Boulder County Kids Summer 2022 by Martinhouse Publications, Inc.

volume XXV111 no. 2 summer 2022

CELEBRATING OUR CHILDREN FOR OVER 27 YEARS!

“Happy Seahorse” by Emma, age 8

Directories, Resources, Recipes, Columns, Crafts, & more fun inside!

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bouldercountykids.com • 3

WELCOME BACK! I know, we can’t believe it either! Summer’s here, school’s out, the pool is open, and camps are booking up. There’s nothing quite like a summer in Colorado. Perhaps being a mile closer to the sun makes our June afternoons that much sweeter. And this summer is set to be especially sweet—after a difficult two years, we are all ready to cannonball in the pool! Boulder County is home to the best summer camps the world has to offer, if we do say so ourselves. Whether that’s outdoor adventuring, painting a masterpiece, staying fit, or finally nailing that song on the guitar, Boulder’s got just the camp to make this the best summer yet. Dive into this Summer Issue to find tips for family vacations, easy & healthy recipes, what different clouds are doing way up in the sky, dozens of programs to keep your kids entertained, and so much more. It’s time to pour the lemonade, spray on the sunscreen, and make a splash. It’s officially summertime, Boulder!

Isabella & Annie

(and our mascot Junie)

BOULDER COUNTY KIDS is a division of Martin House Publications, Inc. Published quarterly in February, May, August, and November. Mailing Address: 1464 E. Easter Cir. Centennial, CO 80122. Phone number: (303) 728–4798. Copyright 1995 to 2022 by Boulder County Kids. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission prohibited. Boulder County Kids encourages your submission of articles, photographs, and ideas. We reserve the right to edit all submitted material. All submissions will be considered for publication. Viewpoints of the articles are not necessarily the viewpoints of Boulder County Kids. Materials will not be returned. Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the publisher. Printed with soy-based ink. Please go to www.bouldercountykids.com for more information.

4 • bouldercountykids.com

WHAT’S INSIDE Summer 2022

articles & columns 6 12

Cover Artist Superstar Kids’ Planet with Thorne Nature Experience

16 18

Tiny Trails with Allison Burch

Summer of (Integrated) Love with Katie Buckley

Boulder’s Newest International Preschool

Picture Books That Validate & Heal Through Story

What Do I Do Now, Romona?

by Pam Martin

Vacation's All I Ever Wanted

Raising Resilient Kids: Using Movement

by Abby Ault

by Jamie Carr

The Puzzle of Learning Difficulties by Cynthia Johnson

make a splash 8 10

Summer Recipes Summer Crafts

directories 14 15 21 34

Helpful Services

Private School Directory

Birthday Party Directory

47 52

After School Directory

Virtual Resources CAMPS Directory Child Care Directory

Gift Giving Directory

kids zone 56 57 58 59

Coloring Page Did You Know? & Summer Word Search Road Trip Bingo Summer Crossword Special thanks to: Jennifer Martin & Indie Darlene Mueller Morse Jennifer Rodehaver Leroy & Holly Schutz Marybeth & Carl Gieser Kylee Piper Joanie Jenkins & Syd Dutil

bouldercountykids.com • 5

FRONT COVER

SUPERSTAR

When it comes to food, mac & cheese is Emma’s favorite, but she also really loves fruit roll-ups (who doesn’t?!). Emma is an only child and her family recently moved to Boulder from Rhode Island, which was super exciting for Emma to move to someplace surrounded by mountains!When she grows up, Emma wants to be a biologist because she’s intrigued by nature and animals. She particularly loves looking at all the deer that roam around Boulder. Her favorite color is green. Thank you, Emma, for letting us use “Happy Seahorse” on our Summer Issue cover!

his Summer Issue’s cover is titled, “Happy Seahorse,” and was created by 8-year-old artist, Emma. Emma used paints, pastels, and glitter to create this masterpiece while at Tinker Art Studio in Boulder. In art class, her favorite thing to do is sketch hexagons and paint. She is currently in 3rd grade but is really looking forward to summer because of all the summer camps that she’s going to! While at school, Emma’s favorite time of day is recess because she gets to play on the swings and ride down the slide. When not in the art studio or classroom, Emma’s favorite sport to play is tennis. She also plays the piano and loves listening to pop music, especially Adele! Descendents 3 is her favorite movie, she says that she likes everything about it but doesn’t have a specific favorite character.

