Colorado Parent May 2021

May 2021

Growing Great Families Since 1986

Making Space for Baby SIMPLE, NEUTRAL STYLES AND IDEAS FOR THE NURSERY

Tips for Great Family RV Trips

What To Expect When You’re Expecting In a Pandemic

Locally Made Baby Shower Gifts

97 Ideas for Family Fun

PART OFOF THE PART THE

PUBLISHING FAMILY PUBLISHING FAMILY

ColoradoParent.com

COVID-19 CHANGED OUR LIVES. YOU MIGHT BE ...

Juggling work from home with remote school for your children.

Feeling anxious about the vaccine.

Trying to understand your children’s stress reactions.

Mourning the loss of someone.

Or you may be experiencing something else. WE’VE ALL BEEN AFFECTED.

GET FREE + ANONYMOUS SUPPORT TODAY! Our crisis counselors are here for you. The Colorado Spirit Crisis Counseling Program is a free and anonymous program with trained crisis counselors who are people from the community, just like you. Our counselors can connect you to community resources, help you develop coping strategies to manage and reduce your stress, and teach you how to recognize and support the reactions your children may be having.

To access support resources please visit COLORADOSPIRITCCP.COM

2020

2020

Pregnant woman: Getty Images. Calendar: Opener: Marie Walsh Sharpe Gallery.

2020

CONTENTS May 2021 features

advertising

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32

Mothers share how they worked through changing regulations while expecting.

Go minimal with pops of personal touches for your babe's abode.

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ON THE WEB

16

SOLUTIONS

8

FROM THE EDITORS

17

GOOD STUFF

GOOD TO KNOW

18

HEALTH & WELLNESS

22

TRAVEL

The latest tips and news on ColoradoParent.com

11

Lessons Learned

Explore Colorado on Educational Road Trips

14

LET’S GO

Ride the Mustang Mountain Coaster

15

READ TO ME

46

New and Best-Loved ABC Books

on the cover

4

Handling Unwanted Baby Name Comments

Customized Gifts for Mom and Dad

The Next Generation of Golfers

Camping With the Comforts of Home

ROUNDUP

Locally Made Baby Shower Gifts

22 Tips for Great Family RV Trips | 28 Expecting In a Pandemic 32 Making Space for Baby | 37 97 Ideas for Family Fun 46 Locally Made Baby Shower Gifts

Colorado Parent | May 2021

Camp Showcase

SIMPLE + SOOTHING NURSERIES

PREGNANCY DURING THE PANDEMIC

departments

20

37

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Our monthly roundup of local events, featuring virtual and in-person activities around town.

Cover: Haley Garyet and baby photographed

by Lucy Beaugard. lucybeaugard.com

At Gaylord Rockies, your summer possibilities are endless. Become an honorary pirate or princess for the day, enjoy the sun at Arapahoe Springs Water Park,

MORE ADVENTURE

dine at any of our eight unique restaurants, explore the beautiful Grand Lodge, or even do it all!

EXPERIENCE MORE AT GaylordRockies.com

MORE CONNECTION

On the Web

Colorado Parent Online

Gifting fresh blooms is a classic way to show appreciation on Mother’s Day, and these local florists came up with clever ways to make the staple feel even more meaningful.

Simple Steps To Make Vaccinations Less Painful The Meg Foundation offers easy interventions to take the fear out of your family’s doctor visits.

7 Comforting Books for Grieving Children As families live with heartbreak day by day, we hope these stories can provide a little comfort to grieving children.

Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Honor the contributions of generations of AAPIs in Colorado by studying history, enjoying festivals, and dining on diverse cuisine.

CONNECT WITH US

@coloradoparentmagazine

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Colorado Parent | May 2021

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@coloradoparent

Pinterest.com/ColoradoParent

Sign up for our E-NEWSLETTER at ColoradoParent.com

Vaccine: Getty Images. Grief: HarperCollins. AAPI: TriState Buddhist Temple. Flowers: Jessica Sparzak.

Where To Buy Mother’s Day Flowers

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From the Editors

What We Learned…

E

IT

LO V

Young golfers are breathing new life into the sport. Participation has shot up during the pandemic, and a nationwide group, the Gen Z Council, has given recommendations to the industry for greater inclusivity. Two Denver-area golfers who are part of the council share their stories.

EDITORIAL edit@coloradoparent.com Editor Deborah Mock Senior Associate Editor Kara Thompson Editorial Assistant Anna Sutterer Contributing Managing Editor Lydia Rueger

Page 18.

ADVERTISING SALES Advertising Director Brigette Swartz brigette@coloradoparent.com Account Manager Hilary Angel hilary@coloradoparent.com

Outdoorsy, playful, and practical parents will love these Colorado-made baby shower gifts. Page 46

PRODUCTION Art Director Heather Gott Contributing Graphic Designer Tammie Schumacher

L VE EA

TRENDING

IT

Neutral Nurseries are having a major moment. Here’s how to add a personal touch to the simple style while keeping budget, functionality, and your newest addition in mind. Page 32.

If nagging comments or pressures to reveal your baby’s name set you on edge, try the gracious side-steps offered on page 16.

CREATIVE SERVICES Creative Services Director Carly Lambert Print Production Manager Megan Skolak Lead Graphic Designer Chelsea Conrad Digital Advertising Manager Shundra Jackson Graphic Designer Caitlin Brooks Production Coordinator D'mitrius Brewer MARKETING Director of Marketing Piniel Simegn ADMINISTRATION Billing and Collections Manager Jessica McHeard DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION Audience Development Manager Caitlin Kittrell circulation@coloradoparent.com

CAN’T WAIT

Printed by Publication Printers

Taking your whole home, or at least the comforts of home, on the road is possible with RV camping! Colorado travelers share their journeys and tips for how to get started, plus the state’s best places to park. Page 22

YOU SAID IT

CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Daniel Brogan VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGY Andrea Bott

We’re all navigating a new normal in a lot of aspects of our lives, having a baby is no exception. We’re here to guide [parents] into their new lives as smoothly and safely as possible.

—Katie Chmielowiec, M.D., at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction. Page 28.

Share your feedback and ideas! Email us at edit@coloradoparent.com.

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Colorado Parent | May 2021

VICE PRESIDENT, REVENUE Zach Wolfel Colorado Parent is published monthly by 5280 Publishing, Inc. Please note that the advertisements in this magazine are paid for by the advertisers, which allows this magazine to be free to the consumer. Limit of one free copy per reader. Additional copies can be purchased for $5.00 per issue. Call (303) 320-1000 to request additional copies. Unless specifically noted, no advertisers, products, or services are endorsed by the Publisher.

Editorial submissions are welcome.

Colorado Parent (ISSN 1937-1020) ©2020 5280 Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Love it: Elizabeth Endicott. Leave it: Getty Images. Nursery: Rachel Hoback.

Things that inspired this issue, and what our editors discovered along the way.

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Follow us for tips and tricks on all things parenting! @ColoradoParent

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Colorado Parent | May 2021

Good to Know HELPFUL NEWS, IDEAS, AND TIPS FOR COLORADO PARENTS

Explore Colorado on Educational Road Trips kindergarten through fifth grade. There are also suggestions for hotels and restaurants along the way.

The CTO partnered with a former educator to design activities that take the guesswork out of teaching and keeping kids engaged, while interacting with real life. “The itineraries are designed to be a fun and stress-free experience for parents to promote learning,” says Elizabeth O'Rear, the CTO’s senior manager of grant programs.

The idea for the itineraries stemmed in part from the pandemic-induced shutdown of classroom learning. The resulting stress on parents working from home, paired with new concerns about how well kids were learning in a virtual environment, led CTO

director Cathy Ritter and her team to pay extra attention to new studies indicating that parents would likely be looking for supplemental educational opportunities this summer.

“We thought parents would relish the opportunity to take their kids on an educational road trip throughout their own state,” Ritter says. “And for parents, it could be a fun way to get to see a part of Colorado they may not know much about.” colorado.com/educational-colo-road-trips —Courtney Holden

Schoolcation: Tomas Cohen.

What do you get when you cross the quintessential family road trip with hands-on learning? A whole lot of fun, “schoolcation” style! The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) is helping families explore the Centennial State with plenty of excitement, opportunities for learning, and some snack stops along the way. (Donuts, anyone?)

The Colo-Road Trips Educational Itineraries cover eight distinct regions of our state and focus on everything from fossil quarries and gold mines to historic railroads and sculpture gardens. Each trip plan includes a combination of experiences like museum visits, nature walks, and farm stops, with accompanying educational activities for kids in

May 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

11

Good to Know

Super Meg: Jody Thomas. Hiking With Kids Colorado: Falcon Guides). Elvie pump: Target.

Super Meg reminds kids they have the power to turn down the pain signals in their brain.

Simple Steps To Make Vaccinations Less Painful Nobody enjoys a shot. But with vaccinations against COVID-19 ramping up, eventually including children in the mix, it’s time to address the fear. According to a survey published in the 2012 Vaccine scientific journal, 63 percent of kids fear needles, as do nearly 25 percent of adults.

Helping parents soothe their children when it’s time for any vaccine, the Colorado-based Meg Foundation provides resources for pain and anxiety reduction.

Founder Jody Thomas, a general pain psychologist, recently developed the personalized

Go On More Family Hikes With This New Guidebook Avid outdoorswoman and Colorado Parent contributing writer Jamie Siebrase has hiked more than 70 trails with her kids during the past year. Her favorite family hikes can be found in the newly-released Hiking with Kids Colorado (Falcon Guides).

Find hikes suitable for toddlers to teens with detailed descriptions, easy-to-follow maps, and information on restrooms and stroller compatibility. Includes ideas for outdoor scavenger hunts, animal identification, bird calls, and fun facts to keep young hikers engaged. Head to @coloradoparent on Instagram for a chance to win an autographed copy of the book.

12

Colorado Parent | May 2021

Comfort Plan, a 15-to-20-minute interactive guide, led by the character Super Meg, that helps children prepare for their vaccinations. “I want to make sure your grownups know what you think and what you want,” says the animated character Super Meg, who walks kids through decisions like having their parent rub their back, watching a video for distraction, or using numbing cream.

The parent version takes caregivers through pain and anxiety reduction interventions and includes a “speak up script” to help them advocate for their child’s comfort in the doctor’s office.

“What we like about [Super Meg] is it literally puts the power in the hands of the child,” says Thomas. “One of the major interventions we can do for kids is to give them choice.”

Read more about Thomas’s work on interventions for pain management at coloradoparent.com. megfoundationforpain.org —Anna Sutterer

Is the Elvie Pump Worth It? You’ve likely seen or know other moms who have tried the Elvie Pump, a silent and wearable breast pump (that comes at a cool cost of $500 for the double pump). We had Denver mom of two, Elizabeth Beckman, spill the details on whether or not the high-tech pump is worth the hefty price tag.

COLORADO PARENT: Was there anything you didn't like about the Elvie?

ELIZABETH BECKMAN: It took some finagling to get the settings correct, but once I did, it was magical. You can individualize the settings for each side, which is fabulous.

CP: What was your favorite thing about the Elvie?

EB: Convenience, convenience, convenience.

CP: Did you purchase the single pump or double?

EB: Double. Yet about 50 percent of the time I use just one at a time. To maintain my supply, I often

use it unilaterally while feeding [the baby] on the other side.

CP: Do you think the Elvie is worth the price tag?

EB: I actually do—for convenience! I have pumped during Zoom and in-person meetings, and at work.

It has really revolutionized my life.

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Good to Know | Let’s Go

Ride the Mustang Mountain Coaster Fly high in Estes Park on this shiny new ride

By Anna Sutterer

VIBE: A pleasant coast to a thrilling zoom, depending on how you ride the breaks DRIVE TIME: About 1.5 hours from downtown Denver, five minutes from main street Estes Park shops TIP: Pop by the Simply Christmas store or the booth near the Sugar Shack in Estes Park to snag discounted tickets for about 10 percent off. Single rides usually go for $20, a three-ride ticket is $35, and all-day passes cost $65. Major enthusiasts can splurge for the unlimited lifetime pass (transferable) for $1,000.

Opening May 21, this 2,000-foot-long metal sled track opens to the public, offering a ride up to 30 mph along the hills at the base of Mt. Olympus.

A conveyor pulls the sled to the top, then it’s all up to the rider to either tug at the breaks or go fullforce. At the end of an average five- to seven-minute journey, the kids (and probably the adults, too) will be shouting, “Again! Again!”

Parents and kids can ride together on the Mustang Mountain Coaster.

can For an extra fee, riders te inu e-m on a d loa down journey edited video of their rfect down the coaster—pe , or for posting to Instagram ts. ren pa nd gra sending to the

LOCALS SAY Carissa McGill, owner of Simply Christmas in the town of Estes Park, says the coaster is perfect for those who may be too young or not able to access the long hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park. McGill also recommends families get the three-ride pass (at least) so each rider can test their speed comfort levels.

