Ultimate Guide to Summer 2021 by Colorado Parent Magazine

2021

camps activities travel

4 AMAZING KID-FRIENDLY

Colorado Hikes How My Family Spent Our Week on an Organic Farm

Make Your Own Custom Stuffie

Write This, Not That! Letters to Your Lil’ Camper WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CAMP THIS YEAR

PART OF THE

PUBLISHING FAMILY

ColoradoParent.com

A Summer of Play and Learning

Summer Day Camps in Park Hill | Central Park | Mayfair Our highly-trained and certified educators honor Maria Montessori’s teaching that “play is the work of the child.” Centered on fun themes with extended outdoor play, our summer sessions fill our campers’ days with exploration, imagination, and creativity for lots of hands-on learning. To learn more, including how we are keeping our students safe, call 303-322-8324 or visit our website to schedule your virtual tour. All Children Ages 1-12 Are Welcome We have been safely conducting in-person programs since last summer, and we will take all precautions to ensure a safe, fun, and educational experience this summer.

mchdenver.org

•

303.322.8324

Session 1

June 7 – 18, Great Colorado Outdoors

Session 2

June 21 – July 2, Space Explorers

Session 3

July 5 – 16, Under the Sea

Session 4

July 19 – 30, Express Yourself: ART!

UMMER OF FU

FOR YOUR S ING MARCH 29

Serving Highlands Ranch and the surrounding communities.

The Highlands Ranch Community Association has over 100 camps that offer something for everyone! From half-day to full-day camps, keep your kids busy and active when they are out of school. CAMP HRCA: HRCA: Swimming • Fun Themes • Activities THERAPEUTIC RECREATION: Triathlon • Lego • Sports CAMP BACKCOUNTRY: Nature • Horses • Art • Teen Leadership ART & EDUCATION: STEM • Dance • Art • Pottery • Cooking • Music • Drama • Jewelry SPORTS: Tennis • Gymnastics • Basketball • Golf • Fencing • Volleyball • Dodgeball • Kickball

Explore camp possibilities online at www.HRCAonline.org/Camps

CONTENTS 2021 From the Editors 6

What We Learned

Good To Know 9

Summer Thrills Plan a Comeback

Assemble an Activity Pack for Grandparent Visits

Summer Trims at Home

Camp Time 16

What To know About Camp This Year

Camp Considerations, No Matter the Year

Show Campers You Care (Without Care Packages)

Family Fun 24

4 Hikes You Can Absolutely Do WIth Your Kids.

Be Well 30

Healthy Summer Practices

Up Your Safety Game This Summer

24 Family Travel 34

My Family’s Week on a Colorado Farm

Summer Surge 40

Cultivating Craftier Kids

Roundup 46

32 4

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

For the Love of Lemonade

Cover Photo: Getty Images.

From the Editors

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

LO V

Even in the middle of a pandemic Colorado families have an advantage: unlimited outdoor adventures. Jamie Siebrase, a regular Colorado Parent contributor, compiled a book of great hikes for families just in time for summer 2021. She shares four hikes you can absolutely do with kids starting on page 24.

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

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

Camp is a gift in itself. Instead of sending care packages, send a fun letter to your camper. Find tips for what to say on page 22.

PRODUCTION Art Director Heather Gott

LE E AV IT

TRENDING WWOOFing This program connects folks to organic farm stays, and it may be your family’s next adventure. Page 34

Leave artificial lemonade at the store. Try the recipes on page 46 and get your pucker on with fresh ingredients.

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 Dear Thrills, we missed you last summer. We can’t wait to welcome you back this year at two of our favorite seasonal parks. Page 9

Printed by Publication Printers Please recycle this magazine. 5280 PUBLISHING, INC. 1675 Larimer Street Suite 675, Denver, CO 80202 P (303) 832-5280 | F (303) 832-0470 Visit us online at ColoradoParent.com CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Daniel Brogan

YOU SAID IT

VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGY Andrea Bott VICE PRESIDENT, REVENUE Zach Wolfel

Creativity is not about making a perfect product; it’s about asking what is possible and being flexible. —Delanie Holton-Fessler, owner of Craftsman & Apprentice in Denver and author of the new book, Maker Camp: Heritage Crafts and Skill-Building Projects For Kids. Page 41. Share your feedback and ideas! Email us at edit@coloradoparent.com.

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

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.

Letter: Poh Kim Yeoh / EyeEm/Getty Images. Department symbols: Getty Images.

What We Learned…

YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch

You Deserve This! Book a summer getaway with hiking, mountain biking, family activities, and more!

Cabins | Lodges | Activities | Pet-friendly

SnowMountainRanch.org 2021-Summer-SMR-Co-Parent.indd 1

2/10/21 7:03 PM

2021 | ColoradoParent.com

G O L D

C R O W N

F O U N D A T I O N ’ S

HEALTH HUDDLE Expanding our reach beyond the playing field as we help parents, coaches and patrons tackle the “whole child” in mind, body and health.

Mental Health Healthy Habits Sports Performance Virtual Speaker Series | Resources | Educational Content | Scholarly Articles and Tips

GoldCrownFoundation.com/health-huddle @GoldCownCO | #HealthHuddle

Learn from the best. Ages 7-18. Spring and summer camps now available! With the hottest STEM course lineup, small class sizes, and live iD Tech-Certified rockstar instructors, your child will sharpen their tech skills and have a blast learning with new friends!

MINECRAFT

Get started at: iDTech.com Courses are selling out fast! Sign up today.

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

use code COPARENT60 (Virtual Tech Camps & Academies only)

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

Photo: Water World.

Summer Thrills Plan a Comeback A day at Water World or Elitch Gardens just says summer in Denver. After last year’s closure due to COVID-19, both seasonal attractions have worked on plans to welcome visitors back at some level for summer 2021. Although, as of press time, no official word has been given for opening of either park, everyone is hopeful. Watch the websites for final announcements. New practices such as reduced capacity, increased social distancing, and enhanced cleaning protocols emphasize guest and team member safety, while still offering the thrills and fun of a day at the parks. Water World is also constructing a new addition to their park, Alpine Springs, which includes two new attractions. If you bought a season pass for Water World or Elitch Gardens for 2020, both parks have pledged to honor 2020 passes for the 2021 season. elitchgardens.com, waterworldcolorado.com

2021 | ColoradoParent.com

Good to Know

Planning Great Family Meetings Getting a family all on the same page, whether it be about expectations for chores, where to go on vacation, or who will relinquish their room when Grandma comes to stay, can be a challenge. If you’re running into miscommunications and disagreements in your household, or simply want to catch everyone’s attention for a fun announcement, it may be time to hold a family meeting. Here are six tips for planning your family meeting: 1. SET A TIME AND DATE. Tacking a meeting onto the end of dinner or springing one on your crew haphazardly communicates a lack of earnestness on your part. Let your family know this is important by scheduling it in advance. 2. MAKE IT FUN. Even if you need to discuss

How about a summer subscription that brings new books to your door each month? Just Right Reader was founded by Sara Rich, a mom and school principal of 20 years, who specialized in reading and literacy. As with so many mom-created companies, Just Right Reader came out of Rich’s need to solve one of her own daughter’s struggles—reading. The subscription sends 5 to 7 specifically selected books to kids each month, designed by educators, to improve pre-K through third graders’ reading skills. To make it fun, the books are wrapped up with a surprise like a superhero cape and mask, stickers, funny glasses, and other items as rewards for completed reading time. Subscriptions start at $25 per month. justrightreader.com

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

5. SCHEDULE MEETINGS REGULARLY, WHETHER ONCE A MONTH, ONCE A QUARTER, OR ONCE A YEAR. Chances are your first family meeting may be a little rocky, but over time everyone will get the hang of what’s expected and learn how fun and productive family meetings can be. 6. ONCE YOU HAVE HELD A FEW FAMILY MEETINGS, INVITE YOUR CHILDREN TO TAKE TURNS LEADING. Not only will they learn organizational and leadership skills, but your family will also gain a better appreciation for each other as they witness members in different roles. —Lara Krupicka

Family on couchL/ Thomas Barwick /Getty Images. Child reading: Getty Images.

Just Right Summer Reading

serious matters, like needing to take in an older relative, family meetings should include an element of fun. Play a game (with prizes) and serve snacks. Engage in the types of goofy antics your family enjoys. An element of fun reminds everyone why it’s great to be a part of your family. 3. ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY TO CONTRIBUTE. Even the smallest person should be allowed to voice their thoughts. Likewise, take care not to let any one person dominate. 4. BAN TECHNOLOGY. Having everyone leave their electronic devices outside the room or collected in a basket in the center of the table limits distraction. It also helps train kids to respect others by giving them their full attention.

PERFORMANCE-BASED MUSIC EDUCATION FOR TOTS TO TEENS, BEGINNER TO ADVANCED

SUMMER MUSIC CAMPS

S CHOOL O F R OCK . COM

JOIN THE BAND THIS SUMMER! Learn to play with other musicians or develop your own original songs in one of our songwriting camps! Our award-winning weeklong day camps are perfect for young musicians of any skill level who want to play guitar, bass, drums, keys or vocals in a fun and collaborative setting, with a performance for friends and family at the end of the week. Camps feature our proprietary School of Rock Method curriculum and follow all Covid 19 safety precautions, so your kid can rock out in a fun and safe environment!