6 • bouldercountykids.com

Thank you to Tinker Art Studio for submitting “Happy Seahorse” along with other beautiful pieces of art (featured to the right)! For more information about Tinker Art Studio, please head to their listings in the After School Directory, Birthday Party Directory, & Camps Directory. The cover sponsor, Premier Members Credit Union, pays competitive dividends on federally insured savings accounts. Your family can also enjoy low-cost loans and the credit union gives money to the school of your choice at no cost to you. For more information and to find a location near you visit www.pmcu.org or call (303) 657-4558. Emma is pictured below. Thank you to Xian Wang for the photo!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Anna, age 12

Saira, age 9

Clare, age 12

Hattie, age 14

Are you our next

FRONT COVER

superstar? Send your art to info@bouldercountykids.com by July 10th to be considered for our Fall 2022 Issue. The winner will recieve a $50 cash prize from our cover sponsor, Premier Members Credit Union, and will win bragging rights to all of his/her/their friends for the whole Fall season!

bouldercountykids.com • 7

— RECIPES — PE A N U T

INGREDIENTS:

- 1 cup peanut butter - ¾ cup maple syrup - 1 tsp. vanilla extract - 2 - 2 1/2 cups cocoa krispies - 6 oz. dark chocolate

BU T T E R

C O C OA

WHAT TO DO:

1. In a medium to large-sized pot, melt 1 cup of peanut butter over medium heat. Once smooth, add in 3/4 cup of maple syrup. Stir and combine until you have a caramel-type texture. Fold in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Remove from heat. 2. Add your cocoa crispies 1 cup at a time until desired texture. Adding too many crispies will cause them to fall apart so ensure there is still enough peanut butter/maple syrup to hold the crisps together. Stir, stir, stir! Add your crispies and peanut butter mixture to a pyrex dish. Flatten them out and create a level top.

B L ACK B E R RY

L E M O N

3. Next, grab a mason jar or a heatproof glass to double boil your dark chocolate. Your chocolate can be a bar or chips, your choice. Place chocolate in a mason jar and then place that mason jar in a medium pot of water over medium to high heat. Your chocolate will start to melt. Keep stirring until melted entirely. CAREFUL: your glass with be hot! Use a glove to take your chocolate jar off of the stove and pour your chocolate over the entirely of your peanut butter crispies. 4. Put in the freezer for 20 minutes and then enjoy! Recipe from Kylee Piper.

P O P S I CL E S

WHAT TO DO:

1. In a medium-sized bowl whisk together lemon juice, zest, and vanilla yogurt, set aside. 2. Puree blackberries and mixed berry yogurt, set aside. 3. Layer the popsicles as follows in popsicle molds; 1 tablespoon lemon, 1 tablespoon blackberry, repeat. Swirl layers if desired. 4. Gently tap the molds on the countertop to remove any air bubbles. Insert the popsicle sticks, and then freeze for at least 6 hours, or overnight.

Recipe from Jessica Gavin.

R A I N B OWS INGREDIENTS:

INGREDIENTS:

- ⅔ cup lemon juice & lemon zest - 2 ½ cups vanilla greek yogurt - 2 ½ cups mixed berry greek yogurt - 2 ½ cups blackberries

BU T T E R F L I E S

- 8 oz. bow-tie pasta - 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil - 1 cup corn kernels - 1 cup shelled edamame - 1 red bell pepper, diced - 2 medium carrots, shredded - ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese

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CR IS PI E S

SA L A D

WHAT TO DO:

1. Cook the pasta then drain and toss with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Let cool. 2. In a large bowl, toss the cooled pasta with the corn, edamame, bell pepper, and carrots. Drizzle the remaining olive oil on top and toss to coat. Add the parmesan and salt to taste.

Recipe from Ellie Krieger.

bouldercountykids.com • 9

ICE CHALK

YOU’LL NEED: - colorful sidewalk chalk - cheese grater or zester - popsicle sticks - ice tray - corn starch - water - whisk

WHAT TO DO: 1. In separate bowls (or using one liquid measuring cup and cleaning it between uses) grate your colorful sidewalk chalk until there are about 2 tablespoons of powder in the bowl. 2. Pour 2 tablespoons of corn starch in with the colorful powder and mix until combined. 3. Add approx 1/3 cup of water and whisk the mixture together until smooth and no clumps. 4. Pour the mix in the ice tray, alternating colors. 5. Once the ice tray is filled with multi-color mixtures, place the popsicle sticks in each mixture at a diagonal. 6. Let freeze for a couple hours or overnight. 7. Take the ice tray outside and remove ice chalk, watch the colors melt as you draw on the sidewalk!