“This is so fun! This is so fun!” Carissa’s son, three-year-old Hendrix McGill, yelled the whole way down during a preview ride. “On a scale of one to 10, I would give it a 100,” says Tavin McGill, age seven.

INFLUENCER-FAMILY APPROVED For the Rodas family, the Mustang Mountain Coaster checks off all their boxes: proximity, value, location, speed, and views. The Rodases, who run the Instagram account @christelle_rm, have ridden on mountain coasters in Steamboat Springs, Copper, and France. They like this one because they don’t have to fight I-70 traffic from their Longmont home.

SAFETY FIRST Riders and parents who want a taste of the thrill with some peace of mind will be glad to know that the seat belts lock in place.

Automatic sensors help keep sleds distanced from one another. Find more information and tickets at mustangmountaincoaster.com.

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Colorado Parent | May 2021

Kids can test their speed com fort level on the coaster.

Riders must be at least 56 inches tall to operate the cart alone. Kids at least three years old and 38 inches tall may ride as a passenger.

Coaster: Rick Martinez. Yardstick: Ivelin Denev/Getty Images. Phone: Suriyapong Koktong/EyeEm/Getty Images.

LET’S GO

What About X?: Abrams. Alphatrain: Families. G My Name Is Girl: Penguin Random House. Roar Like a Dandelion: Harper Collins. LMNO Pea-quel: Simon & Schuster. The Alphabet’s Alphabet: Hachette Book Group.

Good to Know | Read to Me

What About X?

by Anne Marie Houppert; illustrated by Daniel Wiseman (Abrams Appleseed, 2021)

All the letters are going on a camping trip, and they know just what to pack—B is bringing binoculars and C is collecting canteens, but poor X doesn’t know what to bring. A debut picture book written by a senior librarian at the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, D.C., the story features collaboration and friendship paired with the excitement of a first outdoor adventure.

Alphatrain READ TO ME

New and Best-Loved ABC Books

by Stephanie Miles and Christin Farley; illustrated

by David W. Miles (Workman, 2018)

Find animals interacting with different objects—bear eats a banana, elephant listens to earphones—in this board book that unfolds into a 42" train. Use it as room décor or for playtime. As a bonus, the back of each page lists hidden objects that kids can search for on the front of the car.

By Lydia Rueger

G My Name Is Girl

by Dawn Masi (Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2021)

Meet girls from 26 different countries, from Argentina to Zambia. Each letter of the alphabet includes a girl’s name and character trait, alongside illustrations that offer insight into the girl’s home country: A, my name is Alba and sister’s name is Ayelén. We come from Argentina and we are Adventurous.

Learning your ABCs is a praiseworthy rite of passage for the littlest kids, and everybody knows that old familiar tune. After your wee ones have gotten all the letters down, explore the infinite possibilities of the big 26 with these unique takes on ABC books.

Roar Like a Dandelion

by Ruth Krauss; illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier (HarperCollins, 2019)

“Perfect for kids who would rather learn their ABCs in motion, this surprising picture book provides a verb for each letter of the alphabet,” says Liesel Schmidt, Denver Public Library children’s librarian. “But not just any verb. Kids’ imaginations will be stretched when they are asked to ‘Roar like a dandelion’ and ‘Open your eyes, see the sea/Shut them fast, lock it in’.”

The Alphabet’s Alphabet

by Chris Harris; illustrated by Dan Santat (Little, Brown and Company Young Readers, 2020)

LMNO Pea-quel

by Keith Baker (Little Simon, June 29, 2021)

Staff at the Boulder Library are fans of this author’s previous book, LMNO Peas, featuring a group of energetic peas that become everything from acrobats to nurses to weavers. In June, the peas are back, rhyming their way through a new book full of unique jobs, activities, and hobbies, as they explore the lowercase alphabet.

Each letter of the alphabet comes to life, having their own life experiences and taking on different emotions. Rhyming text takes readers through an alphabet in which each letter is compared to another, showing that in their uniqueness, there are commonalities, too: An A is an H that just won’t stand up right; a B is a D with its belt on too tight.

Find more books about the alphabet at ColoradoParent.com

May 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

15

Good to Know | Solutions

Handling Unwanted Baby Name Comments Tired of people’s suggestions for your baby’s name?

Two parents and an etiquette expert offer ways to deal with opinions about baby name choices.

Edited by Courtney Drake-McDonough

Illustrations, highlighter, baby: Getty Images.

THE MOM WHO FOUND A WAY AROUND IT SAYS… “When people started suggesting names for our daughter, we got frustrated by people pushing us to decide on a name. They tried so hard to guess her name, almost like it was a game. So, we finally asked them to stop and asked everyone to call her little “E” since we knew we were going to name her after my grandmother whose name starts with “E.” I don’t think people realize how meaningful and sacred names are until they name a child of their own. So much thought goes into it. You’re naming a human! What an honor that is.”

–Shawna B., mother of one, Denver

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Colorado Parent | May 2021

THE MOM WHO KEPT GETTING SUGGESTIONS SAYS… THE ETIQUETTE EXPERT SAYS… “Anytime someone gives unwarranted or uninvited advice, the polite response is to simply say, ‘Thank you for your input,’ or ‘I appreciate the suggestion and will take it into consideration,’ or something along those lines. To respond in any other combative or defensive way merely perpetuates the argument and opens the door for prolonged disagreement. Additionally, when choosing to preserve the name of a family member, it’s proper to let them know in advance that you’re opting to honor him/her in this way if the person is still living. And, to duplicate the name of a son or daughter belonging to a close relative or dear friend, when that child is near yours in age, it’s best to discuss the idea with the parents to avoid hurt feelings and potential unresolved tension.”

“When we were about 20 weeks pregnant, we decided on a name for our son and told my motherin-law, who seemed to view it as a jumping off point rather than the name we chose. She kept suggesting other names starting with the same letter. We just let her suggest names and told her why we didn’t like them.

Every time she saw us, she asked if we were still going with our chosen name. We told her ‘yes.’

Eventually, she gave up.”

–Christina C., mother of two, Denver

–Jacquelyn Flesner, founder and certified etiquette trainer, theetiquettenetwork.com

Good to Know | Good Stuff

Customized Gifts for Mom and Dad Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are right around the corner—these thoughtful presents are sure to impress.

By Kara Thompson Send or gift something sweet with these Custom Message Shortbread Cookies. Add a meaningful date, inside joke, or heartfelt message to the top of a delicious, buttery treat.

Once you’ve written your message and ordered, two dozen cookies will be placed inside a pretty box that keeps them fresh through delivery. $38, uncommongoods.com

Turn a treasured family photo into a fun activity by creating your own Shutterfly Photo Gallery Puzzle. Choose to add just one picture or upload as many as 17. You can also pick from a variety of background colors and difficulty levels ranging from 60 pieces to 1014. $20 and up, shutterfly.com

Whiskey Peaks makes 13 variations of these hand blown whiskey glasses, including a set that showcases the Rockies. Each glass in the set features a raised topographic impression of the Rocky Mountains, ideal for whiskey-loving Coloradans. Other impression options include the Grand Tetons, Mt. Whitney, and the Grand Canyon. $65 for a set of four, huckberry.com

Background: Zen Rial /Getty Images.

Build your own BOXFOX stashed with hand-selected goodies like chocolate bars, cozy socks, candles, and cookbooks. After you pick the items you want to send, you’ll be prompted to choose a card and type in a note.

Once you’re done, the gift box will be sent directly to the recipient. $11 and up, shopboxfox.com

Perfect for the working dad, these Knotty Tie Co. Neckties are decked out in Coloradoinspired prints. Gift the Denver Skyline, Aspen Grove, or Vintage Ski Patch designs, or customize your own tie by choosing from hundreds of patterns and color options. $40 and up, knottytie.com

Take a photo of a family recipe, send it through Etsy, and it will be hand painted in your loved one’s writing onto this ceramic Moonflower Memories Pie Plate. It’s a personal way to celebrate the best baker in your family. $84, etsy.com

May 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

17

Health & Wellness

Photos: Anna Sutterer.

The Next Generation of Golfers Today’s youth are changing the face of golf, and challenging industry leaders to rid golf of its exclusivity.

Junior at Lakewood High School and member of the Gen Z Council Kayla Wong places her ball for a putt at the Applewood Golf Course in Golden.

By Anna Sutterer

L

ining up, swinging, and problem solving through the course is what makes golf so enticing and relatable to Chloe Avant, a junior at North High School in Denver, and Kayla Wong, a junior at Lakewood High School.

But there are a few hurdles to jump before stepping onto the green for these young women, and other players like them.

Wong stopped taking lessons just before her freshman year. “Part of it was not really feeling part of the community,” she says. “Our home golf course is [West Woods Golf Club], and every time I went there were only older, white men, which frustrated me.”

The Colorado Golf Association’s (CGA) membership, which accounts for approximately one-quarter of Colorado golfers, says Erin Gangloff, managing director of programs and membership, is seven percent youth (under 18).

Sixty percent live in households with an income of

18

Colorado Parent | May 2021

more than $100,000; 26 percent are women, and an estimated 10 percent are people of color.

Wong and Avant’s journeys into golf included programs that create space for novices; Avant started with the First Tee program in Kindergarten, Wong joined Girl Power Golf with her sister at age eight. Now, the girls participate in the Gen Z Council on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, a group of young golfers across the country gathered to discuss what could be done to make golf more inclusive. During a recent virtual meeting, students talked about their experiences and proposed solutions including diversity, equity, and inclusion training throughout the industry, and golf club recycling programs to offer free or discounted equipment for new golfers.

THE CHANGING FACE OF GOLF Ashleigh McLaughlin, a Black woman executive in the golf industry and Youth on Course vice

president of marketing and communications, sees the sport evolving.

“It’s been incredible to hear from kids and families how much deeper their appreciation for golf is right now,” says McLaughlin. She got her start in the sport through the Orlando Minority Youth Golf Association in Florida.

“Being introduced to golf within a grassroots, community-based organization focused on bringing more minority youth helped me in my journey because it gave me a core group of kids who were like-minded, were my peers, who looked like me, who I could relate to on things I couldn’t necessarily relate to other kids on.”

The National Golf Federation’s assessment of 2019 play found that 34 percent of today’s junior golfers are girls compared to 15 percent in 2000.

More than one-quarter of juniors were persons of color compared to six percent in 2000.

Organizations like Youth on Course, which has

Health & Wellness

38 affiliated courses in Colorado, makes golf more accessible with a kids’ entry free of $5. Nationally, Youth on Course saw a 76 percent increase in rounds played the first six months of 2020; the pandemic reported to have been a major driver of that boost.

RETHINKING HOW GOLF IS REPRESENTED Though change is happening, there is still work to do. Avant and Wong want language and rules surrounding golf to progress. Avant would like to see changes to the way girls’ golf is advertised.

“A lot of the times the advertising doesn’t look very athletic, strong, and powerful,” she says, in reference to the pink, cursive writing on the LPGA Girls Golf site, and hearts embellishing her team’s yearbook page. “That can be frustrating for girls who golf because we work just as hard as the boys do and we are just as good at golf as boys can be.”

Wong spoke with a coach at the LPGA Leadership Academy about allowing beginners to break some rules on the course, for example, starting the tee closer up the middle of the fairway. She’d also like to change gendered language used for tee boxes.

“Although it is not written on them explicitly, there are many instances when I play with golf

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coaches or strangers where they refer to a certain tee as the ‘men’s Enroll today and relax. tee’ (the farthest away), the ‘ladies’ tee,’ or the ‘junior/kid’s tee.’ It implies that kids and women hit the ball shorter than men, which is Summer Camp at The Behavior Exchange is the fun, safe sometimes not the case,” says Wong. destination for children with autism and other developmental “These small assumptions degrade concerns. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience the difference people and their confidence.” our engaging ABA therapy services can make in your child’s life.

Bailey Gadd, general manager of Applewood Golf Course in All of our expert ABA therapy services are available during Summer Camp in a Golden, where Avant’s team shorter 10-week format, including One-on-One Therapy and our early start practices, recognizes the need B.E.E.S. program. The cherry on top is a special summer-themed curriculum for female leadership and youth designed by our very own BCBAs. involvement in the sport. “In We can help your child communicate better, successfully participate in group such a male-dominated sport, it activities, get ready for school, and develop their social skills – all in a colorful, is important for us that we reach hope-filled environment that makes learning cool. out and engage as many potential customers and people as we can,” Give your child a happy summer. Enroll now! she says. Applewood hosts Ladies Night Out, one of their most popular events, which includes nine holes of golf, prizes, and dinner. In 2019 for Women’s Golf Day, they held clinics and tournaments.

720.647.8541 enroll@behaviorexchange.com Both Avant and Wong credit Plano & Frisco, TX | Boulder, CO a piece of their growth in golf to behaviorexchange.com their families who play with them and fellow female athletes. As golf becomes more inclusive, there will be more mentors to help all young players thrive.

