KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL. The Tucson Shalom House, a non-profit, non-sectarian housing and counseling program for women and children, wants to send children back to school feeling confident and ready to learn. They need lots of school supplies like notebooks, pencils, pens, pencil boxes, folders, crayons, backpacks and more. School clothes are also in high demand. New socks, underwear, jeans, shirts, dresses, jackets, pants and shoes are needed; gift certificates are great! Call 292-0698 or 292-5667 for donation information. BIG, BIG BUGS. See an 11-foot locust spread its 22-foot wings, or a 19-foot praying mantis sit up and look for food. This isn't science fiction, it's the Tucson Children's Museum exhibit Big, Big Bugs, on display during regular mall hours through September 2 at Park Mall, 5870 E. Broadway. Admission is $3, with discounts for groups with a reservation. EXPRESS YOURSELF. Art Express. 601 E. Sixth St. 791-2995. Turn scraps into art. Just stop in during store hours and go to it. There are new projects every two weeks, geared towards kids ages 4 to 12. Cost is $3. Art Express is open Tuesday through Saturday. Call 791-2995 for information. GOT THE SAT BLUES. Don't be afraid of the SAT and PSAT college entrance exams. Tucson-Pima Public Libraries and Kaplan Educational Center want you to be ready and worry-free. Throughout the month of September, they're offering free hour-long workshops at various public libraries on test-taking strategies, when to take the test, who should take it, and how it is used in the college admissions process. Everyone is welcome to attend. Call the Kaplan Education Center at 622-4256 for registration, dates and locations. MYSTICAL FUN. Barnes and Noble. 5480 E. Broadway. 745-9822. Join the Goosebunps Club at 4 p.m. Saturday, August 31, for fun and magic with internationally-known magician Bill McRea. Call 745-9822 to reserve your space. QUEST FOR THE VALLEY. Valley of the Moon. 2544 E. Allen Road, just north of Prince and east of Tucson Boulevard. Join your tour guide and meet the enchanting creatures inhabiting the Valley of the Moon in the Quest For The Golden Key to Happiness. These magical fantasy tours leave the gate every half hour from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday, August 30 and 31. Admission is free, but donations for the upkeep and maintenance of this Arizona historical site are always appreciated. Call 323-1331 for information. PLAYMAKING WORKSHOP. Do you have a budding Shakespeare running around the house? All children ages six to 12 are invited to ignite their imaginations and come to a Tucson Parks and Recreation playmaking workshop at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, August 29, at the Columbus Library, 4350 E. 22nd St. Program continues through October 11. The workshop series at Himmel Park Library, 1035 N. Treat Ave., begins at 3:30 p.m. Friday, August 30, and continues through October 18. Call Michael Givens at 791-4663 for registration and information. Parents' Corner COMPUTER LESSONS. Free basic computer instruction is available for children and adults in low-income families at 5 p.m. Sundays. There are 12 computers available for these ongoing classes. Call 889-4876 for registration and information. SINGLE MOTHERS BY CHOICE. Learn more about a support and networking group for single women who have chosen or are considering motherhood via insemination, adoption, etc. SMC holds monthly meetings. Call 745-5707 for information. THE PARENT CONNECTION. The Parent Connection, 5326 E. Pima St., provides families with educational and support services. The parent/child program allows parents to play together while encouraging the overall development of the child. Learn how to better set limits and nurture young children. Facilities include a library and indoor/outdoor play area, as well as a family-friendly referral index to community resources. Classes, lecture series and support groups for moms and dads are also available. Call 321-1500 for information. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. Children To Children, a non-profit grief support center for children and their families, needs volunteers to train as support group facilitators. Our next volunteer training begins soon. Call 322-9155 for information.

		© 1995-97 Tucson Weekly . Info Booth