MAGIC MILK

— C R A YOU’LL NEED: - 4 cups cow’s milk - acrilyc paint (we used 5 different colors including one glow-in-the-dark color!) - 1/2 cup vegetable oil - bowl

10 • bouldercountykids.com

WHAT TO DO: 1. Make sure you are wearing clothes that can get messy and put down something to protect your table/countertop! 2. In a bowl, pour the milk. 3. Squeeze in paint separately, approx 1-2 tablespoons of each color. DO NOT MIX YET. 4. Pour in the oil and carefully mix it around to see the colors swirl and the milk and oil one another! YAY SCIENCE! (DO NOT EAT, IT IS NOT EDIBLE.)

WHAT TO DO: 1. Pour flour, dirt, and sand into a large bowl. 2. Add water to the dirt mixture and stir until it’s a thick, muddy, batter consistency. Add more dirt, sand, and flour as needed. You don’t want your mixture to be too liquidy. 3. Dip the dinos in the mixture and coat them well. 4. Place dinosaurs on a plastic wrap-lined baking sheet. 5. Cover each one with a little more of the dirt mixture to make sure each is coated well. 6. Set the tray in the sun for a few hours until they are completely dry on top. 7. Flip each fossil over and let the other side dry completely. 8. Let the kids have fun breaking the fossils apart to find the hidden dinosaurs! Inspired by thesimpleparent.com

F T S — WHAT TO DO: 1. On the top of the pizza box, have an adult use the craft knife (exacto-knife) to cut a flap for the “oven door”. 2. Take this time to decorate your pizza box with markers (optional). If using paint, wait for it to completely dry before moving on to next steps. 3. Glue the black construction paper to the base of the inside of the box. This is where your s’mores will sit. 4. Use tape to secure the plastic wrap over the opening that you cut into the top of the box. 5. Tape aluminum foil inside the flap that you cut into the box so that it is adjacent to the plastic wrap. 6. Place the “oven” in direct sunlight and set your ingredients inside the oven on the black construction paper: graham cracker on the bottom, chocolate in the middle, marshmallow on top. 7. Prop the aluminum flap up with a wooden skewer. Make sure the sun is reflecting off of the aluminum foil and shining on the s’mores. 8. Let sit until melted and done. Inspired by Desert Chica (desertchica.com)

SOLAR OVEN S’MORES

YOU’LL NEED: - personal sized pizza boxes - craft knife (for adult use only) - aluminum foil - plastic wrap - scissors - glue stick - tape - wooden skewer - black construction paper - markers for decorating - s’mores makings (marshmellows, chocolate bars, graham crackers)

DINOSAUR FOSSILS

YOU’LL NEED: - 1 cup flour - 1 cup dirt - 1/2 cup sand (play sand works best) - 12 tiny plastic dinosaurs - baking sheet covered with plastic wrap

bouldercountykids.com • 11

by Dr. Oakleigh Thorne, II

CLOUDS I HAVE KNOWN G

rowing up as a “nature boy,” I have always been fascinated by clouds. I hope you have been, too. As a child I spent many hours outdoors. We had no television or computers or cellphones. We listened to the radio for news, weather reports, and entertainment. So I learned to look up at the sky to see what kinds of clouds were there. Sometimes there was just blue sky and no clouds at all. I liked these sunny blue days and I have to admit, I still do! I remember among the first clouds that I noticed were what my parents called “Mare’s Tails.” They are wispy, long, and thin...like the hair in a horse’s tail. Today I know now that these are called cirrus clouds. They are made up of ice crystals and are “way up high in the sky.” My dad used to say that these cirrus clouds were telling us that a change in the weather was coming. He was usually right. I think my favorite clouds are the white, puffy cumulus clouds. Joni Mitchell called them “ice cream castles in the air“ in her

song about clouds called “Both Sides Now.” On a sunny day, these clouds are usually flat on the bottom, so we call them “fair-weather cumulus.” That’s because they are not going to produce rain. Cumulus clouds are made up of water vapor. Very often, especially in the summer, cumulus clouds will keep building and getting taller and taller. We call these “towering cumulus” clouds. They indeed look like towers of ice cream! In the evening you can usually see them in the east, many miles away. At sunset, they turn from white to salmon pink and are really beautiful to see. When towering cumulus clouds grow very tall, the water vapor in their tops will start to freeze and form ice crystals because of the high altitude. When these ice crystals blow off the top of the cumulus cloud, they “stick out” and are called “anvil tops.” That’s because they look like a blacksmith’s anvil on which he pounds horseshoes.