8219_TBE_CoParent_AD_MAY2021.indd 1 4/7/21 “It’s cool to see girls that are older than me and at a higher level,” says Avant. “It’s nice to have people I can look at and go, ‘Oh, I want to Located on the University of Denver be like her.’ ”

Kayla Wong and Chloe Avant both play high school golf and serve on the Gen Z Council to help the sport become more inclusive.

Ricks Center

campus, Ricks Center is a school dedicated to gifted children.

»

Preschool to eighth grade

»

Curriculum designed around the whole child

»

Flexible, differentiated curriculum

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Active, engaged, hands on learning

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Designated time to pursue questions and interests

»

Low student to teacher ratio

»

Teachers who know, understand, and care deeply about gifted education and each individual student

Email ricksctr@du.edu or Call 303.871.3715 to learn more!

May 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

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1:37 PM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Camp Guide

SHOWCASE AF Sports Camps

Camp Invention

Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs - With 20+ sports to choose from, AF Sports Camps is the ultimate sports camp experience! Register at www.GoAirForceFalcons.com/camps.

Energize your child’s creativity with the all-new Camp Invention®️ program, Recharge! This nationally acclaimed K-6 program offers all-new hands-on STEM challenges. Secure your spot and save today at invent.org/local!

In-person and at-home programs available!

800-968-4332 | invent.org/local

2169 Field House Dr USAFA, CO 80840 719-333-2116 goairforcefalcons.com/camps

Camp Greenwood

5801 S. Quebec St., Greenwood Village 720-838-2496 | greenwoodcamps.com

Camp Greenwood offers youth, ages five to 12, a way to be active and have fun. Our summer camps encourage a healthy lifestyle by providing a safe, fun, and creative environment. Their full-day includes swimming, games, sports, crafts and fun Fridays.

Colorado Conservatory of Dance

303-466-5685 | ccdance.org

Whether new to dance, or have danced for several years, CCD offers fun and creative summer programs for both girls and boys in a caring environment. We offer diverse programs for those ages three to 22.

Hybrid, in-person and Zoom classes available.

Gold Crown Foundation STEAM Camps

Gold Crown Foundation Sports Camps

Discover new interests at Summer STEAM Camp.

Multiple camps are offered for youth (10–18), including animation, printmaking, robotics and more! We focus on the social and emotional development of teens through the use of creative technologies.

The Denver Nuggets Hanzlik Hoop Camp and Summer Volleyball Camp focus on sports skills development and are offered to incoming 2nd10th graders. They will also help your child build confidence, gain social skills and have fun, on and off the court.

303-233-6776 | goldcrownfoundation.com

303-233-6776 | goldcrownfoundation.com

Flour Power Kids Cooking Studios

2030 E. County Line Rd., Highlands Ranch 720-656-9405 | flourpowerstudios.com

Stir up a ton of fun with us during our full-day cooking camps, where campers (ages five to 12) will prepare their own snacks and lunch, conduct kitchen science experiments, and create fun themed arts and crafts. All supplies are included.

Growing Gardens

303-443-9952 growinggardens.org/peacegarden

Spend a week gardening, cooking, and creating on our one-of-a-kind urban farm! Learn about sustainable agriculture and ecosystems through hands-on learning. We’ll engage our senses through farm-totable cooking, art and science projects, and games.

Highlands Ranch Community Association

Queen Bee Music Association

Renaissance Adventures

HRCA offers a wide variety of camps to keep kids in the South metro Denver area active and entertained all summer long! Enjoy full and half day camps with activities including outdoor adventure, sports, STEM, cooking, pottery, art, and more!

Queen Bee’s Kids Bluegrass Camp (July 6-9) in Crested Butte is for beg. and inter. players ages seven to 15. Led by Bonnie & Taylor Sims, Matt Brown, and Brian Nelson, kids learn to play in a band and write songs on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo or bass.

Ages six to 17 role-play heroes in award winning mythic adventures in small groups in-person & online. Campers explore compelling tales, solve mysteries and co-create adventures with unique characters, plots and diverse challenges!

303-791-2500 | HRCAonline.org/camps

20 | Camp Guide Showcase | May 2021

Crested Butte, CO | 505-278-0012 queenbeemusicassociation.org

Denver, Boulder, Online | 303-786-9216 renaissanceadventures.com

Summer at Ricks

303-871-4839 | du.edu/ricks

Summer at Ricks blends fun summer activities with rich learning experiences all while enjoying the benefits of the University of Denver campus. Campers entering preschool – 6th grade will enjoy weekly themes and specialty camps ranging from Inventors Workshop to Art in Motion and more.

Sunshine House Early Learning Academy

YMCA Camp Santa Maria

Schools in Loveland, Fort Collins & Greeley sunshinehouse.com/summer

51321 US Highway 285 Grant, CO 303-443-4474 | ymcacampsantamaria.org

From producing a podcast to building a space habitat, Summer Remix Adventure Camp is full of fun experiences. Includes 2 academic programs to ensure your child is ready for the new school year. In-person & virtual tours available. Register today!

YMCA Camp Santa Maria offers a classic overnight camp experience with a focus on inclusion and community. Campers, ages 6 to 17, can kayak, paddleboard, swim, enjoy crafts, learn archery, hike and explore, build gnome homes and learn outdoor skills.

YMCA of Northern Colorado Summer Camps

YMCA of the Rockies Camp Chief Ouray

Young Americans Center for Financial Education

From nature, sports and outdoors camps to fine arts camp to traditional camps, a YMCA day camp experience offers kids the chance to become a valued part of a community, to connect and to get silly.

Nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Camp Chief Ouray has been the adventurous playground and traditional overnight camp for kids ages seven to 17. CCO provides the opportunity for independent development in a breathtaking outdoor setting.

Summer camps are a great way for young people to experience FUNancial education through awardwinning programs! Young Americans Center for Financial Education offers camps for youth who will enter 3rd to 8th grade in the 2021-2022 school year.

Camps in Boulder, Weld and Larimer Counties 303-443-4474 | ymcanoco.org

1101 County Road 53, Granby 970-887-2648 | campchiefouray.org

Y L N O S D I K A m y G g n i b m i l C

3550 E. First Ave. Denver 303-321-2265 | yacenter.org

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May 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

21

e h t h t i W g n i p m a C Comforts of Home

RV-ing has hijacked the family vacation—and that’s a good thing!

Here’s why people love it, along with tips for getting in on the fun.

By Courtney Holden

22

Colorado Parent | May 2021

Opener, background: Getty Images. Children in RV: Janet Clark. RV outdoors: Adam Clark.

T

here are a lot of ways to explore the wonders that Colorado has to offer, but few afford the sense of freedom paired with familiar comforts that a recreational vehicle does. Though RVs range in size from quaint and cozy to downright behemoth proportions, they all have one thing in common: No matter where you go, you’re home. “As a vacationer, the RV allowed us to travel and see the country, experience the cultures, the cuisines, the architecture, and nature,” says Mary Arlington, executive director of the Colorado Campground and Lodging Owners Association. “But we did it from the comfort of our own bed, our own wardrobe, our own books and TV, our own home.”

Avid RVer and Littleton resident Janet Clark, who has driven her family’s rig all over the U.S. including much of Colorado, agrees. She recalls early forays into backpacking (“I hated it!”) and “upgrading” to car camping when her first child was born. But when she and her husband got a screaming deal on a pop-up camper, around the same time her second child was born, Clark transitioned to traveling in a home on four wheels and was hooked. “We had some really fun memories of tent camping with an infant and how neurotic you can be about making sure the baby is warm and heating up milk bottles on a campfire,” she laughs, “but the pop-up was great because it was sleeping off the ground and there were some creature comforts like a furnace.”

That pop-up turned out to be Clark’s “gateway drug” to RV-ing. She and her family have since

The Clark's Class C camper offered the kids a fun loft.

owned a fifth wheel, a Class C camper, and now a travel trailer, with each change in RV reflecting their square footage needs and preferred camping destinations at the time. No matter the rig, however, RVing was always an integral component to her family’s ability to get into nature and reconnect with one another.

And that’s the beauty of the RV-ing. “We’re searching for those real connections and adventures,” says Courtney Bias, director, strategic marketing and communications for the national RVing resource, Go RVing. “We’re searching for real life and not that virtual life. And RVs are that perfect vehicle for that.”

May 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

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Which RV is right for you?

If you have a vehicle that can tow, consider:

If you want to drive the RV (and possibly tow your vehicle), consider:

POP-UP

PROS: Lightweight so many vehicles can tow them; less expensive; compact and easy to store; towing and maneuvering is easy to master; open air camping feeling without being on the ground; sleep up to eight people CONS: Considerable pre-trip prep and post-trip tear-down; fewer amenities; basic creature comforts

CLASS B

PROS: Smaller size means they’re easier to drive and park; can often handle backroad terrain; basic kitchen and bathroom amenities CONS: Another engine to maintain; tighter quarters means it’s not ideal for spending lots of time in the camper; usually sleeps two to four people

TRAVEL TRAILER

PROS: Available in a wide range of sizes and prices; ability to park the trailer and use your vehicle; sleep eight to 10 people; full bathroom and kitchen amenities CONS: Depending on the trailer’s size and weight, may need a heavy-duty towing vehicle

PROS: Significant interior space, including a main bedroom separate from the kids’ sleeping quarters; full bathroom and kitchen amenities; sleep six to eight people CONS: Require a fifth-wheel hitch system, which is expensive to install; size limits accessibility to smaller campgrounds like national/state parks; learning to tow, park, and maneuver takes practice

24

Colorado Parent | May 2021

CLASS A AND C

PROS: Luxurious amounts of space and storage; comfort-first experience (some feature residentialsize appliances!); no towing required CONS: Expensive to buy and maintain; need to unhook from campground hookups for exploring or tow a personal vehicle behind

Background, RV sticker illustrations: Lauren Rebbeck.

FIFTH-WHEEL

Children at show: River Run. Camper in woods: Bob Wick.

al Forest Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison Nation River Run RV Resort

Colorado Campsites

BEST FOR A BEACH: Lathrop State Park Walsenburg, CO Situated just more than five miles from Interstate 25 in southern Colorado, Lathrop State Park is the perfect destination if water is integral for your ideal RV trip. The park’s two lakes (one of which has water warm enough to swim in) offer recreation aplenty, whether you’re a slower-paced paddler or high-throttle boater. Fishing fans: Head to Horseshoe Lake to snag a tiger muskie.

BEST MOUNTAIN VISTA: Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest Delta, CO Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest boasts five of Colorado’s 58 fourteeners (peaks more than 14,000 feet high).

Summit one if you like, or take an easier route and drive your rig along one of the many scenic byways. It’s hard to beat the San Juan Skyway with its majestic views across the rugged peaks of its namesake, the San Juan Mountains.

BEST FOR KIDS ACTIVITIES: River Run RV Resort Granby, CO Complete with a playground, pool, bocce ball court, and off-leash dog park (not to mention the arcade, hot tubs, and bowling alley), River Run RV Resort is what local RVer Steve Moore calls an “RV paradise.”

Don’t feel like cooking one night?

Hit the resort’s Summit Bar & Grill for a dinner the whole family will love.

BEST FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING: Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO Each September and October around dusk, the elk of Rocky Mountain National Park put on a symphonic mating display. The resonant bugling of bull elk looking for a partner rings across the park in a distinctive call that’s as elegant as it is eerie. Book a site in Moraine Park Campground to be in the middle of it all.

Lingo Galley:

Sticks ‘n’ bricks:

An RV’s kitchen

Illustrations: Getty Images.

Your brick and mortar home

Pull-through:

An easy-access campsite that RVers can enter and leave from without having to back up

Full hook-up: Boondocking:

Camping without access to hook-ups like water, electricity, or sewage

Slideout:

RV with the ability to expand out to the sides, allowing for more living space

A campsite with hook-ups to water, electricity, and sewage

May 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

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Camper, family: Laura Rhea.

One Year, Five People, 300 Square Feet Laura Rhea and her family of five were living the American Dream: comfortable house in Lafayette; great community; and kids—ages 8, 11, and 13—all happily involved in activities.

Their pop-up camper was great for weekend getaways, but overall, she felt exhausted. Musings of a simpler life on the road and more time together as a family, a picture painted by the many RV-traveling families she follows on Instagram, seemed alluring, if unattainable.

When two close friends her age passed away from cancer, Rhea and her husband looked at each other and asked what they were waiting for. “So many people talk about what they’re going to do after retirement. And we were like, ‘Why wait?’ Let’s create and live the life we want right now,” she remembers.

“We wanted to be living life with intentionality, rather than just letting it happen to us.”