AURORA

BOULDER

BROOMFIELD

COLORADO SPRINGS

DENVER

FT COLLINS

SUMMER Camps

ages

3-14

Small classes, spacious campuses, engaged in-person learning.

ENROLLING NOW FOR FALL 2021 303-499-1999 FriendsSchoolBoulder.org

Preschool - 8th

NEW FOR FALL: Full-day preschool option Best Private School-Silver BEST of Boulder

2021 | ColoradoParent.com

Good to Know | Activities

By Lydia Rueger

here’s hope that this summer the kids might get to spend a little more time with their grandparents. Enhance an extended stay by sending an activity package with some of the following items, designed to connect the generations. Memories for my Grandchild Grandparents can record stories in this guided journal filled with thoughtful questions. It includes a fill-in family tree, memorabilia pockets, and places for photos. $23, chroniclebooks.com 6 in 1 Magnetic Travel Games Some elders are more apt to play games they remember from their youth and kids will love the compact size of this classic set. It features checkers, chess, backgammon, Parcheesi, Chinese checkers, and snakes and ladders. $13, pressmantoy.com Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer Download the app, then print photos directly from your smartphone with this easy-to-pack printer. Kids can help print photos of activities they did with their grandparents, so grandma and grandpa have snaps to hang on the fridge. $130, usa.canon.com

100 Paper Planes to Fold & Fly Grandparent and child can fold paper planes then test their flight. Not into planes? Check out this company’s other hands-on books, including historical themed sticker dolls, kitchen science concepts, origami, and magic tricks. $13, usborne.com Maggie & Molly’s Sweet Life Cookie Decorating Kits Help your duo make easy memories in the kitchen with a cookie decorating kit. It contains 18 cookies, five bags of ready-made icing, and sprinkles. $25, maggieandmollys.com

NO-COST ACTIVITY ADD-INS:

• A list of interview questions for the grandparents (encourage kids to record answers on their phone) • Photos of mom or dad as a child, that kids could ask about • A recipe they could make together • An old keepsake that might spark a memory, such as a ticket stub, jewelry, or news clipping

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

Box, paper plane, chess piece: Getty Images. 6 in 1 Magnetic Games: Pressman Toy. Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer: Canon. Cookies: Maggie and Molly’s. Memories for My Grandchild: Chronicle Books. 100 Paper Planes: Usborne Publishing.

Assemble an Activity Pack for Grandparent Visits

GREAT SUMMERS START WITH THE Y From silly games to sports skills, fine arts to outdoor adventures to science experiments, a Y day camp experience offers kids the chance to become a valued part of community, to connect and to get silly. Parents can rest assured that their child’s physical and emotional well-being will be supported by trained, caring Y staff who are committed to making this summer epic.

We’ve successfully adapted our state-licensed summer camps to meet and exceed CDC, state and local safety protocols.

YMCA OF NORTHERN COLORADO ymcanoco.org/summer-camp

Day Camps in Boulder, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Loveland, Johnstown, Berthoud and South Fort Collins. Plus: Camp Santa Maria Overnight Camp in Bailey!

Dedicated to supporting children and families in Colorado since 2015

PONY PALS

Ages 8 years+

Pony Pals is a riding club for kids that just want to ride and have fun! Kids get to explore the trails in Chatfield State Park while sitting on top of their own horse!

Weekly Sessions May 24 - Aug 9 Mon-Fri 9am-3:30pm For ages 7 & up

As parents, we are extremely grateful to have found Hopkins, not only because the tutors teach skills to address current academic tasks, but because they provide a framework for life-long learning. - DPS Parent

Each child is assigned a horse to take care of for the week.

NOW ENROLLING FOR SUMMER SERVICES HopkinsEducationServices.com | 720-252-6189

They learn horse care, including grooming & saddling. One to two hour long rides twice daily, excluding Monday mornings when we do safety, training, and teaching protocols.

Off-Track Sessions Available

Trail & Pony Rides • Lessons & Hayrides • Boarding • Trail Rides for the Whole Family.

For more information visit our website at: www.chatfieldstables.com/horse-camps 11500 N. Roxborough Park Rd. Littleton, CO 80125 303-933-3636

VERY POPULAR LAST YEAR! Pony pals can be added onto a Monday - Friday week with horse camps if your child wants to stay longer! Ask for discount.

2021 | ColoradoParent.com

Good to Know | Solutions

Summer Trims at Home When you can’t get to your kids’ favorite hairdresser, try these home haircutting tips from a salon owner, instructor, and parent. By Courtney Drake-McDonough

Illustrations: Suricoma/Depositphotos.com. haricut: Getty Images.

THE LONG-TIME FAMILY BARBER SAYS…

THE KIDS’ HAIR SALON OWNER SAYS… “Use a pair of sharp shears, not ones from the kitchen. Texture shears will give a better result to eliminate horizontal lines in the hair created by plain shears. For hair that’s shorter than comfortable to cut with shears, use cordless clippers with guards. Clippers with cords can get in the way and be a hazardous distraction. Use a two-sided comb, using the wider-tooth side for dividing hair and the fine-tooth side for holding hair when cutting. When cutting very curly hair, stretch it farther than the desired length because it will pop back up when it dries. Keep it longer than you think, look at it dry, and gradually cut more if you need to.” Sandra Feldt, owner of Bang Salon at Park Hill and Lil’ B’s Kids, mom of an eight-year-old son.

THE HAIR-CUTTING INSTRUCTOR SAYS… “Cut hair wet or dry. Wet’s easier but then you don’t see mistakes until it’s dry [unless you have experience]. Part longer hair in the middle and then section into quarters, creating smaller sections that are easier to cut. Part hair in the middle to cut it even if they wear it parted on the side so that it’s even from the moment they come Don’t cut too out of the shower. much. Leave Be very careful and alert with the tools you enough for a use. If your child moves suddenly, you have to be able to pull the scissors away from the barber face, or clippers away from the ear quickly.” to fix, Semion Kikirov, owner and instructor at Semion Barbershop for All, dad of two girls and one boy, ages newborn to four.

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

if necessary.

“To learn how to cut my kids’ hair, I read blogs and watched videos on YouTube. My splurge purchase was a cape from the beauty supply store, so the hair doesn’t collect on kids’ clothes or skin. When my boys were little, their hair was mostly straight. So, my initial cuts were with clippers—not a straight buzz cut, but longer on top (like a ¾ or 1-inch guard) and shorter on the bottom and back (¼ to ½ inch). Once they reached teen years and wanted something more stylish, I started experimenting with scissors. For cutting around the ears, I try to always keep a comb between the clippers or scissors and their ear.” Laura O’Neill, blogger at Day by Day in Our World, former Centennial resident, mom of four boys, ages 11 to 23.

Summer at 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 to sixth grade will enjoy themes including Inventor’s Workshop, Secret Life of Pets, STEAM Adventure, Art in Motion, Silly Science, Clue Camp, Chess Wizards, Coding w/ Kids, Play-Well Legos, and much more.

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

FUN FACTORY CAMP is designed to nurture a safe, creative, and intellectually stimulating environment. We invite children to foster collaboration on novel projects including imaginative art projects, crafts, short stories, plays, music, and theatrical performances. A perfect fit for 1st-5th graders (6-11 year olds). 303-548-1108 | FunFactoryCamp.com 2500 E. 4th Ave., Denver, CO 80206

SPRING INTO ACTING THEATRE. MOVEMENT. IMPROV. MORE… Education & Community Engagement Lose your inhibitions, sharpen your skills, spark creativity or try something new! DCPA Education offers 100+ online classes this spring and summer.

denvercenter.org/education education@dcpa.org

SUMMER CAMP AT SOAR

for youth & young adults with ADHD/LDs LEARN MORE AT SOARNC.ORG OR CALL 828-456-3435

Scholarships Available. Sponsored by

SUMMER SESSION ON SALE APRIL 13

2021 | ColoradoParent.com

Camp Time

What to Know About Camp this Year Hint: Plan to be flexible as you prepare for 2021 summer camp in Colorado.

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

Opener: Getty Images.