a convection clouddewirntheath it lenticular cloud un Photo by Oak

Thorne

towering cumulus cloud

cumulus cloud Photo by Oak Thorne

12 • bouldercountykids.com

Photo by Oak

Thorne

These can then turn into thunderstorm clouds that are called cumulo-nimbus. There’s a lot of circular up and down movement of the air inside these clouds, what we call turbulence, so small ice crystals can gather more and more moisture as they move up and down through the cloud and turn into hail. When the hailstones get big enough, they fall from the cloud and we get hail along with the rain in thunderstorms. Lightning discharging from these clouds causes thunder. That’s a whole other story! Ask your parents or teacher to tell you more about lightning. Another one of my favorites is what we call lenticular clouds. Lenticular means “lens-shaped,” like the lens in a camera or in binoculars. These are typically seen in the fall and winter along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. When they form over the top of a particularly high mountain peak, like Longs Peak or Pikes Peak, they are called peak clouds. You can say that the “wind is blowing through” a lenticular or peak cloud because they are forming on the west side of the cloud, growing thicker, then getting thinner and dissolving (disappearing) on the east side of the cloud. That’s what gives them the lens-shaped look. Another common cloud that we get in the Boulder area and along the Front Range is what we call a convection cloud. Since the Continental Divide is west of us and can create an “up-draft” in air flow, causing this kind

Anvil

s cloud top cumulu

of cloud to appear. Once again, like with the lenticular cloud, the convection cloud, which is much bigger, is forming on the west side and often dissolving on the east side. We sometimes see convection clouds that look like a huge submarine in the sky. At sunset, these will often turn a beautiful salmon color, giving us a spectacular photo opportunity. A person who studies clouds in relation to weather forecasting is called a meteorologist. Maybe someday you will grow up to study clouds and weather, too. I’m glad that I have looked at clouds all my life and appreciated their beauty and function! Dr. Thorne is founder and honorary president of Thorne Nature Experience (formerly Thorne Ecological Institute), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Boulder. For 68 years they have helped “connect youth to nature!” For information about their programs, please check their website at www. thornenature.org or email info@thornenature.org or call (303) 499-3647, ext. 100.

convection cloud Photo by Oak Thorne

fair wea t

her cumu

lus cloud

bouldercountykids.com • 13

HELPFUL SERVICES directory Childcare services, tutoring, online education services, and other great recommendations from within the community.

Boulder Public Library Home to amazing resources both in-person and online. Check out the website for storytimes, book lists, staff picks, audiobooks, homework help, and more. P: (303) 441-3100 W: https://research.boulderlibrary.org/youth/kids-family

Cultural Care Au Pair Affordable, flexible childcare with the added element of a cultural exchange. These young foreigners have childcare backgrounds and are eager to be a part of your family. They care for your children in exchange for the opportunity to live with an American family and have a unique experience. These relationships can last for years and bring depth to your child’s vision of the world. Up to 45 hours per week of childcare. P: (303) 956-6189 - Jen Rodehaver E: jen.rodehaver@lcc.culturalcare.com W: www.culturalcare.com/jrodehaver

Premier Members Credit Union 5505 Arapahoe, Boulder Banking and savings, for all your banking needs. P: (303) 442-8850 W: www.pmcu.org

14 • bouldercountykids.com

Strength in Motion A community of expert psychotherapists and businesses who are here for you. We believe in a mind, body, and soul approach towards finding and sustaining balance. We offer individual, couples, and family counseling and specialize in depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, marriage counseling, men’s issues, life transitions, ADHD, and more. We work collaboratively with our clients to facilitate sustainable positive change. P: (720) 389-8750 E: info@simcounseling.com W: www.simcounseling.com

Boulder Valley School District The only BVSD Youth and Family Resource Guide. Find services and activities your family needs. Tutoring, counseling, the arts, child care, support services, college planning, cooking, birthday parties, and more. P: (720) 561-5977 W: https://connections.bvsd.org

VIRTUAL resources One of the best things that came out of the pandemic is the accessibility to so many new resources online. Our world became fully VIRTUAL for the first time ever! If you are worried about the spread of the new variants or just prefer to live a little more virtually, check out these great resources.

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OUR CONNECTED WORLD Experiences for all ages BOULDER PUBLIC LIBRARY