About eight months later, Rhea and her family bought a used Ford Super Duty F-350 dually, a 300-square-foot fifth wheel, and rented out their

26

Colorado Parent | May 2021

sticks ‘n’ bricks home—all necessary preparations for a 14-month, cross-country road trip that will take them from Maine, down through the East Coast to Florida, across the Southeast and Southwest, and up through California on their way north to British Columbia. They plan to stay close to a week in each full hook-up campsite (electricity and Wi-Fi are must-haves for remote work and school) and have built a bucket list of experiences like swimming with manatees, seeing a Broadway show, and spelunking. Along the way, they’ll homeschool the kids, incorporating experiential education whenever possible.

Is Rhea worried about cramped quarters and the stresses of life on the road? Of course. But she and her family continually return to the mantras of “love big, live small” and “less junk, more journey.”

She’s eager to fill her life with experiences, not things. “We talk a lot about how home isn’t a place or a building. Home is the people we’re with,” she says. “And we can take that anywhere.”

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS • Tour Schuyler Mansion from Hamilton fame (Albany, New York) • Visit Civil Rights Museum (Memphis, TN) • Swim with wild manatees (Crystal River, FL) • Christmas and New Year’s with family (Paris, Texas) • Stargaze at Night Sky Park (Kartchner Caverns State Park, AZ) • Take a sourdough bread baking class (San Francisco, CA) • Kayak around the San Juan Islands (WA) Follow their trip on Instagram @HappyTrailsFamily.

Courtney Holden is a Boulder-based writer resigned to the fact that train tracks and toy cars have become a part of her living room decor. The spur-of-the-moment hugs and "I love you Mommy" moments are worth it.

As the world continues to change, we change with it.

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4/12/21 9:50 AM

What to Expect When You’re Expecting in a

Pandemic New parents’ experiences with pregnancy, labor, and delivery during a very different time.

By Monica Parpal Stockbridge

28

Colorado Parent | May 2021

i

n early March of 2020, my husband and I watched our baby, no bigger than a sweet potato, kick and roll on the ultrasound monitor. I was 19 weeks pregnant, and seeing our first child’s toes, her spine, even the four chambers of her heart was miraculous. “You’re entering your second trimester,” my doctor told me.

“Enjoy this special time!” I felt like nothing could shake my joy. COVID-19 changed everything.

The news of global lockdowns and horrific casualties left us reeling. We stocked up on toilet paper and hand sanitizer. With each passing week, we canceled concerts, happy hours, weekend trips. By May, we canceled my baby shower. Even hugging my parents felt like too much of a risk.

I burrowed into my pregnancy pillow at night, doomscrolling, while my baby did somersaults in my belly. I was so afraid my husband or I would get COVID-19, and so worried about what the world was going to look like once my baby arrived, that I started to regret getting pregnant in the first place. I felt incredibly isolated.

Like me, many women would give birth during the pandemic. Things were changing every day, and still are, but here’s an idea of what moms can expect now.

Opener, illustration, background: Getty Images.

Pregnant in a Pandemic

Brittany Rogers of Englewood found out she was expecting her third child last May. “I called my physician because I thought I had [COVID-19],” she says, recalling her fever and fatigue. When it turned out she was pregnant, she began taking precautions to limit exposure. Rogers was concerned that if her husband were to contract COVID-19 prior to her giving birth, he wouldn’t be allowed at the delivery. She feared that if she were to contract the virus, she might be separated from her baby. Rogers was encouraged to self-isolate as much as possible for the four weeks prior to her due date and was required to have a COVID-19 test two weeks before.

"We got lucky because my due date was January 11," Rogers says. "So those four weeks preceding my due date coincided with the holidays, Christmas, and school break for my older two girls. So we really were able to kind of stop life, if you will, and just follow the doctor’s orders."

Denver resident Leslie Will was thrilled when she became pregnant with twins last summer. Yet, Will, who is a physician’s assistant, says that the fear

of contracting COVID-19 has been an additional stressor during her pregnancy. “The concern about just getting [COVID-19] is a little higher because it’s not just me that I’m worried about now,” Will says. “It’s three of us, the babies.”

J. Honey Onstad, M.D. and OB-GYN department chair at Rose Medical Center, was keenly aware of pregnant women’s pandemic fears. “There were a couple hospitals in New York City that had an absolutely no-visitor policy for a brief period of time,” she says. “And that made pregnant women very, very worried across the country that that would happen to their delivery hospital.” That was a unique situation, she adds, and one that didn’t last very long.

That said, COVID-19 has intensified an inherently anxious time for expectant parents.

Restrictions During Pregnancy

Pregnant women are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So, being careful is a good thing. Still, restrictions can be disappointing, and the situation seems to change by the week.

Lindsay Montgomery of Cañon City discovered she was pregnant in mid-March of 2020, right as doctor’s offices were starting to shut down. It was tough for her to even get an appointment to confirm the pregnancy. Several practices turned her away, saying they weren’t accepting new patients due to COVID-19.

Montgomery had hoped to have two support people at her side for the birth of her son. “I really, really wanted to have my mom there,” she says, “The week before [I] was induced is when they said we’re going back down to one support person instead of two.” It was OK in the end, she says, because her mom joined by video call. Her son was born on November 24, 2020.

During my own pregnancy, I got to bring my husband with me to my prenatal appointments. I certainly didn’t need him there while I peed in a cup and got my blood pressure checked, but having him around to hear the baby’s heartbeat and jot down notes was immensely reassuring.

Some patients have the option of doing telehealth for their prenatal appointments as a way of limiting potential exposure. This is especially convenient for patients who live a long way from

SHOULD PREGNANT MOMS BE VACCINATED? Now that vaccines are becoming available, is it safe for pregnant mothers to be immunized? Studies are ongoing, says Lisa Wynn, M.D. “We know that babies of moms who had [COVID-19] have antibodies at birth. Early data suggests that this is true for babies of vaccinated mothers as well,” she says. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) both recommend pregnant and nursing women be offered the vaccine and talk with their healthcare providers before making a decision.

“Our practice is recommending that patients get the vaccine whenever they are eligible,” says Wynn.

May 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

29

Mother and child: Getty Images.

their OB-GYN, says Katie Chmielowiec, M.D., at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction.

At Denver Center for Birth and Wellness, clinical director and midwife Chance Galindo says the past year has been challenging for moms and midwives alike. “We as midwives are very high touch, and, you know, everything is now sanitized and disinfected. We can’t shake hands. We’re not supposed to hug our clients. So that loss of intimacy has definitely occurred.”

Delivery Differences

At press time, most hospitals require a mask if you want to walk the halls or when providers enter your room, although some are more lenient once it’s time to push. At UCHealth Highlands Ranch, moms are required to get a COVID-19 test once they are in active labor, or two to three days prior to their scheduled induction or C-section. Those who test negative for COVID-19 are offered nitrous oxide for pain relief at this particular hospital (not all hospitals are currently offering this). Once baby arrives, friends and family are still welcome to send flowers or gifts, and outside food and drink are still permitted. At UCHealth Highlands Ranch and Rose Medical Center, the nurseries are open and able to care for newborns, in order to give new parents time to rest, if needed.

Denver Center for Birth and Wellness screens everyone for COVID-19 with a temperature check upon arrival. Moms can be mask-free in their rooms, but need to mask up to move about the common areas. Additionally, nitrous oxide is an option for pain relief at this center.

Certified doula Terri Burleson attended 31 births at 12 different hospitals over the past year. “It was surprisingly normal,” she says. “Honestly the biggest difference was that it was just quiet.” Fewer people crowding the waiting rooms made the labor and delivery wards more peaceful, allowing more intimate bonding time for the immediate family.

The same was true of my experience. I arrived at Rose Medical Center deep in the throes of labor on a sweltering July evening, and a flock of nurses attended to us as if we were the only couple on the floor. I had to wear a mask the entire time, but I barely noticed. Our daughter arrived swiftly and safely, and we spent the next two days getting to know one another in the safety of our hospital room.

Rogers’ experience sounded a lot like mine; her daughter was born on January 16, 2021. She says though she felt separated from the hospital population, she felt well cared for. “I thought [mask wearing during labor] was going to be more difficult, and more difficult to breathe specifically, while going through a very painful

30

Colorado Parent | May 2021

process,” Rogers says. “It didn’t prove to be as bad as I thought it was going to be. I was able to wear one of those paper-thin surgical masks, and having been accustomed at that point to wearing a mask while working out and doing everything else in life, it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it might.”

“I think [new moms] can honestly expect a very normal experience,” says Onstad at Rose Medical Center. She adds that there’s virtually no chance that birth partners won’t be allowed. When we spoke, Onstad told me that Rose was planning to eliminate mandatory COVID-19 testing before delivering.

“Because our [COVID-19] positivity rate has been so low for our patients, we are eliminating [COVID-19] testing as of April 1,” Onstad says. They will reassess weekly, and reinstate testing if cases go up.

Beyond the Birth

Lisa Wynn, M.D., and women’s service line chief at UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital, reassures new moms that hospitals are still committed to providing high-quality healthcare beyond birth.

“We still have our lactation support, we still have postpartum depression screenings, we still have counseling groups. They may look a little different

than they have in the past, but we still have access to the things that make health care accessible and work for a lot of women.”

In my experience, our friends and family have been endlessly supportive during the pandemic.

They organized a surprise drive-by baby shower, dropped meals on our doorstep, and ooh-ed and ahh-ed at our baby over Zoom. With both of us working from home, we’re present to watch our daughter grow and change each day. I feel incredibly grateful, and our new baby has been a bright spot in a difficult time.

It may be hard to see it now, but things won’t always be this way. For anyone wanting to expand their family, Chmielowiec at St. Mary’s Medical Center says the pandemic is a small blip on the radar in the grand scheme of things. “We’re all kind of currently navigating a new normal in a lot of aspects of our lives, and having a baby is no exception,” she says. “We’re all here to help guide [parents] into their new lives with a new baby as smoothly and safely as possible.”

Monica Parpal Stockbridge writes about food, travel, and technology in Colorado and beyond. She lives in Denver with her husband and daughter.

START EARLY. START STRONG. LICENSED, QUALITY CHILD CARE IN UNCERTAIN TIMES Even in uncertain times, Colorado Shines is here to help you find licensed, quality child care, now or in the future.

SUPPORT LEARNING AT HOME Whether your child is at home or attending child care, our online resources are here to support you! Visit EarlyLearningCO.org for tips you can use to help your child grow.

To learn more and search for high quality programs, visit ColoradoShines.com or call 1.877.338.2273.

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May 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

31

Light and airy spaces make for a calming and cozy environment.

By Kara Thompson

32

Colorado Parent | May 2021

Opener, rocking chair: Cait Pappas. Crib bumper for decoration only.

Simple + Soothing Nurseries

Woodsy & Welcoming

Rustic accents add Colorado charm that your baby won’t outgrow.

THE INSPIRATION Being an excited first-time mother (who’s also an interior decorator), Cait Pappas, founder and lead stylist of Nest Out West, had her son Joe’s nursery decorated and finished months before he was born.

The only caveat? That was in their first house.

The Pappas family moved to their current home when Joe was just two-and-a-half months old, and given how frequently babies sleep, they didn’t have time to do much redecorating. “Paint fumes don’t clear out of a small room like this during the two to three hours between nap times, and I’m sure baby-wearing while installing ceiling-height curtain rods is a big no-no,” Pappas says.

Now that Joe is two, Pappas and her husband Jason have more freedom to work on their home while he plays. After binge-watching the entire second season of Studio McGee’s Dream Home Makeover on Netflix, they had a major urge to complete a quick one-day room transformation.

“My creative juices were flowing, and I started ordering paint samples from our local Ace Hardware store, new blackout curtains from Target, and [used a rug from another room] in Joe's room to give it new life.”

Background: Zen Rial/Getty Images.

THE FIRST STEPS Once Pappas was committed to the room transformation, she started sketching out different furniture layouts until she landed on what she calls the “unconventional dresser-in-front-of-window decision.” Her goal was to simply make the space feel larger (the room is only 9-by-11 feet), calmer, brighter, and more inviting.

THE DETAILS One of the first things you’ll notice about Joe’s nursery is the animal prints hanging above his crib. Jason graduated from University of Colorado Boulder, so the family always has some Buff ’s pride happening at their house. “I thought it would be cute to incorporate baby bison into Joe’s room because 1) the CU connection, but also 2) because we’re Chicago transplants living in Colorado, so why not play into the whole western theme?”

There are tons of shops that sell baby farm animal prints, but Pappas searched high and low for this baby bison artwork until she found it on Etsy. The finishing touch to the wall art was the addition of the baby deer print, which reminded her of growing up in the midwest.

THE FUTURE VISION Like all curious toddlers, Joe recently started trying to climb out of his crib, so Pappas wants to transition him to a bed before he falls and hurts himself. “I’d love to make his bed a space where he feels safe and

comfortable, but also where his imagination can run free,” she explains. To achieve the vision, Jason is creating a lofted bed with some sort of enclosure.

“Ideally, it’ll be a bed that he can play underneath to maximize the square footage, and that he can safely climb in and out of without falling.”