By Kelly Smith

Camp Time

Illustrations: Getty Images.

eading into a second summer with COVID-19 concerns hanging on, planning for summer camps will require yet another level of research. Along with classic issues such as how to choose a camp and what to pack, parents now have real-world concerns such as quarantine procedures and socially distant gatherings. As with many other public venues, camps are subject to state and local regulations. At press time, Colorado day and residential camps are operating under Colorado Public Health Order 20-36, which denotes the varying levels under which camps can operate depending on community spread and the COVID-19 dial. Various organizations including the American Camp Association (ACA) and the Colorado Camps Network are working with the governor’s office, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) to develop clear guidance for both overnight and day camps regarding summer 2021 camp. “While camps have experience managing communicable diseases in the past, this summer requires a very thoughtful and informed approach when it comes to COVID-19,” says Reid McKnight, administrative director at Geneva Glen Camp in Indian Hills. McKnight is part of Colorado’s Advisory Committee on Licensing of Child Care Facilities and volunteers with the ACA, serving as chair of the Colorado and Wyoming region. He is also a member of the National Standards Commission which oversees the ACA Accreditation program. In addition, he’s preparing to send his own two children to overnight camp this summer. The ACA encourages camps to use their Field Guide for Camp Operations to learn how to safely operate their camp programs, including the use of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), which are designed to reduce the risk of introducing and/or spreading COVID-19 at camp. As McKnight explains, NPIs may include health screening before and during camp, the use of face coverings, cohorting (the use of small groups), increased sanitization practices on high-touch areas, physical distancing, frequent hand washing and other hygiene practices, and increased ventilation in indoor spaces. “There is no ‘magic bullet’ that will keep a camp COVID-free,” McKnight says. “But using a layered approach with these NPIs will help greatly reduce the risk of the disease spreading at camp.” Given all these considerations, it is possible to safely send your child to camp this summer. In an independent report published by the CDC, researchers found that camps that utilized a multilayered prevention and mitigation strategy were successful in identifying and isolating asymptomatic COVID-19 cases and preventing secondary transmission.

McKnight shared these important considerations for families when preparing for summer camp in the age of COVID. • The COVID landscape is changing rapidly with things like vaccinations, faster testing capabilities, and COVID variants. Plans will need to be changed and updated, which is going to require patience and adaptability. • Preparing for camp might include prescreening and/or symptom tracking, requiring a COVID test, and possible quarantining or adjusting social behavior to reduce the chance of exposure prior to drop-off. • Drop-off and pickup will likely be different from past summers. Some camps are planning drive-through drop-off and pickup to limit exposure, and there might be increased health screening or even testing. • Children will need to know that some activities and special camp events may not be possible this year due to safety restrictions. The whole camp gathered hand-in-hand around a campfire probably isn’t realistic in 2021. • Your child will likely be using the same preventive measures at camp as they did in school, including wearing a face covering, cohorting, and increased handwashing, for example. Parents shouldn't be afraid to ask questions—any question is a valid one. Well-prepared camps will be glad to share their plans and discuss if camp is right for your child this summer. But, bear in mind that they may not have all the answers right now, as they await guidance from state and local health departments. Here are some questions to explore during your research: • What are the staff time-off policies? Previously, summer camp staff would be able to go off-premises during their time off and between sessions. Ask if any changes have been made to those policies to help minimize exposure risk. • What will happen when your camp has a suspected or a confirmed case of COVID-19? This is important, because while prevention should be the priority, it is critical that the camp have an updated communicable disease plan that addresses outbreak and response strategies. • What will happen with my child should they get sick? How will they be cared for? Will I need to pick up my child and in what time frame? Will the camp test my child if symptoms are displayed? In our new normal, camps will have updated safety guidelines, but the essence of the experience remains the same, including, says McKnight, “a sense of belonging, opportunities for challenges, and immersive experiences—all under the supervision of role models in a safe and supportive environment.” Kelly Smith is an award-winning editor and writer who lives with her family in the Denver area.

March 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

Camp Time

Camp Considerations, No Matter the Year By Christina Katz

Send Kids to Camp for the Right Reasons If going to camp is an option for your child, that’s wonderful. But don’t force camp on a child who is terrified of the idea. At the same time, plant the seed of going to camp in your children’s minds from an early age, so that when they are ready, it

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

will be a fun, life-enhancing adventure. If older siblings or friends have gone to camp and enjoyed the experience, younger siblings may be eager to go. But if your child is not enthusiastic, wait until your child feels brave enough to make the leap. Feel free to share your camp experiences and what you got out of them with your kids and invite others in the family to do the same. At the same time, communicate that you love and respect the person your child is. Kids who are secure in their own skin thrive at camp, whereas kids who are insecure and anxious may flounder. If you have worries or concerns about your child, don’t send your child to camp to address those issues. Find someone you can talk to so you can learn to accept your children for who they

are and meet their range of needs. It’s backward thinking to send a child to camp to correct things about them—the person who needs to change their attitude in this scenario is the parent, not the child. Choose with Your Child in Mind Sending kids to camp may have been your idea, but in order for kids to feel good about the adventure, they need to buy in as well. Which types of camps are best suited to your child’s physical, emotional, and mental needs? Would day camp or overnight camp be the better choice at this developmental stage? If choosing overnight camp, would your child prefer to be close or far from home? Also consider the mission and style of the camp. Would your child

Children in woods: Thomas Barwick/Getty Images.

ne mistake parents can make when choosing a camp is confusing their child’s needs with their own. If you want your child to be happy at camp, focus on who he or she is rather than on who you were as a camper. Your goal is to create a harmonious relationship between each of your children and the camp experience, not for your child to follow in your well-worn hiking boots.

Camp Time

Child on ropes course:

2020 2021 Summer Camp

Photo by Misha Photography

June 21 15--July June July2531

Offering Summer Camps for ages 3-12, beginning dancers through intermediate dancers. prefer to rough it for a week in the mountains or stay in a cozy, family-style camp with modern amenities? Remember that what was good for you as a child may traumatize a sensitive child or a child with special needs. For example, if you were a rugged and athletic child, these traits may have been widely admired. If your family of origin had a bias against sensitive or artsy kids, you will want to be aware of a possible unconscious tendency in yourself. You may also need to steel your mind against what others think about who your child is. You are not taking a poll. This is not the 1950s or even the 1990s. Try to view the camp landscape through the eyes of each child instead of through the eyes of others from an outdated point of view. Children know intuitively when they are liked and accepted. They also know when parts of them are disliked or rejected. If you choose the best camp for your child, you can relax knowing the folks in charge will see the value in your child. When you recognize the value in your child, others see it, too. Individuation Workbooks For Parents When parents take care of their own emotions, the need to project their desires onto their children diminishes, and healthy boundaries can be restored. Parents can benefit by finding self-expression practices that help them keep up with their needs that are often neglected. These workbooks are a good place to start for any parent who is overidentifying with a son’s or daughter’s choices.

ccdance.org/summercamps Just off Highway 36 in Broomfield 3001 Industrial Lane, #12 Broomfield, CO 80020 303.466.5685

Unique summer programs for ages 4-16 EXTENDED CARE ê BUS SERVICE ê HOT LUNCHES ê TWO GYMNASIUMS ê OUTDOOR POOL ê TENNIS ê A BEAUTIFUL 94-ACRE CAMPUS ê ADD VARIETY TO YOUR CHILD'S ACTIVITIES. EIGHT WEEKS OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS (ON AND OFF-CAMPUS) FOR AGES 4-16. ONE CAMP. ONE LOCATION. ONE HAPPY CAMPER!

3800 S. Pierce St., Denver CO 80235 ê 303-914-2531 coloradoacademysummer.org ê summer.programs@coloradoacademy.org

The Artist’s Way Workbook by Julia Cameron The Creative Journal by Lucia Capacchione Journal To The Self by Kathleen Adams Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel The Secret Me by Shane Windham The Inner Child Workbook by Cathryn L. Taylor Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz has learned that seeing kids as the individuals they truly are always pays off in the long run.

Virtual Camps starting July 2021, Register now at AthenaProjectArts.org

STAND-UP

DESIGN FASHION

WRITE

2021 | ColoradoParent.com

Camp Time

What To Do Instead of

Sending Your Kids a Camp Care Package Save money, time, and stress with these camp-approved ideas By Lydia Rueger

Opener: Olesia Kononenko/Getty Images.

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

Camp Time

Background: Getty Images. Letter: Mykyta Dolmatov/Getty Images. Child with notebook: Halfpoint/Getty Images.

hen I sat down to write this article, I’d planned to come up with five themed care package ideas with great products that I thought kids would love to receive at camp. A builder’s package for budding engineers! An artist’s package with paints and a canvas! Then I asked the people who run summer camps what they thought kids would like. It turns out, many camp directors are not big fans of care packages and are considering eliminating them altogether—due to COVID-19, but for other reasons, too. “While care packages can be a fun way to connect with your camper while they are away, it can cause hurt feelings amongst campers who don’t receive one,” says Michael Ohl, camp executive of Camp Chief Ouray in Granby. In addition, care packages “take up a lot of our staff resources, because a staff person has to get all the packages at the post office and then they have to sit with the child when they open it [to make sure the package doesn’t contain food],” says Jeff Cheley, director of Cheley Colorado Camps in Estes Park. Cheley adds that he often sees care package items end up in the trash. “The gift of the camp experience is amazing by itself,” he says. “Campers are so busy at camp they don’t really need anything.” What can parents do instead, to help kids (and themselves) cope and thrive during their time apart? Camp professionals have some thoughts on that, too. WRITE A WELL-THOUGHT-OUT LETTER In her article for the American Camp Association (ACA), “Alive and Well: The Case for the Camp Letter,” clinical psychologist Anne Fishel proposes that the ritual of good old-fashioned letter writing might be reason enough by itself to send kids to camp. “Where else are they going to learn how to address an envelope, lick a stamp, and wait for days to get a response?” she said. “The camp letter may be the last hard copy standing, the last form of communication not to be replaced by email or texting.”

