana can work for headgear, or you can peruse the offerings at The Sunken Ship, where they stock several styles of pirate hats. Pirates tended to wear torn and beat-up clothing, so recycle those play clothes you were about to resign to the take-itor leave-it. Costume jewelry can become priceless jewels, necklaces and bracelets. If you don't have an eye-patch lying around, construct one from black cardboard and string. Mascara can work to make bruise marks on the face, or stitches, but don't use waterproof mascara. I think you can figure out why. Practice bellowing "Aarrrggghhh!" and before you know it the pirate spirit will be in your child's bones.

For the ultimate pirate experience, consider the Pirate Adventure Aboard The Endeavor for children ages 3- 6. For 45 minutes, your child will get to sail under the ultimate pirate flag, the Jolly Roger, "fire the cannon, and follow the treasure map to pirate booty." Reservations are required, and at least one adult must accompany each child. The Endeavor sets sail from Slip #1015 at Straight Wharf on Thursday, August 23 at 9:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. For more information or reservations call 228-5585.

If you cannot make The Endeavor, or your child has a phobia of ships (don't explain that would preclude them from life as a pirate), another fun activity is a scavenger hunt. If your child is a toddler, set up the scavenger hunt in the house and the yard. Draw the map with pictures of the various landmarks. Consider burying the final treasure in the sandbox, marked with an "X" made from sticks. Keep the scavenger hunt to four or five items.

For the older kids who cannot go on the Endeavor because, even though they may act like they are age 3-6 (when in reality they are much older), consider a scavenger hunt through town.

You can draw a map, or write directions, or both. Have them pick up items like Twizzlers from the Pharmacy, a ticket stub from the Starlight, a bookmark from one of the book stores, a coffee cup holder from Even Keel, etc. If you want to multi-task, you can make them pick up items at the Grand Union - make the list eerily resemble your shopping list for the day!

A scavenger hunt is more fun with multiple children, so enlist the help of another mother. One of you can go out ahead and make the arrangements with the retailers where you are sending your children. You can make the final destination the Juice Bar, and the treasure a banana split. You can be waiting at the Juice Bar for your pirates, or sit across the street on the benches at the Whaling Museum to watch them scurry in for their treasure!

Summer always comes to an end - no matter how hard we try to hold on. Memories are what keep us going through the rest of the year, until we can once again lie on the sand, build sandcastles, and eat popsicles for breakfast. I hear popsicles

are a pirate delicacy! I