As for the colors, Pappas says her home coordinates with this “warm neutral” color scheme. She imagines Joe becoming a teenager in this space, and plans to align the aesthetic with his age by bringing in more mature versions of these colors, such as more leather tones and darker green hues, while phasing out some of the lighter greens and grays.

As soon as she found out she was pregnant, local mom and artist Lana Effron hand-painted this Colorado-inspired wallpaper for her son's nursery.

The detailed print, which features a variety of woodland animals, makes for a playful statement piece in a baby's space. $195/roll, lanasshop.com

May 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

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Sun nursery: Rachel Hoback.

KEEP SAFETY IN MIND Charity Jackson, a Colorado Springs pediatrician and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), weighs in with important safety information to remember when designing a nursery.

AVOID CRIB HAZARDS The most common hazards we see when parents set up a new nursery are usually sleep related. Crib bumpers, stuffed animals, or blankets in the crib add to the visual design, but are not safe to be included in an infant’s sleeping space.

Avoid low-hanging mobiles that are within baby’s reach while lying in the crib. Also, allowing cords from window coverings and blinds to dangle presents a strangulation risk.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TECHNOLOGY Smoke detectors should be installed outside every nursery, and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of the home. Window locks and guards are also recommended to prevent falls once babies are mobile. A baby monitor is also important for parents to keep an eye on infants when they’re in another room.

Night lights may be used to aid parents in avoiding falls when checking on infants during the night and transferring sleeping infants to the crib. (Avoid placing night lights near curtains to reduce fire risk).

ATTACH FURNITURE TO THE WALL All furniture that has the potential to tip over should be firmly attached to the walls by the time babies are mobile and pulling up to stand, usually by nine months old. These fixtures should stay in place until children are at least five years old. Pay particular attention to dressers, bookcases, and TV stands.

Secure them firmly with straps into the studs in the wall.

REASSESS THE ROOM PERIODICALLY Baby-proofing is always a work in progress. Periodically reassess your baby’s nursery for hazards as you add or change décor. As infants grow older and become more mobile—rolling, crawling, and walking—it is important to scan the area for choking hazards.

Keep in mind that babies put everything in their mouths!

Read more of Jackson’s safety tips on her blog, astheygrow.blog

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Colorado Parent | May 2021

Bright & Sunny

A neutral sun complements existing furniture and curtains.

THE INSPIRATION Rachel Hoback, blogger behind Sprucing Up Mamahood and a mom of two, loved the look of boho rainbow style nurseries, but felt that most were a little too feminine. She wanted to create a space that was fun and happy, but more gender-neutral for her son Roman. To source some ideas, she started to look on Pinterest—that’s where she came across a lot of art prints with the rising sun design you see on Roman’s bedroom wall. Rachel has always referred to Roman as "my little sunshine" so this mural felt like the perfect fit. “His room feels happy, cheerful, and bright—just like him,” she says.

THE FIRST STEPS You might think Rachel’s first step in this space was painting the sun mural, but it was actually the opposite. “We already had the furniture from Roman’s room at our previous house. After moving into our new house I purchased the striped curtains because I thought they were so cute. Then a few months later I added the sun mural and it really helped tie the whole room together!”

THE DETAILS With safety considered in every detail, Hoback opted for a low VOC paint (volatile organic compound) for the walls in Roman’s room. She notes that choosing a safer paint option is especially important in a bedroom because you don’t want the toxic chemicals off-gassing into your furniture, carpet, and clothes.

Hoback also used a combination of faux and real plants in the space. “The fake plants are easy (and cleaner) to include in a kid’s bedroom, but I typically prefer real plants,” she says. If you want to add some greenery to your nursery, opt for a snake plant, which is a great choice for bedrooms because they purify the air and need very little light to live.

THE FUTURE VISION It’s important to consider how a nursery will transition into a “big kid” bedroom if you’re trying to stick to a budget. Hoback recommends choosing a crib that can convert into a toddler bed, and then into a full size bed. “We’ll most likely keep the bed in the same place, which will work just as well with the sun! I feel like the overall theme of the room would still work as he grows, which is something that is important to me when designing a nursery/kid’s room,” she says. Another tip: Use a dresser with a changing pad on top instead of purchasing a separate changing table. “It saves space and money because you can continue to use it for years.”

DESIGN TIPS Hoback started her design process on Pinterest, but she also recommends that parents look on Instagram for inspiration. Simply search for photos with hashtags like #NurseryDecor or #NurseryInspiration. And instead of just thinking in terms of themes, she suggests you approach the design process by thinking about different colors and textures you like—you can even find a piece of artwork or a pattern (like a rug or blanket) that you love and work off of that.

Keep houseplants off the floor (and out of reach!) by placing small greenery on a dresser or nightstand.

This 1-foot Rubber Plant from Léon & George is easy to care for and provides air-purifying aspects.

But the best part is that it can be delivered to your front door in a colored pot of your choice. $119, leonandgeorge.com

Nursery with dog, shelves: Kylee Trunck.

Soft & Cozy

Carefully selected fabrics create a comfortable space.

THE INSPIRATION Kylee Trunck, a home stylist and designer, originally intended for this charming nursery to be for her boy/ girl twins, so she gravitated toward neutral colors.

“I wanted it to be beautiful, but functional and also fun,” she says. Trunck eventually had to separate her twins into different rooms because they kept waking each other up at night.

THE FIRST STEPS When starting with an empty space, Trunck recommends that parents not put so much focus on figuring out what their style is. It can often feel intimidating and limiting, when in reality, you might be drawn to many different styles. “I’d gather all of your Pinterest images and look for what the common threads are to help you understand what you like. I always tell my clients to start with one or two pieces that they love and then start building around them,” she explains.

For Trunck, the design really started with the

rug. She came across a spotted rug in designer Jeremiah Brent and Nate Berkus’s daughter’s nursery that she loved, which inspired the overall vibe of the room.

THE DETAILS Because Trunck knew that she and her husband were both going to feed and get up with the babies, she decided to purchase two rocking chairs. She arranged them near a window and added a pop of texture through the use of fur throw pillows, which draws guests in and offers up a cozy nook for not only feeding, but reading and resting too.

Another standout in the nursery is the tapestry Trunck sourced from RH Teen. “I was looking for something neutral to make an impact above the crib because the wall behind it was large and open.

I also wanted something that wouldn’t fall down or couldn’t be pulled down. It’s hung like a curtain rod, so it’s very sturdy!”

This elegant Flower Bud Chandelier doubles up as artwork and a light source. The minimalist design adds a sweet touch to a baby’s room yet is mature enough to transition into a big kid space. $199, potterybarnkids.com

DESIGN TIPS Since many parents incorporate artwork in their baby’s nursery, Trunk suggests using double sided 3M strips for extra security on the walls. Another fun wall art idea is to hang a blanket.

One other element to consider is the type of fabrics you incorporate in the space. For example, Trunck opted for a wool rug because it’s one of the most durable fibers. “It’s held up for two years beautifully,” she says. Another material to explore is polypropylene, which is essentially an indoor/ outdoor rug that’s water resistant.

May 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

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C

BRIGHT SMILES ARE JUST THE BEGINNING. A third of babies born in Denver are born at Denver Health. Supporting the Denver Health Foundation helps to ensure that each of these babies has a strong start in life and access to care for all of life’s journey.

Thank you for being the foundation of Denver’s health.

Read more: DenverHealthFoundation.org/stories

Calendar MAY

Calendar | May

Our Picks For Little Ones

Opener: Marie Walsh Sharpe Gallery. Kiddos: Majestic View Nature Center. Tweens: Water World. Teens: BolderBOULDER.

MOTHER'S DAY GIFT MAKING CREATION STATIONS WORKSHOP May 1 See page 38

For Kiddos

G.O. TIME (GET OUTDOORS) May 29 See page 41

For Tweens

WATER WORLD REOPENING May 29 See page 41

OPENS MAY

23

A portrait made from ceramic and collaborative artistic work hangs in the Denver Art Museum’s new exhibit.

For Teens

Each/Other Ongoing. Explore the collective process of creation in this exhibition featuring Marie Watt (Seneca, Scottish, and German) and Cannupa Hanska Luger (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota, and European), two leading Indigenous contemporary artists. View 26 mixed media sculptures, wall hangings, and large-scale installation works. Included with admission.

Denver Art Museum. See Where The Kids Are page 42.

BOLDER ON THE RUN May 29-31 See page 41

May 2021 | Colorado Parent

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Calendar | May

2 SUNDAY

Kids Pour Painting Workshop 4:30-5:30pm. Mix paints and pour over a canvas to see how the colors layer and form unexpected patterns and formations. Learn about color schemes, tips and tricks to make successful pours, and make a treasure to either hang at home or gift to others. Grades 1-8.

Register online. $39. artSPARK Creative Studio, Littleton. artsparkcreative.com

Calendar What’s Inside ON STAGE

39 SPECIAL FAMILIES

41

3 MONDAY

WHERE THE KIDS ARE

VIRTUAL Small Steps, Giant Leap: Using Your Senses 9-10am.

42

Enjoy interactive storytelling and handson lessons and activities all about using one’s senses. Pre-K-K. Register online. discoverspace.org

ONGOING EVENTS

43

HEADS UP! All events were correct as of press time, however, with rapidly changing restrictions, please phone ahead to confirm event details.

Get listed!

Items to be considered for the monthly printed calendar must be received at least six weeks before the month of publication.

Email event information to calendar@coloradoparent.com.

Information cannot be accepted by phone. See our calendar online at ColoradoParent.com

Spread the love (and the paint) with an art piece for Mother’s Day. May 1.

1 SATURDAY

Hope House 5K & Fun Run 9am start for 5K, 9:30am for Fun Run. Take the whole family on a jog benefiting Hope House, a nonprofit that supports teen mothers. Strollers welcome around the paved course. Walking and cheering others on is also encouraged. Consider sponsoring a teen mom. Register online. $40 adult 5K, $25 youth 5K; $30 adult Fun Run, $20 youth Fun Run; $35 sponsor a teen mom. Lake Arbor Park, Arvada. hopehousecolorado.org

Family Discovery Series: Public Works Theatre Company Xperiment 10am. Join Pia the Clown who attempts to conduct science experiments that lead to madness and mayhem. Seats will be assigned to ensure proper social distancing between parties.

Face coverings and social distancing are required. Find tickets online. $10 age 3 and up, free age 2 and under. The PACE Center, Parker. parkerarts.org

Mother’s Day Gift Making Creation Stations Workshop 10-11:15am. Drop off your preschool and kindergarten child for an art making workshop. Pre-K-K. $35. artSPARK Creative Studio. Littleton. artsparkcreative.com

38

Colorado Parent | May 2021

May the Fourth Be With You 10am-4pm. Wear your best costume and celebrate a galaxy far, far away with hands-on activities and workshops.

Age 5 and up. No reservation required.

Included in general admission: $10 adult, $5 children (ages 4-15) , free age 3 and under. Additional $5 materials fee for optional Lightsaber Workshop. Space Foundation Discovery Center, Colorado Springs. discoverspace.org

Traditional Toys for Día de las Niñas, y Niños, y los Niñes Noon-1:30pm. Celebrate the Mexican Day of the Children/Día de las Niñas, los Niños y les Niñes by making traditional Mexican toys with new and traditional technologies and art expressions. This workshop will be conducted in English and Spanish.

Este taller se llevará a cabo en inglés y español. Age 6 and up. Register online.

Museum of Boulder. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

VIRTUAL Middle School & High School Broadway Choreography: The Songs of Hamilton 1:30-3pm.

Learn dance combinations inspired by the choreography of Hamilton. Join a

4 TUESDAY

VIRTUAL Middle School Master Class: Bard Wars Monologues

4-5:30pm. Explore iambic pentameter, and work with objectives and techniques in preparing a monologue, using works from the Shakespearean Star Wars collection.

Be ready to work on a monologue that will be assigned at registration. $40. denvercenter.org

Growing Up Boulder FUNdraiser 5:30-6:30pm. Celebrate Growing Up Boulder’s legacy as a leader in building a child-friendly state. Congressman Joe Neguse will kick off the interactive ZoomRaiser. Children and teens will take you on a tour of child-friendly Boulder, facilitate discussions, and inspire you to take action. A recording of this event will be

HOT TIP Miners Alley Playhouse 2021 Flex Passes Get back to the Children’s Theatre at Miners Alley Playhouse and enjoy their entire 2021 season lineup: The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of, Mother Goose, Rumpelstiltskin, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and The Story of the Nutcracker. Buy a set of three, six, or 12 passes you can use on one or multiple performances, in person or streaming. $36-$144. minersalley.com

Painting: artSPARK Creative Studio.

fast-paced class, beginning with a full body warm up and then moving into a sharp and energetic combination. $40. denvercenter.org

Telescope: Standley Lake. Stargazing.