SEND YOUR KIDS A FILL-IN LETTER

Do you have kids of few written words? Help them out by sending a simple fill-inthe-blank letter they can mail back to you, and learn about what they are doing at the same time. I am in ________ cabin. My new friend’s name is ________. My counselor is ___________ and I like him because ___________. My favorite activity has been ___________ because ____________.

Fishel adds that camp letters she saved from her own mother offered another benefit decades later. Now that her mother is deceased, she revisits her letters once a year: “As I reread those letters, I feel that she has paid me a visit.” “We love when parents send their campers letters!” says Laura Pate, director of operations at SOAR Camp, which offers camps for kids with ADHD and learning disabilities. “A great addition to a letter from home are sheets of puzzles, word searches, crosswords, brainteasers, etc. Not only do they provide fun activities that they can share with friends, but they literally take up zero room in a pack.” Other extras easy to tuck in a standard mail envelope are news clippings about your child’s favorite sports team or current events, jokes, a print-out of a meme, or photos from home they can share with their new friends. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope, to increase the chances you’ll get a reply. More options: Write a letter in pig Latin or backwards; create a secret code and write a letter in it; include a fill-in-the-blank letter on a separate sheet of paper that kids can fill out and mail back easily (see left). Not all camp letters are created equal, though. Cheley suggests there are letter-writing do’s and don’ts that parents should consider that will help their kids thrive in a camp setting (see page 22).

THE FUN THINGS I COULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF WRITING HOME 1. 2. 3. Camp director and author, Audrey Monke, creator of Sunshine Parenting, suggests parents include this simple, funny, fill-in list that will take kids no more than a minute to fill out. Monke suggests including your own list to your kids, such as “Top 10 Foods We’ll Be Eating While You’re at Camp.” OTHER SUGGESTIONS: •Top Things I’ve Learned •Times I Couldn’t Stop Laughing •My Favorite Camp Foods •Activities I Love/Things I Don’t Like So Much •Favorite Camp Songs •New Things I’ve Tried •Top Worst Smells at Camp •Biggest Messes I’ve Had to Clean Up

SET EXPECTATIONS Cheley suggests that parents talk to their kids beforehand and be clear about what you plan to

2021 | ColoradoParent.com

Camp Time

WHAT NOT TO SAY IN A CAMP LET TER

send. If it’s a letter, tell them how many times you plan to write and that you will not be sending a big care package, so they know what to expect during camp’s mail call. Ask them, if free time allows, to please write you back at least once. If you think they’d appreciate a special treat or specific time together after camp is over, make a plan together. It will be something they can look forward to, without distracting them from all the fun they can be having at camp.

Dear Max, I hope you are having fun at camp! his bike. Your friend Billy stopped by yesterday when he was out riding and set reality l virtua He said to tell you he got a new y are m what the might can’t wait for you to try it out with him. remind the ou

le y DON’T home. Whi terested out on at in g be in s l ’l is y m news the That new ice cream parlor finally opened, feelings k this is e n s u hi t ca st ju just three blocks from the house! We all went in, it could esickness. of hom yesterday, and they have a flavor you’re going

to love—chocolate toffee crunch! It is delicious. They even have ice cream for dogs, so we brought Fluff along. He seems sad since you left—he just lays by the door of your room. But I think the ice cream made him feel a little better.

DON’T put pressu re on them to proces s things that might not be going well in the family. Young people can feel stressed if th ey believe that being gone is having a negative impact, says Cheley, even if you mean well.

We miss your energy and sense of humor around the house. Movie and pizza night just aren’t the same how different DON’T tell your child without you. Can’t wait to see you on June 26. Make them think Love, Mom and Dad

m. things are without the they can focus on so e, fin ng doi are you at camp. ies ivit act friends and

WHAT TO SAY IN A CAMP LE Dear Max,

TTER

DO check the camp’s website and social media where they post photos or details about what kids have been doing. Comment about one or two of these things in your letter.

Wow! I saw your photo on the ropes course! It looked aweso me. Looks like you’re about to go backpacking. I can’t wait to hear about it. I’ll be backpacking too—all the junk in the garage to the dumpster. Yep, that’s our family project while you are gone. I know you feel rea lly left out about that, but we just couldn’t wait to get started. Don’t worry, we’ll save the sweeping for you! DO tell your children tha t you are busy, Other than that, nothing is doing fine, and that they aren’t really missing really new around here. anything. Remain upb We are getting a lot of ext eat and positive. ra hours in at wor

k and Dad and I are enjoying lots of foo ds you don’t like—beets, fish and kale for days! YUM! ,

I know with your sense of hum or and energy, you’ll make DO compliment them everything you do at camp even more fun for everyone. I’m so toandhowrelate it back proud of you for being brave their positive to try so many new things. attributes will help them succeed at camp. What are the kids in your cab in like? What has been your favorite camp meal? Do you have a favorite DO ask counselor? We’d love to hea r about it! be prom questions, so t p Love, Mom and Dad

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

h ted to write ba ey will ck.

ADD A SURPRISE TO THEIR SUITCASE For parents who love to give gifts, adding a small hidden surprise in your child’s suitcase will eliminate any issues that care packages might cause, and you’ll already know there’s room for it. Write “open on day three” (or another date) on the gift’s packaging for fun. Remember to always avoid food items, which can attract wild animals in outdoor settings, cause other campers to feel left out, or potentially trigger allergies of other campers. Consider one of the following: • Small surprises that will allow them to engage with one or two other campers during free time: playing cards, Mad Libs, Spot It!, Tenzi, Bananagrams, cribbage, magnetic travel chess, Farkle, a joke book, Rory’s Story Cubes • Items that might be useful at camp: an extra pair of silly socks, a fun hat, cool flashlight, portable camping hammock • Things they can enjoy quietly: books/comics, crossword puzzle or word search books, journal and pens, small jigsaw puzzle, fidget toy, stuffed animal PUT MONEY IN THEIR CAMP ACCOUNT Most camps have a camp store at which students can purchase items. Deposit the money you might have spent on a care package into your child’s camp store account, tell them it’s there, and how much you’ve put in. This will allow them to make decisions about purchases, as well as learn to budget the money if there is more than one thing they wish to purchase. Going this route can financially benefit your camp, especially during these COVID-19 times when camps have suffered great losses, and will continue to face challenges this summer, according to the ACA. It’s also more environmentally friendly, adds Cheley, as buying local from the store cuts down on shipping needs and packing waste. Lydia Rueger is an Arvada-based freelance writer, mom of two, and picture book author.

Camp Time

Couple: Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images.

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DEAR PARENTS: LIVE IT UP!

You’ve worked hard to be able to afford to send your kids to camp, and thanks to trained staff, they’ll have more supervision and more unplugged time at camp than anywhere else. Take this time as parents to recharge, knowing they are in good hands. In my case, my two kids have never managed to go to camp on the same weeks, but this, too, has been a gift. It has allowed my husband and I to focus on one child at a time and do things the child-at-home wants to do, without having to compromise with the very-opposite-personality sibling. Pre-pandemic, we battled the day away with our son at the Colorado Renaissance Festival, which our teen daughter was all too happy to miss while attending Girl Scout camp at Tomahawk Ranch. You could also arrange a date night or a date-overnight (knowing you don’t have to be home for the babysitter); eat at a restaurant the kids never want to go to; binge on shows the kids can’t watch; tackle a home project that’s tough to finish with the kids around; try ax throwing or skydiving; read a book you never have time for; visit with an old friend; sleep in and take long showers. You’ve earned it.

2021 | ColoradoParent.com

Family Fun

Absolutely 4 HIKES YOU CAN

DO WITH YOUR KIDS

Get outdoors on these easier family hikes this summer

Words by Jamie Siebrase Photos by Ben Siebrase

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

Family Fun

y kids and I hiked more than 70 trails over the past year, as I researched my new guidebook, Hiking with Kids Colorado (Falcon Guides). I’d like to say we enjoyed every moment of every hike, but the truth is there were plenty of times I wished I’d pitched a series on hiking alone with a six-pack of Raspberry Sours. Just like yours, my kids have to be reminded that hiking is fun. Sometimes I remind them with doughnuts; other times it’s a visit to a playground or nature center. It doesn’t matter how you get your kids on the trail—just that you get them there in the first place. Your kids are going to complain about hiking sometimes! I’m sorry I had to yell. If you jump ship at every gripe, you’re not going to do very much hiking. And here’s the beautiful thing: The more you hike with your kids, the easier it gets. The routes below are straight from my book, and you can absolutely do these hikes with your kids. All you’ll need is water, snacks, SPF, and a sense of adventure.

Braille Trail Loop Genesee

Distance: 1.65-mile lollipop-style trail Hiking time: one to two hours Finding the trailhead: I-70 bisects Genesee Mountain Park. Take exit 253—bypassing the Genesee Park exit (254) if you’re coming from Denver—and drive north to Stapleton and Moss Rock roads. Turn right onto Stapleton Road. Follow it for about a half mile to a parking lot, on the left. There’s a lot to love about Genesee Mountain Park, especially the Braille Trail, a short route that’s perfect for beginner hikers. But first, kick things off at the Bison Overlook (across from the trailhead). In 1914, when bison and elk neared extinction, Denver acquired herds at Yellowstone Park to introduce into the city’s very first mountain park. Descendants of that herd still live there today. The hike begins near the outhouse, at Beaver Brook Trailhead. We’ll reach the Braille Trail via the historic Beaver Brook Trail, bordered by wild lupine and Queen Anne’s lace. Begin walking slightly downhill. In 0.25 mile the dirt path breaks from Stapleton Drive and dips into strands of ponderosa pine. Make a sharp right at the intersection at 0.4 mile, and descend to a service road. After crossing the road, you’ll come to a Braille Trail sign and guideline. The Braille Trail is an accessible route designed for hikers with vision impairments. In addition to the waist-high guideline, the trail’s interpretive signs are written in Braille. This incredible trail slopes downhill alongside a babbling creek. Be mindful of rocks and roots during the descent. After passing several barricades and following stairs to the creek bed, you’ll reach a cute wooden bridge and a fork. Go left at the fork to complete the Braille Trail Loop. Back at the beginning of the loop, turn right, cross the service road, and retrace your steps to the trailhead.

Braille Trail in Genesee is a beginner-friendly loop that delivers a creek, wild flowers, and animal sightings.

2021 | ColoradoParent.com

Family Fun The quarter-mile Hidden Clues Trail on Coyote Ridge Trail engages kids in hands-on activities.

Coyote Ridge Trail Fort Collins

Distance: 2.4-mile lollipop Hiking time: one to two hours Finding the trailhead: Coyote Ridge Trail departs from a large parking lot on the west side of Taft Hill Road, about three miles south of Harmony Road. Don’t let its proximity to I-25 fool you. On a clear day, Coyote Ridge Natural Area is just plain pretty, and it’s rife with kid-friendly features: unusual topography, a cabin, and a special Hidden Clues Trail. From the trailhead and welcome sign, it’s a straight shot into the natural area down a wide dirt and gravel path. The site’s sole trail, Coyote Ridge Trail, passes through a broad meadow and shrubland with a thriving prairie dog colony providing a habitat for burrowing owls—tiny, spindly-legged birds that nest in abandoned prairie dog tunnels. After an easy start, Coyote Ridge Trail rises up a narrow ridge to an interpretive sign about wildlife. The trail flattens out before descending past a barricade. If your children need it, there’s an outhouse a mile into the route. (There’s a water pump too, but the water isn’t safe for drinking.) Hike to the cabin (visible from the outhouse), and cross the deck to reach the opposite side of the building, where youth can test their observation skills on the Hidden Clues Trail, a 0.25-mile loop off the north side of the cabin. Hike back across the cabin’s deck, turn left, and follow the trail back to the parking lot. This trail is fully exposed. Avoid hiking during the heat of the day; bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

Family Fun

Pine View Trail

Pine

Distance: 2.5-mile loop Hiking time: one and a half to three hours Finding the trailhead: From Conifer, take US 285 south for 6.7 miles. At the Pine Junction County Store, turn left onto Pine Valley Road. Cell phone service is spotty. In six more miles, turn right onto Crystal Lake Road; follow the signs to Pine Valley Ranch Park. Park in the third lot at the end of the road; the trailhead is near the outhouse. Anchored by Pine Lake, Pine Valley Ranch Park is an 883-acre treasure with miles of secluded trails shaded by thick strands of conifers growing along the north edge of Pike National Forest. All the park’s trails are easy to follow, but Pine View is especially fun for families looking for a low-mileage hike with a backcountry feel. After snapping a photo of your kids on the bridge (just beyond the parking lot), follow the wheelchair-access sign to merge onto the Pine Lake Loop. Stroll alongside the stream until the paved sidewalk becomes a dirt path. Turn left at the staircase to begin a steep ascent up Park View Trail. Watch young kids closely near the ledge. Switchbacks ease the final push toward the top then Park View Trail flattens out significantly. The trail dips into Pike National Forest before ending at 1.1 miles. Bear right onto Strawberry Jack Trail to loop back to Pine Valley Ranch. It’s all downhill from here as the trail drops into a dense aspen grove. Turn right onto Buck Gulch Trail. When you reach the junction at 2.15 miles, go either way around Pine Lake, a popular stop for anglers. If you have a pole, cast a line on one of the piers post-hike. A Colorado state fishing license is required for ages 16 and up. The beautiful stone pavilion overlooking the lake is an ideal place for a picnic.

For a bird’s eye view of peaceful Pine Lake, hike up Pine View Trail.

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Family Fun

Lookout Mountain Trail

Golden

Distance: 3.5 miles out and back Hiking time: two to four hours Finding the trailhead: From Golden, at the intersection of 6th Avenue and 19th Street, drive west on 19th Street, which becomes Lookout Mountain Road. Wind up the National Scenic Byway for three miles, until reaching a pullout parking area labeled “Windy Saddle.” Park alongside the road if the pullout is full.

Weave in a visit to a nature center on Lookout Mountain Trail.

Through a dense ponderosa pine forest, past Buffalo Bill Cody’s stone grave, and straight into a nature preserve, the hike up Lookout Mountain Trail strikes a balance between outdoor adventure, touristy fun, and naturalist-approved learning. Two trails depart in opposite directions from Windy Saddle Park. The one you’re looking for is near the outhouse. Shaded by thick forest, the first segment of Lookout Mountain Trail can be extremely treacherous in early spring. Even with traction devices, novice hikers should not attempt this trail when there’s ice. Look right for sweeping views of the park’s namesake saddle, and snap a photo before beginning a breezy ascent. Renowned among hang gliders, this park definitely lives up to its name, with strong drafts blowing from the Continental Divide. The soft dirt trail becomes rocky. At .85 mile, take a detour to Buffalo Bill’s famous gravesite. The site’s fee-based museum is touristy, but the grave itself is free and lined with interpretive signs. To get there, follow the Buffalo Bill Trail to a stone staircase leading to a large parking lot. On the opposite end is a two-story gift shop. Follow the signs to Buffalo Bill’s gravesite. Back at the stone staircase, retrace your steps to the intersection of the Buffalo Bill and Lookout Mountain trails. Go left at the fork to push to the summit. When you reach Colorow Road, carefully cross the street, enter Lookout Mountain Nature Preserve, and walk across the parking lot to visit the nature center. Behind the nature center, a beautiful preserve features miles of hiker-only trails, open from 8 a.m. to dusk. Now all that’s left is an easy descent to the car.

The author’s guidebook, Hiking with Kids Colorado (Falcon Guides), featuring 52 of the state’s best hikes for families, is available in May to order through online booksellers. falcon.com/books

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

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Be Well

Family hiking: Getty Images.

Healthy Summer Practices Connect with nature and one another through these relaxing family routines. By Kia Ruiz

here was a time when people followed the movements of the sun and the moon to predict seasons and schedule daily activities. Before humans had a modern understanding of mathematics and predictability, we relied on natural calendars for growing food, observing ceremonies, and knowing when to be more active or go inward and rest. We were connected through intuition to something larger and outside of ourselves that included each other and nature. With a little intention and effort, families can move toward incorporating these ancient rhythms into modern life. Each year, as we navigate the erratic spring weather in Colorado, there is a glimpse of calm, sun, and ease that summer will bring. The following practices are ways your family can connect to the season through simple activities.

regulation and adoption of a less distracted perspective of the world. To try it, find a comfortable seat inside or outside where the warmth and light from the sun can touch your body. As you inhale, allow your body to lengthen and rise in your seat, then let out your exhale with your mouth open like you just drank a refreshing glass of water. Release your hands to the side so your fingertips touch the ground or the edges of your chair. Continue to breathe while keeping the mouth closed on the exhales. With tall inhales the belly expands; keep your height through the exhale and allow your mind to relax. Do this practice for at least a minute and introduce an expression of gratitude in your mind or out loud. A very Colorado thing to say is, “I live here” as you reflect on the gift we have with this state.

BREATHE Grounding with breath—a basic yoga technique—is a useful foundation for emotional

PRACTICE BASIC YOGA Play and get creative with how you and your family want to move. Invite your kids to practice a

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

sun salutation and ask what they know about yoga poses. You and your family can create a ritual of movement with the sun to start the day. Begin with a grounded stance. Keep feet hip-width apart, face the direction of the sun, and stand tall with arms hanging long down your sides or slightly in front with palms facing down. Spread your fingers to widen your hands and feel the force of the sun on the ground you are standing on. Set a private or family intention here. The concept of setting an intention, common in yoga, is to make the purpose of your day or activity more efficient because the entire family knows what they are working toward. Having intention urges families to make the most of an opportunity, even if the goal is as simple as having fun. Raise your hands up high as you look up in joy; then bring your hands to the heart. As a family you can do a prayer, hug yourself, or symbolically pull anything off your chest and release it into the world by flicking your hands away from you.