Calendar | May

sent to all who register. Free, donations encouraged. growingupboulder.org VIRTUAL Picture Book Party: Friends and Family

4-5pm. Join Arapahoe Libraries staff to find books about friendship, kinship, and the ways family can be there for each other. For adults, parents, and caregivers. Register online. arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com VIRTUAL AniMAY: Book Queeries 4:30-5:30pm. Attend this

online book club and receive a free copy of this month’s book, Go For It, Nakamura! by Syundei, while supplies last. Teens across the gender and sexuality spectrum are welcome to engage in fun, respectful dialogue and activities. Allies welcome. Grades 6-12. calendar.boulderlibrary.org VIRTUAL Stargazing for Everyone 7-8pm. Get familiar with

Take a deeper look at the night sky with the help of the Majestic View Nature Center. May 4.

the night sky and explore the cosmos from Earth. All ages. Register online. majesticviewnaturecenter.arvada.org

Town Arvada Square to take a peek at the night skies. The event will be canceled if there is inclement weather.

All ages. Olde Town Square, Arvada. majesticviewnaturecenter.arvada.org

6 THURSDAY

VIRTUAL Virtual Little

University: Kids Concert with The Dollhouse Thieves 3:30-4pm. Rock out with Denver’s own The Dollhouse Thieves. Interact with the band members and enjoy their upbeat music. Age 5 and under. Register online. denverlibrary.org

7 FRIDAY

Olde Town Telescope Night 8:30-10:30pm. Meet in Olde

Queens Girl in the World Through May 9. Thu-Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2pm. Follow the misadventures of bright-eyed, brown-skinned Jacqueline Marie Butler. Enjoy the conscious comedy as Butler is uprooted from her 1950’s Queens to a progressive, predominantly Jewish private school in Greenwich Village. It’s all set to the soundtrack of Motown and the backdrop of the budding Civil Rights era. $28-$40 adult, $20-$28 senior, $15 child (age 12 and under). The Aurora Fox Theater, Aurora. aurorafoxartscenter.org

8 SATURDAY

VIRTUAL Storytime Saturday

May 8 and 22, 9:30-10:30am. Join the DCPA in an online pretend play that activates the imagination and emerging literacy skills. Enjoy a mix of story, craft, and whole-body learning.

Pre-K-2nd grade. Register online. $20. denvercenter.org

Sacred Voices Workshops May 8 and 22, noon-4pm. Join the Denver

VIRTUAL There Will Be Light May 21 and 22, 7:30pm; May 23, 2pm.

A black teen, Max, who falls in love with Ethan, a boy at their small-town high school, and the subsequent events that threaten to tear them and their community apart. This new musical was written and composed by Preston Adams with additional composing and musical support from Kelly BidstrupGraham. Age 13 and up. Physically distanced live tickets and streaming virtual tickets available online. $13-$25.

Broomfield Auditorium, Broomfield. onthestage.com

non-profit dedicated to empowering BIPOC youth in their creative expression, for outdoor workshops on poetry and comedy. Students will learn techniques to process complicated feelings through creative expression, facilitated by BIPOC creatives based in Denver. Sacred Voices and Four Mile Historic Park are working together to showcase how spaces with a complicated history can be used for change and healing. $10. Four Mile Historic Park. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

Fairy Garden Making

create a garden for your fairy to live in. Pre-K-8th grade. Register online. $35. artSPARK Creative Studio, Littleton. artsparkcreative.com VIRTUAL SOAR! It’s Time to Take Flight 7pm. Join the

Mile High Freedom Band Winds for an evening celebrating the history of flight. Start here on Earth, head into the atmosphere, go off into orbit, and eventually out into deep space.

Members and friends will add their own special performances. Find the event streamed on the Mile High Freedom Band’s YouTube. mhfb.org

1-2:30pm. Create an adorable fairy garden. Paint a little fairy house, make a fairy, plant some flowers, and

Ballet Ariel’s Cinderella Through May 2, 3pm. Enjoy a shortened, one act version of Cinderella, filled with the magic and romance of the original. All ages. Find tickets online. $25 adult; $22 student, seniors; $20 child. D.L. Parsons Theatre. Northglenn. balletariel.org VIRTUAL Parker Chorale: Music That Moves Us May 1, 7:30pm.

Tap your toes and sing along to familiar tunes that have traveled from the Broadway stage to some of the greatest films in history. $20. parkerarts.org

VIRTUAL

On Stage

The Great Gatsby: A Radio Play Through May 15.

Streaming online. Set against the glamour and excess of the Jazz Age, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s tale of triumph and tragedy captures the disillusionment of a society obsessed with wealth and status. Listen to the radio play adaptation with original music and sound design by Zachary Andrews, performed by Andrews and Sydnee Fullmer. Starting at $15.

Find tickets online. arvadacenter.org

May 2021 | Colorado Parent

39

Calendar | May

High Line Canal Run 7:30-10:30am start times. Hop out of bed for the annual High Line Canal race and get rewarded with a pancake breakfast and impressive trail views. Register for the 5K or 10K, in person or virtual (sans pancakes and extra goodies). Adults will enjoy a complimentary beer from Breckenridge Brewery beer garden. Start times will be in waves. $5-$30. deKoevend Park, Centennial. runningguru.com

9 SUNDAY

Musical Perspectives (A Music in the Galleries Experience) May 9 and 11. 10am-5pm. Enhance your viewing experience at the Clyfford Still Museum during their spring-summer exhibition “Stories We Tell: The Collection Two Ways.” Bring your personal smart device with headphones or earbuds to hear musical pairings by ensembles from Friends of Chamber Music. Links to all six excerpts will be provided when you check in at the front desk, along with information about how to listen to the full works at home. Find timed tickets online. $10 adult, $6 student and teacher, $8 seniors, $5 member guests, free members and age 17 and under. Clyfford Still Museum, Denver. clyffordstillmuseum.org

Ask local therapists about what music therapy is, who can benefit from it, and whether you need to know how to play an instrument to participate.

For answers, tune in to the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery Facebook or YouTube page. fcmod.org

Musical Perspectives (A Music in the Galleries Experience) See May 9.

VIRTUAL Drop-In Drawing Online 1-3pm. Find

13 THURSDAY

VIRTUAL Legacy Planning for New Parents 6-7:30pm. Learn

about Estate Planning while you are expecting a child. Sarah Morris, of Sarah Morris Law, will cover what happens if you do not have a plan and give an explanation of estate taxes, plus how and why to choose an attorney to prepare your plan. Couples are encouraged to attend together. $18. jccdenver.org

14 FRIDAY

Four Mile Free Day

10am-4pm. Travel back to 1859. Enjoy historic demonstrations, a tour of the Four Mile House Museum, and meet many farm animals. House Museum Tours can accommodate up to 10 guests and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Four Mile Historic Park. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

VIRTUAL Anime Club

4:30-6pm. Invite friends, attend with siblings, and enjoy making new, likeminded friends in this group of anime enthusiasts. Play trivia, then watch a show together online. Grades 6-12. calendar.boulderlibrary.org

12 WEDNESDAY

VIRTUAL Discovery Live: Ask a Music Therapist 5-6pm.

40

Colorado Parent | May 2021

Discovery Center for Cool Science demonstrations with Marc Straub.

All ages. Included with admission: $10 adult, $5 youth ages 4-15, free age 3 and under. Space Foundation Discovery Center, Colorado Springs. discoverspace.org VIRTUAL Connecting from Afar: Spring 10:30-

11:30am. Whether you're a few miles away, in a different state, or halfway across the globe, connect with loved ones on this virtual adventure. Explore artwork, play games, and get creative. May’s theme is spring. Ages 4-8. Register online. clyffordstillmuseum.org VIRTUAL High School Improv:

Meet Harold Noon-1:30pm.

Explore the activation of createdin-the-moment scene work and get further insight into dramatic structure and timing skills. $40. denvercenter.org VIRTUAL Middle School

Broadway Star May 14 and 20,

Improv: Short Form Noon-

4:30-5:30pm. Meet actor and singer Ben Fankhauser, best known for his role as Davey in Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical. His credits also include roles in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Flamingo Kid, and many other productions.

Fankhauser will perform a few of his favorite Broadway hit songs and then answer questions about his acting career and insights on the industry.

For teens and adults. Register online. arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com

1:30pm. Try out ensemble work, group exercises, and solo exploration within the improv genre. Learn the power of yes and active listening. Register online. $40. denvercenter.org

Schweiger Ranch Open Day 1-5pm. Visit the historic property and explore the ranch with

a self-guided tour. Face masks are required and the house is closed to the public. Schweiger Ranch, Lone Tree. schweigerranch.org

16 SUNDAY

Run to the Shrine 3:20-8pm. Run or walk through the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and to the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun. After four miles and nearly 1,000 feet in elevation gain, enjoy views of Colorado Springs below. Participants will start the ascent at their leisure, and there will be no official timing services for this year’s event due to COVID-19 safety restrictions. Run to the Shrine registration includes Zoo admission for the evening and a commemorative performance T-shirt. Proceeds help feed and care for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s animals. $30$60. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs. cmzoo.org VIRTUAL Harmony of Children 4-5pm. Enjoy the Denver

Children’s Choir all-choir concert with children and youth ages 7-18 singing pieces from classic to modern styles.

Tune in to the organization’s YouTube channel. denverchildrenschoir.org

17 MONDAY

VIRTUAL Zoo Tour: Indoor Rainforest 4-5pm. Tour the largest

indoor rainforest in the Americas.

Explore the four layers of the rainforest and the many aspects of this diverse habitat. Students learn how plants and animals survive and how the rainforest benefits everyone, even from thousands of miles away. Presented by the Omaha Zoo. Ages 5-12. Register online. arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com Race: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

something that sparks your creativity, then capture that moment in a sketch, photo, or other expression using your choice of materials. Learn techniques with instructor Anna Kaye. denverartmuseum.org

Get ready to dig into art with this archaeological-themed workshop.

Ages 8-12. Register online. $12.

Majestic View Nature Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

Cool Science 10am-4pm. Join the

VIRTUAL Meet a

11 TUESDAY

Fossils to Flesh 10-11am.

15 SATURDAY

Zoologist for a Day May 15, 22, and 29; 9am-2pm. Learn how to handle and train creatures that live outside of the ocean. Help prepare food, participate in positive reinforcement training, and learn how animals are cared for at the aquarium. Grades 5-12. Register online. $65. Registration is required 2 weeks in advance. Downtown Aquarium. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

It’s a race to the top of a 1,000-foot climb in the Run to the Shrine. May 16.

Choir: Denver Children’s Choir.

Celebrate the musical stylings of the Denver Children’s Choir. May 16.

VIRTUAL Family Star Party: Let's Look at Mercury

8-8:30pm. Join educator Jeff Gonyea and seek out the elusive planet Mercury after the sun sets behind the mountains. discoverspace.org

18 TUESDAY

VIRTUAL Parenting Strategies: Healthy Eating for Little Ones 4-5pm. Learn practical

ideas for planning healthy meals and snacks that support your toddlers as they grow and develop. Information about child development will be shared along with online mealtime feeding resources.

Presented by Sue Howk, a registered dietitian with the Tri-County Health Department. For parents and caregivers of children ages 0-6. Register online. arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com

20 THURSDAY

VIRTUAL Meet a Broadway

Star See May 14.

VIRTUAL Parent Education Series: Car Seat Safety Noon-

1pm. Find out what to look for in a convertible car seat with the help of an expert panel from the JCC Early Learning School and Engagement Department. $5 non-ELS members, free ELS members. jccdenver.org VIRTUAL Virtual Little

University: It's Electric!

3:30-4pm. Learn about electricity using crafts, songs, and games with The National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Age 5 and under. Register online. denverlibrary.org

22 SATURDAY

VIRTUAL Storytime Saturday

See May 8.

VIRTUAL Project Independence: What Happens After High School? May 6, 6-8:30pm. Learn how to help your child enter the adult world, equipping them with employment skills, college options, transportation, self advocacy, and more.

For guardians of children ages 14-21 with disabilities. Register online. Contact Monique at monique@thrivectr.org for more information or to request an interpreter. thrivectr.org

Sacred Voices Workshops See May 8.

Zoologist for a Day See May 15.

VIRTUAL BFF Theatredaze 1-3pm.

Grab your bestie (virtually) and join in a creative dramatic play session. Discover new ways of working together that celebrate friendship and community, and create great theater. Grades 2-5.

Register online. Each registration is for two students. $40-50. denvercenter.org VIRTUAL High School Broadway Choreography: The Prom

1:30-3pm. Breathe and “zazz” with this master class covering choreography from The Prom. Register online. $40. denvercenter.org

23 SUNDAY

World Turtle Day Encounter 11am-noon. Celebrate this unique reptile day by getting an up-close view of the beautiful, shy creatures. Ages 4-9. Register online.

Majestic View Nature Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

25 TUESDAY

VIRTUAL Drop-In Writing Online 1-3pm. Explore your word

mastery through this informal writing session with Lighthouse Writers Workshop. Open to all levels. denverartmuseum.org

27 THURSDAY

VIRTUAL Zoo Tour: Desert Dome 4-5pm. Go on a quest to

discover how plants and animals of the World's Largest Indoor Desert have adapted. Search the desert for clawed, camouflaged, carnivorous, and crawling critters. Students learn how plants

VIRTUAL Sibling Clubhouse Through Oct 2, first Sat, 4-5pm.

Hang out with other kids who have siblings with autism and understand the dynamic. Autism Community Store creates space for this peer moderated group. Participants should be old enough to have a meaningful conversation about being a sibling of someone with autism. Email connect@autismcommunitystore to get on the sibling clubhouse email list, or see the Autism Community Store Facebook page to find the event link. autismcommunitystore.com VIRTUAL SOCO @ Home First Friday Yoga May 7, 7-8am.

Stretch with yoga instructor Jenn Dormann, plus friends from Special Olympics Colorado. All ages. Register online. specialolympicsco.org VIRTUAL Spectrum Parent Adventures Through Aug. 14, second Sat, 6-8pm. Join Autism Community Store’s parent support group where

protect their water, why it's better to be furry than bald. Presented by the Omaha Zoo. Ages 5-12. Register online. arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com

29 SATURDAY

Special Families

you’ll share challenges and triumphs of being a caregiver of someone on the autism spectrum. Laugh, cry, and spend time with people who just get it. Join the live event on Zoom. autismcommunitystore.com

VIRTUAL STAR Virtual Fitness Through May 27, Thu, 9:25-9:55am.

Wake up and get moving with a cardio, strength, and stretching routine you can do at home. Age 13 and up. Register online. $18 non-South Suburban resident, $15 resident per month. register.ssprd.org VIRTUAL Grupo de Apoyo: Aurora May 8, 12:30pm. El Grupo de Vida - Aurora es un grupo de apoyo para padres con niños, jóvenes, y adultos con habilidades diferentes o necesidades especiales. Únete a El Groupo Vida en línea. The Aurora Life Group is a support group for parents with children, youth, and adults with different abilities or special needs. Join El Groupo Vida online. elgrupovida.org VIRTUAL Grupo de Apoyo: Broomfield May 19, 5:30pm. El Grupo de Vida-Broomfield es un grupo de apoyo para padres con niños, jóvenes, y adultos con habilidades diferentes o necesidades especiales. Únete a El Groupo Vida en línea. The Broomfield Life Group is a support group for parents with children, youth, and adults with different abilities or special needs. Join El Groupo Vida online. elgrupovida.org

2021 season. Reduced attendance, health and safety protocols, and enhanced ride cleaning will be in place. Check the “Know Before You Go” page online before visiting. Reservation required. See website for ticket details. Water World, Federal Heights. waterworldcolorado.com

Zoologist for a Day See May 15.

30 SUNDAY

G.O. Time (Get Outdoors) 9-10am and 10:30-

Realities Ride 9am-6pm. Ride in a

11:30am sessions. Spend an hour out in nature; go find out what’s in store at the Majestic View Nature Center. Ages 4-9. Register online. Majestic View Nature Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

Water World Reopening 10am-5pm. Ride your favorite water slides plus two new attractions for the

benefit for Realities for Children, which provides supports for neglected and abused children in Larimer County. Enjoy five stops with varying rally attractions including live music, a beer garden, and more. Adults only. Register online. $30 single rider, $20 passenger fee, $100 VIP rider/passenger. Various Northern Colorado locations. realitiesforchildren.com

May 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

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Calendar | May

Where the Kids Are

The following locations are referred to frequently in the calendar. Discounted annual passes are available at many venues. Note: Check websites for the latest health and safety information.

Aurora History Museum Tue-Fri, 9am-4pm; Sat, 11am-4pm. Free. No more than 10 visitors will be allowed inside the museum at any one time. Reserve tickets for a 1 hour and 20 minute visit. 15051 E. Alameda Pkwy., Aurora. 303-739-6660. auroragov.org/things_to_do/aurora_history_museum

Butterfly Pavilion Daily, 9am-4pm. $13 adult, $11 seniors, $9 ages 2-12, free under age 2 and members. Timed-tickets reserved online are required in addition to face coverings. 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 303-469-5441. butterflies.org

Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus Wed-Sat, 8:30am-4pm. Four 90-minute play sessions each day. The Art Studio, Bubbles, Joy Park, Kinetics, Ready Vet Go, 3 2 1 Blast Off, Fire Station No. 1, Teaching Kitchen, and Water exhibits are open. Reservations and face coverings required. $14 ages 2-59, $12 ages 1 and 60+, $1 Explorer Pass, free under age 1 and members.

2121 Children's Museum Dr., Denver. 303-433-7444. mychildsmuseum.org

Denver Art Museum Daily, 10am-5pm; $10-$13 adult, $8-$10 seniors, military, and college student, free age 18 and under. Timed tickets reserved online are required along with face coverings, social distancing and hand washing.

The cafe and coat check are currently closed.

100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver. 720-913-0130. denverartmuseum.org

Denver Botanic Gardens York Street Daily, 9am-7pm. $15 adult, $11.50 seniors and military, $11 ages 3-15 and student, free age 2 and under. Reserve tickets online, wear masks, maintain social distance. Limited access to buildings.

Mordecai Children’s Garden is closed. 1007 York St., Denver. 720-865-3500. botanicgardens.org

Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms Daily, 9am-5pm. $7 adults; $5 seniors, military, students, and ages 3-12; free age 2 and under and members. Limited access to buildings. The Children’s Play Area is closed.

8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton. 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton. 720-865-3500. botanicgardens.org

to walk the gallery; wear a mask and follow social distance guidelines. 830 Kipling St., Lakewood.

303-322-1053. dmmdt.org

Denver Museum of Nature & Science Daily, 9am-5pm, open until 9 p.m. on Fridays. $18.95-$19.95 adult, $15.95-$16.95 seniors, $13.95-$14.95 ages 3-18, free age 2 and under and members. Purchase timed tickets online. Face masks required. The TRex Cafe will operate at limited capacity. Bring water bottles as the fountains are turned off for safety. 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver.

303-370-6000. dmns.org

Denver Zoo Daily; 8:30am open for members, 10am open to public; closing hours vary by day. $20 adult, seniors; $14 child ages 3-11; free age 2 and under and members. Reserve timed tickets online. All purchases on the campus are cashless, and pathways are one-way. 2300 Steele St., Denver.

720-337-1400. denverzoo.org

Downtown Aquarium Sun, 9am-8pm; Mon-Thurs, 10am-8pm; Fri-Sat, 9am-9pm. $23.50 ages 12-64, $22.50 seniors, $17.50 ages 3-11, free age 2 and under. The 4D theater and carousel are unavailable. 700 Water St., Denver. 303-561-4450. downtownaquarium.com

Four Mile Historic Park Fri-Sun, 10am-4pm. $5 adult; $4 seniors, military; $3 ages 7-17, free age 6 and under and members. Small groups with timed tickets. The Four Mile House and group tours are unavailable at this time. 715 S. Forest St. Denver.

720-865-0800. fourmilepark.org

History Colorado Center Daily, 10am-5pm. $14 adult, $12 seniors, $10 ages 16-22 with student ID, $8 ages 5-15, free age 4 and under and members. Timed tickets for purchase online. Face coverings required. 1200 Broadway, Denver. 303-4478679. historycolorado.org/history-colorado-center

Littleton Museum Tues-Sat, 9am-3pm.

Walkways will be open and the farm’s livestock will be available for viewing, but the historic buildings

Sat, 10am-4pm. $9 adult; $8 seniors, military, and student; $7 ages 3-12 and firefighters; free age 2 and under and members. Masks are required. Hands-on activities are temporarily stored. 1326 Tremont Pl., Denver. 303-892-1436. denverfirefightersmuseum.org

Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys Fri-Sat, 10am-4pm; Sun, 1-4pm. $5 adult, $4 child (4-16) and seniors, free age 3 and under and members. Purchase advance tickets

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Colorado Parent | May 2021

Longmont Museum Tue-Sat, 9am-3pm. $8 adults; $5 students, seniors; free 3 and under and members. Hands-on areas of the Museum, including the third floor Longs Peak Room treehouse, will remain closed at this time. 400 Quail Rd., Longmont.

303-651-8374. longmontcolorado.gov/departments/ departments-e-m/museum

Lookout Mountain Preserve and Nature Center (closed) Majestic View Nature Center Closed for walk-in visitors. Find tickets online for limited in-person programs and more virtual programs. 7030 Garrison St., Arvada. 720-898-7405. majesticviewnaturecenter.arvada.org

Museum of Boulder Sun-Mon, Thu-Sat, 9am-5pm; Wed, 9am-8pm. $10 adult; $8 seniors, youth, students; free children under 5 and members. Masks required, and finger cots available for hands-on activities. Find admission tickets online. 2205 Broadway, Boulder. 303-449-3464. museumofboulder.org

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Grounds open daily sunrisesunset. The Visitor Center is closed. 6550 Gateway Rd., Commerce City. 303-289-0930. fws.gov/refuge/ rocky_mountain_arsenal

University of Colorado Museum of Natural History (closed) Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum Mon-Sat, 10am-4pm; Sun, noon-4pm. $16.95 ages 17-64; $12.95 seniors, military; $9.95 ages 4-16, free age 3 and under and members. Two-hour time limits and guest capacity. Face coverings required. The Kid Zone is temporarily closed. 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver.

303-360-5360. wingsmuseum.org

WOW! Children’s Museum Wed-Sat;

Everyone, especially kids up to age eight, can enjoy tons of interactive installations at the Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus.

10am-noon. $5 adult, $10 child, free under age 1 and members. Reserve a timed ticket online, admission is capped at 50 total. Each family will use an individual WOW! Pack of items. Costumes and some fabric exhibit pieces have been removed.

Bring a water bottle, and leave food and snacks in the car or at home. 110 N. Harrison Ave., Lafayette.

303-604-2424. wowchildrensmuseum.org

Building: Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus.

Denver Firefighters Museum Tue-

will not be open and no interpretive programming will be presented. Museum building is open with limited capacity. Call to make a reservation.

Free. 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. 303-795-3950. littletongov.org/museum

Calendar | May

Mother and child: Asia Vision Getty Images.

Ongoing Events NATURE PROGRAMS AND CLASSES

Fun Farm Mondays at Growing Gardens Through May 24. Mon, 12:30-3:30pm. Get outside and muck around on the farm. Learn a different new skill each week, from how to care for goats and watching milking demos to going on an adventurous scavenger hunt. Ages 5-11. Register online. $30 per day. Growing Gardens, Boulder. growinggardens.org CLASSES, CLUBS, AND PROGRAMS VIRTUAL A Chance on Dance: Bollywood Cardio Ongoing.

Wed, 7-8pm. Get moving and feel good with a class from Roshni, a Denver-based multicultural performing arts organization. Register and get further information by emailing roshnidenver@gmail.com. $40 by check/ cash, $43 by Paypal. roshniislight.org VIRTUAL AYO Homework Help Ongoing. Tue, 4-5pm. Youth who

either live in Aurora or attend an Aurora school can find academic assistance every Tuesday through Aurora Youth Options. Grades 6-12. Reach out to ayo@ aumhc.org to connect with a volunteer who will support you on your specified subject matter. aurorayouthoptions.org VIRTUAL Baby & Fourth

and times vary. Leap in to a new season of Colorado Ballet Academy classes including Parent Tot, Creative Dance (levels one and two), and Pre-Ballet (levels one and two), now offered in four-week sessions with the seasonal theme: “A Trip to Italy.”

Ages 1.5-7. Register online. $50 Parent Tot; $65 Creative Dance, Pre-Ballet. coloradoballet.org VIRTUAL Creative Workshops & STEAM Workshops

Ongoing. Flexible 30-90 minute classes. Bring the joy of Latino art and culture to your school, library, and cultural organization. Museo de las Americas offers workshops in English and Spanish with hands-on activities tailored to age groups and audiences. Email the education team at workshops@museo.org. $75 flat fee for groups of 15 or less, $5 each additional student. museo.org VIRTUAL First Friday

Youth Performance Ongoing.

6-6:30pm. Hear from youth poets who are part of the Art from Ashes programs. Tune in on the organization’s Instagram Live (@afaphoenix). artfromashes.org VIRTUAL High School Acting

Trimester Cafe Ongoing. Wed,

Technique May 8-22, Sat, 9:30-

10-11:30am. Discuss topics including adjusting to parenthood, nutrition, baby wearing, sleep and routines, formula and breastfeeding, returning to work, childcare, and other issues.

Breastfeeding pillows provided (when in-person). While Baby Café is online, HIPPA-compliant video calls with a lactation specialist will be conducted. jccdenver.org

11:30am. Join the DCPA for four sessions that will help students develop an understanding of core acting theory including scene analysis, improvisation, and key theatre vocabulary. Register online. $120. denvercenter.org

VIRTUAL Baby Storytime at Home May 1-29. Sat, 10-10:30am.