Be Well

Ocean First Discovery Center Family hiking: Getty Images.

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Swim Summer Camps Personalize your ritual according to what works for all the bodies in your home. MOVE OUTDOORS For families on the move, ritualize the process of preparing to go out on walks and hikes. If the kids are old enough, have them plan out what your family needs to pack for longer hikes or fill water bottles for shorter walks. Empower kids to be collaborators and stakeholders in your adventures. When you are out, find time to simply listen to your environment in silence. If you return to the same spaces again and again, make observations of how the vegetation grows and changes throughout the summer. CELEBRATE THE SUN If your adventures take you camping or to a cabin, plan for something around the summer solstice (June 20, the longest day of the year) so your kids can gain greater awareness of time during the summer. Observe how the sun shifts, and compare its brightness at different times of day. As a family, we love to run outside for the sunsets. If we are taking pictures, we aim for the “golden hour” when the light is flat on the horizon and the shadows are longer. It can also mean noticing how bright the sky is in comparison to the usual time we eat dinner. If you get in a habit of going outdoors at sunset, pay attention to how light transitions throughout the season. Play with your shadows, making shadow-puppet animals, letters, and other funny shapes with your hands. EXPERIMENT WITH GROWTH Make a place for nature to thrive

with an outdoor or indoor garden. Colorado has a wide range of growing seasons between metro Denver and mountain towns like Nederland with a 2500-plus elevation difference, but something with short maturation like micro greens or lettuces can be grown almost anywhere by even the youngest hands. Consider the many metaphors relating seeds and plants to humans and our connections as we grow. Demonstrate with your kids how a seed unfolds with water and light—two things that also nourish us. Moisten a paper towel so it is wet but not dripping. Fold the paper towel in half and place a bean seed inside. Lay the seed and towel on a saucer; place it in a sunny spot such as a window sill, and keep it moist. In about a week, you will see the seed germinate. A small plant will poke out of the seed, and you can see the early layers of the plant in one small space. Ask your kids to draw this process so they might tap into the magic of growth that is way beyond our control. Making children aware of this phenomena of the summer season can carry over into their lives as they grow. If awareness of the seasons becomes lost during the busy distractions that happen as we age, there will be some point when they will remember the effort you made to slow your lives down. Or, at least, they’ll have an appreciation for a terrific sunset. Kia Ruiz splits her time as an environmental and economic development consultant plus yoga instructor. You can run into her on the trails or on social media at @kiamruiz.

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Be Well

Kids jumping in lake: Don Mason/Getty Images. Parent and child with sunscreen: Pollyana Ventura/Getty Images.

Up Your Safety Game This Summer Accidents and injuries spike this time of year. Here’s help. By Malia Jacobson

ummers are made for family fun. But when temperatures rise, so do safety risks for kids. Per the National Safety Council, preventable accidental deaths peak during summer from dangers that include drowning, car accidents, and fires. It’s also a time when nonfatal injuries from things like grills, fireworks, and sunburn are more likely. Here’s how to prioritize simple safeguards that keep kids safer all summer long. DROWNING No parent wants to think about it, but drowning dangers consistently lead the CDC’s list of unintentional injury deaths for children. It’s the most common cause of accidental death for children ages one to four and in the top five for older children and teens.

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

Per research, regular swim lessons can offer a boost to kids’ physical and even cognitive development and offer parents some peace of mind, but even strong swimmers aren’t safe from drowning. Although a small study found that formal swim lessons can reduce drowning risk in children ages one to four, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns that preschool-age children don’t have the motor skills needed for true independent swimming and should never be considered water safe. Kelsey Ashe, a mom of three who works in healthcare, safeguards her family’s pool with door alarms, strict rules about adult supervision, age-appropriate life jackets for the kids and guests, and a secure 300-lb capacity pool cover that stays on year-round except when the family swims together.

“If anyone falls onto the pool, the cover will prevent them from sinking in, and that probably gives me more peace of mind that anything,” she says. WHEELS Steer clear of the summer spike in auto-related dangers for kids by following the rules of the road safeguarding against heatstroke death. Check out local car seat laws and keep children in recommended seats as long as possible, never mix alcohol and driving, and keep your phone somewhere non-distracting during car trips. Kids’ smaller bodies heat up 3-5 times faster than adults and they can experience heatstroke within minutes in a hot car. The ACT campaign from Safe Kids Worldwide encourages parents to Avoid heatstroke by never leaving a child in a car even for a

Family hiking: Getty Images.

Be Well

minute, Create reminders like placing something you’ll need like your work bag or phone near a child’s car seat, and Take action by calling 911 if you see a child left in a car. BURNS Our longer summer days mean more sunlight and more sunburn risk. Kids can sunburn in as little as 15 minutes, and a blistering burn is a serious condition requiring emergency medical care, says Amit Joshi, MD, internal medicine physician with Bellevue’s Overlake Medical Center. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying a water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on all exposed skin (even lips) 15 minutes before going outside, and reapplying every two hours or after sweating or swimming. Per the AAP, sunscreens aren’t recommended for babies under six months, so keep little ones in the shade and choose photoprotective hats and clothing instead. Seeking cover during peak sunlight hours, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., lowers the risk of sunburn and keeps everyone cooler and more comfortable. The sun isn’t our only source of heat—don’t forget about burns from grills and campfires. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends designating a 3-foot safety zone around grills and open flames. When burns happen, run them under cool water for 3-5 minutes, and seek medical help for any burn larger than palm-size. BITES Summer’s outdoor adventures can bring on bites of all kinds. Parents can protect kids from insect bites by removing standing water around their home (think buckets, birdbaths, and baby pools) and dressing kids in long sleeves and pants for

hikes, says Joshi. “Even if children don’t have known allergies to bites, parents should be able to recognize the signs of anaphylactic reaction like swelling of lips, face, eyes, hands, and feet—any facial swelling or wheezing means kids should get medical care. Minor swelling and irritation can probably be treated with an over-the-counter antihistamine.” Don’t forget bites from four legged friends, either—each year over half of the country’s 4.7 million reported dog bites happen to kids under 14. Teach kids to never approach an unfamiliar dog, always ask a dog’s owner if petting is OK and allow the dog to see and sniff them before petting, and never to run toward or away from a dog. If a dog attacks or knocks a child over, kids should roll into a ball, cover their face, and lie still.

AIR In many areas, wildfires are a summer staple, and the resulting smoky air can make outdoor play unsafe for kids. Smoky, polluted air is especially hard on babies and kids under five, says Joshi. “Lung development is still ongoing up the age of five and exposure to airborne pollutants can actually damage the lungs’ normal, healthy development.” During summer’s smoky season, follow local air quality recommendations for “sensitive groups,” avoid vigorous exercise outdoors, and plan outings for waterways, where winds may keep some smoke away. As soon as the air clears, head back outside to enjoy your summer, safely. Malia Jacobson is a nationally published heath and family journalist.

2021 | ColoradoParent.com

Family Travel

My Family’s Field Trip

By Jamie Siebrase

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

Opener: Ben Siebrase.

Cultivate a memorable, educational vacation with a week volunteering on one of Colorado’s organic farms.

Family Travel

I have a brown thumb.

Brown, in case you don’t have an art-loving preschooler at home, is the opposite of green on the color wheel, and it’s also the product of pouring a bunch of paint onto the kitchen floor then swirling it together when your mom is putting lasagna in the oven. Dumping a bunch of seeds into a planter then crossing myself was my main gardening strategy. I’m so bad at keeping houseplants alive that I’m not even supposed to breathe near my husband’s vast assortment of philodendron, cacti, spider, and snake plants. So when I told Ben that our next family vacation was to Mancos, to live and work on an organic market farm in southwest Colorado, he was flabbergasted. No-no, I explained. That’s the whole point. I’m supposed to be terrible at gardening. The WWOOF program was built for people like me.

Photos:: Ben Siebrase. Leaves: Getty Images.

Planting the Seed

When Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) was founded in the United Kingdom in 1971, it was a modest operation linking “anybody, regardless of age or experience, with organic farmers,” explained Tori Fetrow, WWOOFUSA’s outreach manager. Sue Coppard was a London secretary looking for an affordable, meaningful way to spend weekends in the English countryside with other like-minded Brits. As agritourism emerged across the globe, Coppard began organizing small-group trips to organic farms. Visitors got a weekend away from the city, in nature, in return for their labor, and word of Coppard’s grassroots farming program spread like edible weeds, completely organically by word of mouth. Today, urbanites can “WWOOF” on tens of thousands of farms in 130 countries. “Countries operate their own programs, but we all collaborate through an overarching network sharing a mission,” says Fetrow. That mission is to build a global community dedicated to sustainable agriculture. Eco-friendly travel and unforgettable experiences are bonuses that grew out of the model.