Enjoy a live storytime experience from the comfort of your home. Sing songs, bounce to rhymes, and spend time with other young families. For babies and toddlers ages 0-2 and their caregivers. Register online. arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com VIRTUAL Colorado Ballet

Academy Children’s Division Classes Through May 22; Days

Kids Art Nite May 7 and 15; 6-8pm (Grades 1-5); May 8 and 22; 4-6pm (pre-K-K). Leave your kiddos at the studio for an art experience while you enjoy a relaxing evening out. Reservation required. $35. artSPARK Creative Studio, Littleton. artsparkcreative.com VIRTUAL Middle School Acting Foundations May 8-22. Sat, 9:30-

11:30am. Develop a toolbox of acting essentials while exploring scene analysis, improvisation, working with objectives, and learning key theater vocabulary. Register online for the four sessions. $120. denvercenter.org

VIRTUAL Music for Sanity’s Sake Through June 25. Fri,

4-5pm. Connect with other creatives in a safe space where you can talk about music that helps you make sense of the world, try out free tools to build your artistry, and practice stress management. Join Youth On Record’s Bianca Mikahn in this workshop for youth ages 14-20. Register online. youthonrecord.org VIRTUAL Music Together Demo Class Ongoing classes offered year-

round. Plant the seeds for musical growth through singing, movement, and instrument play. Mixed age classes; sibling welcome. For infants-age 8.

Outdoor and online classes available.

Reservations required. Free for first class. mountainsongmusic.com

Open Studio Ongoing. Second and fourth Sat, 10-11:30am; first and third Sun, 10-11:30am. Experiment, play, tinker, invent, and create with or without the kids at artSPARK studio.

All ages. Reservation required. $18. artSPARK Creative Studio, Littleton. artsparkcreative.com

BOLDER on the RUN May 29-31.

6:30am-8:30pm. Lace your sneakers for this 10K version of the BOLDERBoulder.

Choose one of six locations (Littleton,

Broomfield, Firestone, Loveland, Erie, or Larkspur), the day, and time for your run when you register. You can also join virtually. Registration includes race swag, treat, access to the Facebook group, and more. All ages. Reservation required. $49. bb10k.bolderboulder.com VIRTUAL Riddles and Rhymes and a Roaring Good Time May

8-22. Sat, 9:30-11am. Move and groove in rhythm and rhyme. Act with words, move with words, and sing some words in each of these word-rich sessions.

Grades 2-3. Register online. $80. denvercenter.org VIRTUAL SOCO @ Home Bingo Through May 25. Tue, 3-4pm.

Join Special Olympics Colorado for Virtual Bingo each week. Compete for prizes and enjoy a new theme each week. All ages. Register online. specialolympicsco.org VIRTUAL Stages for Springtime Storybook Pages May 8-22. Sat,

9:30-11am. Use your body, voice, imagination, and arts and crafts to further grow the story and themes of springtime-themed storybooks.

Supplies for craft and puppet-making are delivered to your door. Grades K-1.

Register online. $90. denvercenter.org

May 2021 | Colorado Parent

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Calendar | May

Ongoing Events VIRTUAL Writing for Happiness and Stress Relief

Through Aug. 22. Sessions for youth ages 12-14 and 15-18 alternate most Sundays; 3:30pm. Get to know your inner creative writer and discover how the practice can reduce anxiety and increase happiness and resilience. Make gratitude lists, take mindfulness journaling walks, share challenges and success stories, set goals, and more. Register online. lighthousewriters.org VIRTUAL Youth On Record FEMpowered Ongoing. Wed,

4-5pm. Shape and pursue your own artistic vision alongside encouraging peers and music industry professionals.

Join weekly virtual gatherings for creative femme-identifying folks. Enjoy periodic networking opportunities and workshops. Ages 14-20. Register online. youthonrecord.org VIRTUAL YouthBiz Spring Marketplace Through May 2. Shop

online and support young business owners (ages 6-21) selling their unique products, all handmade. Find beaded jewelry, greeting cards, bath products, home baked goodies, artwork, and more.

Vendor prices vary. yacenter.org VIRTUAL Youth On Record Open Lab Ongoing. Thu, 4-5:30pm.

Participate in music seminars and workshops for youth, led by local professionals. Learn about creating music, marketing, and hear from guest speakers. Ages 14-20. Register online. youthonrecord.org

MUSEUM MEANDERINGS

After the Asteroid: Earth’s Comeback Story Ongoing.

Check out newly discovered fossils found at Corral Bluffs near Colorado Springs. These artifacts help scientists understand how Earth recovered after the asteroid impact 66 million years ago that wiped out the dinosaurs.

Handle real concretions and replicas, enjoy multimedia storytelling, recreate the ancient environment in a drawingand-sticker program, and more. Denver Museum of Nature and Science. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

Apron Chronicles: A Patchwork of American Recollections Through May 31.

Share in an intimate storytelling journey through photography, personal narratives, and one-of-a-kind aprons.

History Colorado is the final stop in the Apron Chronicles’ sixteen-year journey. Included with admission.

History Colorado Center, Denver. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

Birdly Virtual Reality Experience Ongoing. Hop on the Birdly simulation flyer with head-mounted VR display to get a pterodactyl's-eye view of a prehistoric landscape. Riders will experience multisensory elements such as headwind simulation, 3D audio, and visual impact.

Guests must have a 48-inch wingspan to fly, face coverings must be worn, and guests using wheelchairs must transfer to ride. Denver Museum of Nature and Science. See Where the Kids Are page 42.

Borderlands of Southern Colorado Ongoing. Experience History Colorado’s newest exhibit centering around Chicano, Indigenous, and Mestizo perspectives on the shifting geopolitical history of southern Colorado, full of oral histories and first-person accounts. History Colorado Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

Colorado in the Present Tense Through Aug. 22. Tue-Fri, noon-7pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-5pm. See how artists of Colorado are absorbing, responding to, and reimagining a world with COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, climate change, and more. This exhibition presents commissioned work and reframes existing projects from four Colorado-based artists Narkita Gold, Rick Griffith, Nathan Hall, and Maia Ruth Lee. $10 adult; $7 college student, senior, teacher, military; free age 13 and under and members. Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, Denver. mcadenver.org

Drawing Parallels: Community Art & Artifacts from 2020 Through Sept. 17.

Explore the relationships between simultaneous events—from world wars, to movements for civil rights, to pandemics—in Boulder's past and present. The exhibit includes art gathered from the community that encapsulates and evokes the events of 2020. Museum of Boulder. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

the allure of impressionist paintings, charcoal illustrations, and prints by the greats. Exhibit materials are on loan from the collection of Drs. Morton and Tobia Mower. All ages. $8 adults, $5 students/ seniors, free members and ages 3 and younger. Longmont Museum. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

Friday Family Nights Through May 28. Fri, 6pm. Bring the family to see aquatic wonders (at a discount) every Friday night. Enjoy the exhibits and scavenger hunts. $6.99 exhibit pass (10 & under) with adult wristband.

Downtown Aquarium. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

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Colorado Parent | May 2021

June 26. Thur-Sat, 10am-4pm. Catch this traveling exhibition featuring 65 artworks by 24 established and emerging Chicana/o artists. The works demonstrate a diversity of imagery, content, and techniques used by Chicana/o artists for more than 30 years. Find museum admission tickets online. $10 adult; $5 military and senior; free students, teachers, and FAC members. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs. fac.coloradocollege.edu

Makerspace: Build! Ongoing.

People of all ages can explore historybased questions through creative, hands-on opportunities in the History Colorado Center’s makerspace. Develop a better understanding of Denver’s built environment through designing and creating your own cardboard building and add it to an imagined, communal city. History Colorado Center.

See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

SOMOS Through Aug. 21. Tue-Fri, noon-6pm; Sat, noon-5pm. View an exhibition about domestic violence, resilience and healing as Museo de las Americas joins forces with the Latina Safehouse and Art + Color. $8; $5 students, artists, veterans, seniors; free age 13 and under and members. Museo de las Americas. museo.org

Stonehenge Through Sept. 6.

Explore Stonehenge’s story, its change and evolution, through hundreds of artifacts and modern science.

Learn where, when, why, and how Stonehenge was built 4,500-5,000 years ago. Admission plus special ticket cost (see website for details). Denver Museum of Nature and Science. See Where the Kids Are, page 42.

VIRTUAL Virtual Experience in Paleontology Hall Ongoing. Experience one of the

CU Museum of Natural History’s most popular galleries. Journey back in time and “walk” through the 3D version of the “Fossils: Clues to the Past” exhibit, complete with short, educational videos and Spanish translations. colorado.edu

Museum: Rubber/Ball Productions Getty Images.

Enduring Impressions: Degas, Monet, Pissarro, and Their Printmaker George William Thornley Through July 18. Enjoy

Papel Chicano Dos: Works on Paper from the Collection of Cheech Marin Through

Roundup

LEFT:Take your tiny camper on your adventures and never worry about them being cold with the Little Mo sleeping bag.

Baby sleeping bag: Morrison Outdoors. Weird Bird stuffies: Elizabeth Endicott. Bib: Jennifer Olson Photography.i

Showered in Colorado Style 5 adorable baby gifts born in the Centennial state.

By Colorado Parent Staff

B

abies require a good amount of preparation, and a good amount of gear. New and veteran parents who are expecting, and who are #shoplocal conscious, will love these Colorado-crafted gifts.

PARENTS: NOSTALGIA FANS Gift: If there’s one thing that new parents can never have enough of, it’s something handy to wipe up cute little dribbles and geyser-level spit-up. Hip Violet makes oversized machine-washable bibs with sturdy snap closures in a variety of sweet designs. Grab a Colorado flag or mountain applique, or vintage characters such as NKOTB, Rainbow Brite, or Star Wars. hipviolet.com

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Colorado Parent | May 2021

PARENTS: WEEKEND TENT DWELLERS Gift: Little Mo wearable sleeping bags from Morrison Outdoors keeps littles, from six months to four years old, snug on camping trips. The sleep sack comes in a synthetic option for temps down to 40 degrees or a down option for as low as 20 degrees and meets the American Academy of Pediatricsrecommended Guidelines for SAFE Infant Sleep. morrisonoutdoors.com PARENTS: ECOWARRIORS Gift: Yeti Moccs were born around the same time as McKayla Nelson’s first son.

Nelson, of Firestone, sewed his clothes, including pairs of washable moccasins.

Other mothers would stop her to ask if she sold the adorable baby shoes. Each pair is made by a small team of Colorado moms, using materials that are free of animal cruelty or animal products. There is no plastic in the packaging, to start babies out on an eco-friendly foot. yetimocc.com PARENTS: LOVERS OF QUIRKY THINGS Gift: Weird Birds dolls and stuffies, handmade by Denver mom Elizabeth Endicott, bring whimsy and warmth to a babe’s toy collection. The dolls come in a range of skin tones and some are gender neutral; each creation’s

colorful patterns include reclaimed fabrics such as worn clothing or curtain clippings. Endicott’s designs take inspiration from her fouryear-old, Talula, plus a practice of “embracing [her] weirdness.” Popular items like kitty sets and baby-wearing dolls are in stock year-round. Small batches of different designs (for example, mermaids) are released seasonally. elizabethendicott.com PARENTS: THE SENTIMENTAL TYPES Gift: Amy Zhang’s illustrated cards are a sweet way to say, “Congratulations!” Zhang, a Denver-based artist, crafts fun family-themed cards including a “Push it Real Good” print covering a belly and a “Congrats on Your Little Sprout” with plantable seed paper included.

Find more lovely and touching gifts, even a quarterly stationery subscription box, online. shopamyzhang.com

virtual

community baby shower HELP NEW PARENTS AND BABIES GET THE RESOURCES THEY NEED Mile High United Way Women United is a growing force of women dedicated to creating a world of opportunity for everyone. By donating items to the Mile High United Way Women United Baby Shower, you are helping young families thrive.

Visit bit.ly/wu-baby-shower-2021 to view the registry.

ENSURING ALL CHILDREN ARE VALUED, HEALTHY, AND THRIVING Child care from family, friends, or neighbors is the most common child care option for Coloradans. Mile High United Way helped conduct a research study to learn about the impact of COVID-19 on informal caregiving.

Visit bit.ly/ffn-care to read the report.

GET CONNECTED TO CHILD CARE Contact Colorado Shines Child Care Referral at Mile High United Way by dialing 2-1-1 or visiting 211colorado.org.

We help kids get back to being kids.

For children with asthma, allergies, respiratory and pulmonary illness, and those suffering from persistent symptoms of COVID-19, hope is right here in Denver.

At National Jewish Health, the nation’s leading respiratory hospital, our pediatric specialists incorporate the latest research and treatments to help kids of any age get back to being kids.

We breathe science, so you can breathe life.

To book an appointment for your child, call 800.621.0505 or visit njhealth.org.