Select a Variety

Families interested in volunteering first need to create a WWOOF-USA account. There is a small annual membership fee of $40 for an individual or $65 for a couple, two friends, or a family. After updating a profile, search through the organization’s network of 1,708 organic farms, ranches, gardens, and homesteads. Reading about the sites—“…acres of land with abundant oak and redwood forest, maritime chaparral, and wild huckleberry!”—it’s easy to get caught up dreaming about all the places you and your family could land. Colorado currently has around 52 hosts, 17 of which are family-friendly. “Some people assume it’s impossible to WWOOF with young children, but that’s not the case,” Fetrow says. Filters will narrow even more options. After selecting “Colorado” and “WWOOFing with Children,” families can get more specific, searching by dietary restrictions, preferred accommodations, et cetera. A handful of Colorado hosts welcome weekend visitors—a great option for families and first-timers. “We’ve recently added search filters to ensure mentoring opportunities for people of color, women, LBGTQ, and veteran WWOOFers in the U.S.,” adds Fetrow. There’s been a huge uptick in interest in the program since the emergence of the pandemic last March. “In the past, WWOOFing was an affordable way to travel to a new area,” Fetrow says. “This year, though, more people than ever are WWOOFing closer to home, trying shorter experiences, all to gain knowledge about organic homesteading.” WWOOF-USA has been a pandemic-proof option for college students earning off-campus credit, as well as high-school graduates taking a gap year. “We also have parents who

From field to farmers’ market, WWOOFing families experience daily life on an organic farm.

2021 | ColoradoParent.com

Family Travel

The author’s sons take on farm tasks, enthusiastic to experience a different way of life.

want to get their kids off screens and onto the farm,” says Fetrow. Every WWOOF-USA arrangement is unique since participants and their hosts coordinate trip details on a case-by-case basis. People spend anywhere from a weekend up to several weeks or a growing season living on a host farm, working about four hours a day in exchange for room, board, and the host’s know-how. After settling on Green Table Farm, I emailed the host, Tyler Hoyt, and we set up a preliminary phone call.

Digging In

Like my 10-year-old, I’m a leap-before-looker. So during the call, I didn’t think twice when Tyler described the living arrangements as a converted Volkswagen van and composting toilet shared with Tyler’s brother and a college student from Boulder. My second thoughts surfaced a few weeks later, around 10 p.m., after a daylong car ride from Denver to Mancos that ended with me staring at a cramped converted van a few feet from a drop toilet and rigged solar shower. The place would have been fun a decade ago, when Ben and I were newlyweds, but it seemed impossible with three

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

children, including a baby, and the looming threat of a pandemic. With two grad school friends living in Mancos, just a few miles south of Green Table Farm, we didn’t have any trouble finding last-minute lodging for our weeklong adventure. “We highly encourage clear communication between farmers and WWOOFers,” Fetrow says. “Ask what the accommodations look like. Ask for photos; try a video call.” Many hosts have RV hookups available. An RV is an easy, self-contained option for families. Weekend WWOOFing is also a rewarding opportunity for families. Typically, overnight accommodations aren’t offered for weekenders. “You’re going to farm for a morning, maybe sharing lunch with the host, taking home some of the harvest as a reward,” Fetrow says.“These day trips are much easier to line up.” We spent our mornings working on the farm, from about 8 a.m. until noon, and spent the afternoons as tourists, exploring the tiny, artsy community of Mancos, visiting Mancos State Park and Mesa Verde National Park. On a WWOOF farm, parents work alongside their children. It’s a bonding experience, and pretty good exercise, too. At Green Table Farm we weeded vegetable patches (cathartic), cleaned

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Family Travel

Kids in field:: Ben Siebrase. Leaves, chickens: Peter Muller /Getty Images.

a barn filled with hay and chicken poop (Yowza!), and harvested and processed a sizable amount of red and white onions to sell at the Mancos Farmers Market on Thursday afternoon, the culmination of our work.

Cultivating the Experience

Several people have asked me what I did to prepare my kids for the experience. “Did they know in advance that they’d have to work?” While some aspects of farming definitely felt like work to me, for my kids the experience was pure fun. Kids are built to be active, and mine didn’t complain once. Mostly they were fascinated by the opportunity to experience, firsthand, an unfamiliar way of life. It helped that our host, Tyler, has a family of his own. His wife owns and operates a local food truck, and they have a very friendly preschooler. Whenever my boys grew bored with weeding or harvesting, they’d take breaks to play with our host’s son or explore Green Table Farm or collect eggs. (Tyler keeps hundreds of free-range chickens, as well as pigs and goats.) My boys didn’t realize it, but they got quite a few hands-on lessons in ecology and economics, and Tyler was a patient teacher to all of us. When our 12-month-old wasn’t sleeping on my back, she practiced walking in the rows of vegetables while Ben and I weeded and harvested. We brought our own energy bars, baby food, and reusable water bottles to refill on the farm. Hosts will usually provide food, but if kids have specific snacks they enjoy, bring those. Packing for our WWOOF trip was similar to packing for a camping trip, and when we ran out of energy bars, we restocked at a natural foods store in Mancos. While we worked, Tyler rattled off all sorts of useful tidbits about crop rotation, harvest techniques, and beneficial insects. But the best advice was this: “You don’t have to go home and launch your own market farm,” he said. “Start with one or two vegetables you know you’ll eat, and just see what happens.” The majority of WWOOF members are people who want to learn how to grow their own food or live sustainably. “A lot of WWOOFers go home and plant their own kitchen gardens,” Fetrow says. That’s exactly what we did. I’m still not allowed to breathe on Ben’s philodendron and most of my family’s food still comes from the store, but since August I’ve grown and harvested Lacinato kale and microgreens. Over the holidays, we began experimenting with a wheatgrass hydroponics garden, inspired by our memories on the farm. Our experience will definitely not be the end of WWOOFing for my family. This summer, I plan to return to the fields and learn even more. Then maybe, someday, a dream WWOOF in Hawaii. Jamie Siebrase is a Denver-based mother of three, author, and emerging green thumb.

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

The author’s family helped harvest onions for their WWOOF host to sell at the Thursday farmers’ market.

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Summer Surge

Cultivating

A new book from a local business owner teaches the art and purpose of making heritage crafts

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

Opener: Getty Images.

By Lydia Rueger

Family hiking: Getty Images.

Summer Surge

elanie Holton-Fessler remembers hanging out inside cardboard boxes when she was a kid, just for fun, and playing pretend in the woods of her family’s suburban Chicago property. When she visited her Colorado grandparents near Red Feather Lakes, “Grandma had a big basket of junk that she would put out for all the cousins,” she remembers. “There was always an attitude of creative play.” She brought this concept to the business she started in 2014, an arts and crafts workshop studio called The Craftsman & Apprentice. Now, Holton-Fessler offers her favorite kids’ projects to families at home through her book, Maker Camp. We talked to Holton-Fessler about her latest effort to get kids creating. Colorado Parent: What defines a heritage craft? Have you seen more families turn to heritage crafts during the pandemic?

Delanie Holton:, book: Roost Books, Shambhala Publications.

Delanie Holton-Fessler: In Americana, heritage crafts are traditional arts and crafts that families have done for years, like hand-sewing and woodworking—practices that help them develop practical skills. I have noticed an uptick in interest in these kinds of crafts during the pandemic, in a time that feels slower. These kinds of experiences can get the kids off screens and help them connect with one another. CP: Can you describe the connection you see between crafts and problem solving? DHF: When kids engage in a project, they’ll run into challenges. The beautiful thing is, through this practice, they are learning and problem solving. Kids benefit because when something doesn’t go the way they planned. They feel it and they see it, and they can work through those issues. CP: There is a fire-building activity in the book that might raise some parents' eyebrows. Can you comment on your view of kids and risk-taking? DHF: I think we have developed a culture of keeping kids safe, but that doesn’t allow kids to assess risks. Kids have an inherent ability to learn how to control their own internal safety. Fire is dangerous,

Author and owner of Craftsman & Apprentice in Denver, Delanie Holton-Fessler.

but when they are able to have some control over it, [with adult supervision] they feel the risk inside. We start the project by lighting a match, and it helps to feel a little bit of the danger themselves, instead of hearing an abstract “no.” CP: What advice can you give parents who wish to nurture lifelong creativity in their kids? DHF: I think one thing we do as parents is control kids’ production too much. For kids, it is so much more about the process than about the outcome. Try to stay in the process with your kids without taking over. Ask them things like, “How did that go?” Creativity is not about making a perfect product; it’s about asking what is possible and being flexible. I always tell kids I have piles and piles of art that didn’t turn out, but I learned what to do different next time. CP: What is one project in your book that gets kids and adults excited every time? DHF: We chose 20 projects for the book that

have been fan favorites over seven years [at The Craftsman & Apprentice]. The most popular has been the junk robot. It lends itself to open-ended creativity, plus there is the building and design aspect. When we make them during kids’ parties, the adults are like, “I want to make one!” CP: What project in your book is great for beginners, or for families who don’t do a lot of crafts? DHF: The cardboard project—you just use what you have around you. When kids have the resource of junk material, they go to town! It’s open-ended and there is not a lot of set-up. CP: What is your hope for families that pick up your book? DHF: I hope it serves as a resource guide. I like how much support it provides to set up a space for, and culture of, creativity. I hope families can get back to something that feels simple.

2021 | ColoradoParent.com

Summer Surge

Stuffie: Roost Books, Shambhala Publications.

Hand Sewing a earning to sew by hand used to be a sort of rite of passage. I remember pulling a shoelace through a lacing card in preschool and learning to hand sew at five, and I was known to work a few overly ambitious cross stitch projects in my upper elementary years. Hand sewing is a skill that is best taught one on one or in a very small group. It requires the teacher to be physically close to the student in order to carefully observe the child as they begin to stitch. This requires a great deal of trust between the elder and child. My own kids learned to sew by helping me pull the needle through a stitch on my work, threading a needle for me, or putting their thumb down on the thread while I tied a knot—all learning through assisting their elder (me!). Hand sewing, embroidery, and cross-stitch are slow crafts that build hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and creativity.

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

THE CRAFTSMAN AND APPRENTICE If you’re reading this, chances are you’re the elder—the person with the skills and knowledge to teach the child. How do we help children have respect and curiosity for the knowledge and skills that an older person holds? We named our shop The Craftsman & Apprentice for a reason. The craftsman is the elder—the person with the knowledge and skills to share. The apprentice is the seeker of that knowledge. Traditionally an apprentice works alongside the craftsman, helping them with everyday tasks while they observe and absorb the skills of the craftsman. What if we thought of our relationships with children in this way? Children can help with tasks as they grow and take on more responsibility. Gradually their help and contribution lead organically to knowledge. Apprenticing is different from listening to and appreciating the experiences of our elders. It’s about respecting and seeking knowledge and skillsbased practices from those with more experience.

This idea extends beyond a one-on-one relationship between an elder and a child, to how we engage with our communities. Informally, social capital consists of the bonds, shared values, and trust we create within our communities. When we work with children, we’re helping them build positive social capital, especially when we work one on one. Think of it as a way to create a bankable social fabric that, given positive intent, helps people exist within a safe and trusting community. When positive social capital is high in a community, individuals benefit socially and emotionally from shared knowledge, skills, and ideas. In other words, when people support each other, we all win. We have no less than seven hundred stuffies stashed under my kids’ beds. Each one has a name and a sentimental origin story. Stuffies are beloved playthings and cherished security objects for most kids. This project enables kids to learn to sew but also to create their own beloved characters. (Continued on page 44)

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Summer Surge

TIME COMMITMENT 1 to 2 hours MESS LEVEL Bits of fabric and string WHAT YOU NEED • Sheet of paper • Paper scissors • Felt sheets or scrap fabric • Fabric scissors • Embroidery floss • No. 18 embroidery needle • Permanent marker • Stuffing Optional • Straight pins • Spray glue • Buttons • Bric-a-brac • Yarn TIP: Permanent markers—I know, scary, right? My oldest son was obsessed with permanent markers as a three-year-old. I’ll admit, I can still faintly see his artistic use of the marker on the brick on our front porch. Use your own best judgment here. A little scaffolding goes a long way. It can be a real privilege for kids to use the “fancy” markers by demonstrating safe and appropriate use, only on the objects we’re creating and not on the dog or your brother. 1. Using a sheet of paper, draw a big shape (for newbies, a blobby, organic shape is a great start). This will be the pattern. 2. Cut out your pattern and set it aside. 3. Choose your felt or fabric, and make sure you have enough for two sides. Layer or fold the felt wrong sides (the back sides of the pieces) together. Place the pattern on the doubled felt. You can choose to pin it, hold it, or use a touch of spray glue to tack it on temporarily. 4. Cut out the shape. No need for a seam allowance. 5. Choose your embellishments for your stuffie’s face. Buttons and felt scraps make great additions. Attach your embellishments to the fabric. SEWING A BUTTON: When sewing with kids, we’ve found that doubling the thread and tying it off on the end helps reduce the frustration of trying to keep a needle threaded and makes for a more

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

durable stitch. Measure a wingspan (hand to hand with your arms outstretched like an eagle) of thread and cut. Carefully put the end of the thread through the eye of the needle and pull the thread down so the needle is halfway down the length of the thread. Pair up the ends of the thread and make an overhand knot at the bottom. From the back side of the front piece, push the needle through to the front of the front. Put the needle through the button from the back to the front. Place the needle through the next button hole and through the front of the fabric to the back. Pull through. Repeat with additional button holes or buttons. No need to change thread each time, just move the position of the thread from the back side and begin to sew another button on. To finish, tie a knot at the back. APPLIQUÉ: To sew on or appliqué fabric eyes or other parts, simply begin at the back as you did with the button, this time pushing the needle up through the first layer and the piece you wish to attach. Using small stitches, sew up and down, being mindful to pull the needle through completely after each stitch. 6. Once all the embellishments are attached, it’s time to sew your stuffie together. For first-time sewers, I recommend using a permanent marker to create a

Excerpted from Maker Camp: Heritage Crafts and Skill-Building Projects for Kids. Text and art ©Delanie Holton. ©2021 Roost Books, an imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc. Distributed by Penguin Random House.

Stuffie: Roost Books, Shambhala Publications.

dot pattern around the edge of the stuffie to act as a stitch guide. Thread a needle using two wingspans worth of embroidery floss. Begin to stitch the front and back of the stuffie together using a whipstitch. (See illustration.) This just means placing the needle in the same side each time. Basically, poke through the dot and pull the thread through. Continue stitching around the stuffie until about 3 inches of space is left. Insert stuffing until full. Stitch the opening shut and tie the end of the thread to secure.

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Roundup

Lemonade: Getty Images.

For the Love of Lemonade! Easy Variations on a Thirst-quenching Favorite By Christina Katz

hat better time to celebrate the lovely lemon than during the dog days of summer? Each of these lemonade recipes is a tiny party in every glass. So, if you need a happy pick-me-up at the end of a hot day, get in the habit of buying your lemons by the bag and look no further than the fruit and herbs you have on hand. These lemonade recipes always look and taste terrific.

BASIC LEMONADE SYRUP Syrup will stay fresh in your fridge for several weeks if kept in an airtight container. • 10 organic lemons, unwaxed • 2 cups of sugar • 1½ cups of cold water Zest all the lemons and then juice them so you have about 1½ cups of liquid. Place all the zest, lemon juice, sugar, and water in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved, but take care not to boil. Strain the syrup into an airtight container and let cool. Discard zest and seeds. Cover and refrigerate syrup for several weeks. You will have about four cups of syrup, which will make 16 glasses of lemonade.

To prepare lemonade, mix a ¼ cup of syrup with ¾ cup of water and serve over ice. Garnish with lemon slices if desired. LEMONADE VARIATIONS: Berry Pickin’ Lemonade Mash or blend ripe strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, or any other type of berry you prefer. Add honey to sweeten, if sour, and mix. Spoon berry mixture into ice cube trays. Pop out cubes as needed and allow them to thaw in the bottom of a pitcher or glass. Unused frozen berry cubes can be removed and kept in a freezer bag, where they should last all summer. When ready to serve, top thawed berry cubes with ice cubes. Add

Ultimate Guide to Summer | 2021

lemonade, lemon slices, and a sturdy straw for stirring. Palisade Peach Lemonade Use the same technique as Berry Lemonade but don’t add honey to mashed peaches. Keep peach cubes in a separate freezer bag so you can mix up flavors as the dog days progress. Red C Cherry Limeade Follow recipe for lemon syrup but substitute organic limes. Increase the number of limes to 12 and reduce the sugar to 1½ cups. Otherwise follow the recipe as directed. Mix ¼ cup of syrup with ¾ cup of soda water. Add two maraschino cherries with a splash or two of cherry juice in each glass.

Garnish with lime slices if desired. Sweetness of limes may vary. If the limeade is not sweet enough, increase the sugar in the syrup recipe next time. Mountain Slushy Lemonade Put four ice cubes per serving into the blender. Pour in one quarter as much Basic Lemonade Syrup as you have ice for a thick slushy. If you desire a thinner consistency, add as much water as syrup. Blend on high until smooth. Substitute berry or watermelon cubes for ice cubes as desired. Pour into short glasses and serve with a straw or long spoon. This approach works just as well with limeade. FRESH HERBS THAT COMPLIMENT LEMONADE & LIMEADE: • Mint • Thyme • Rosemary • Basil • Lavender (culinary variety) For a beautiful presentation, freeze sprigs of herbs into your ice cubes as well as using fresh sprigs for garnish.

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Incredibly different times call for incredibly different care. Kids need a hospital just for them, especially now. And that means finding ways to adapt. So we’ve made changes to everything from our visitation policy to our ventilation system, to make our hospitals safer than ever. But we’re still the same Children’s Hospital Colorado. Because kids are still kids. And they can’t wait for the incredibly different care they need. For more information and parent resources, visit childrenscolorado.org.

Children’s Hospital Colorado complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. • ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-720-777-1234. • CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-720-777-1234.