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SUMMER OF DISCOVERY

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bouldercountykids.com • 15

choosing t he proper t rails for

HIKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN

If you’re anything like me, you can have a lot of anxiety about picking up a new hobby to do with your kids. Maybe you think you need to be an expert. Maybe you think you need to watch 100 hours’ worth of YouTube videos. Maybe you think your kids need to be a certain age to really excel. And, while all of that may help, it’s just not necessary to succeed. A little bit of preparation (and your trusty Tiny Trails guide) will have you hitting the trails with confidence! Check out these tips to leave the apprehension behind: Research trails with info, photos, and reviews through local hiking blogs or the All Trails app. Look for interesting elements that will keep your little one’s attention. Think rocks to climb, different plants to identify, rivers to splash in, etc. Flat trails with little to interact with tend to bore children and adults alike. Consider seeking out trails with shade. Our Colorado sun is strong and draining with prolonged exposure. Also, sunburns are sure to leave a sour taste in your mouth. The length of the trail should align with your child’s physical abilities, stamina, and attention span. Start slow, but try not to underestimate. If you’re starting very young, it may be worth packing a soft carrier just in case little legs tire quicker than anticipated. I packed my Happy Baby carrier until my son was two-and-a-half years old, and there were occasions that led me to pull it out. Elevation gain should also be looked at. Flat is never my favorite, but it is a good way to build confidence. If that is the route you go, make sure there are interest points to keep excitement up. Otherwise, look for 100-200 foot elevation gains to start. Once that’s mastered, use your best judgment and grow from there. Choose a trail that is not super isolated. Nature is amazing, vast, and usually without cell phone service. If you go too deep into mountains, you may feel vulnerable – and that’s not how I would recommend building confidence in the beginning. Knowing that you’re not too far from assistance, if needed,

16 • bouldercountykids.com

by Allison Burch can be a comforting force that empowers you to continue on. Similarly, you may want to start close to home. While many of my favorite trails are at least an hour away from my house, I would encourage you to look for a short drive. Nothing is worse than driving an hour, experiencing a massive meltdown, and then driving an hour back home. Lastly, I like to pick trails that are close by a family favorite lunch spot. Nothing’s better than celebrating a hiking win with a cold drink and a tasty meal! Choosing the right trails at the beginning of your family hiking journey will help build confidence (for you and your children) and facilitate a love for spending time exploring nature together. Allison is a Denver Metro resident who has committed to facilitating a bond between her kids and nature. She shares that journey with you through her blog (PurpleMountainMama.com) and her Instagram (@PurpleMountainMama) in the hope that it inspires you to do the same. Children that have a relationship with nature tend to seek the good for their community which benefits the world as a whole.

Josh Willink

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Located in Commerce City, Trading for Trails provides FREE outdoor gear rentals to our community—regardless of means—because ALL should have access to the outdoors. WE PICK UP DONATIONS FOR FREE! We appreciate any used camping / hiking / backpacking / snowshoeing equipment that still has some life to give. Call Jennifer at 720-840-1160 or visit www.TradingForTrails.org for more information. Find us on social media!

bouldercountykids.com • 17

What do I do now,

ROMONA?

Drawing by Fritz Scholder

Romona Scholder, M.A., RNCS Psychotherapist

Q: My little son has always been a bit of a germaphobe. The pandemic

and its super-charged fear of germs definitely heightened his fear. As we return to more and more normalcy, my son’s anxiety about germs is affecting his everyday life and can lead to breakdowns and his desire to just stay home. How can I explain that the world isn’t such a scary, dirty place and help him overcome this phobia? Signed, mom of an 8-year-old

A true phobia isn’t rational and rarely responds to explanations. If that were the case, he would need professional help with ERP therapy (Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy). But for our discussion, we will assume that he’s simply a highly sensitive child with a more than average awareness of the unseen world of microbes. Covid has made us all more aware of the bad germs swirling around us in the air we breathe and on the surfaces we touch. Your son has spent a good share

of his young life in this heightened reality. But is he aware of the good germs as well? There are children’s books available that address this issue such as “The Good Germ Hotel.” This book helps kids learn about the good bacteria that keep us healthy. The microbes that are like warriors in the battle against the bad guys. This might help him to internalize the fact that there is good in the unseen world of microbes.

Q: My family moved to Longmont a few years ago. The adjustment was pretty smooth for all of us! Our kids got involved in sports and art clubs. I was able to connect with an old friend who lives in Boulder and I now have a lovely, supportive group of girlfriends. But my husband is still struggling to make friends of his own. I know he misses his friends and wants to make some here, but feeling so isolated I think he has some social anxiety. How can I help him branch out and feel confident about making friends? Signed, loving wife

My son is going through a phase where he thinks he can get away with anything. He’s testing his limits with me and my wife. And then, he will lie to try and get out of getting in trouble. He’s an awful liar, but stubborn. How can we get through to him in a way that won’t lead to pushback and lies? Signed, concerned dad

A: I know this is cold comfort but your child is right on target developmentally. He lies for various reasons; to escape punishment, to make himself look better, or to get attention. Negative attention is better than no attention at all. Simply say that you know he’s lying and get on with your day. Don’t make him admit his lie which will just escalate the confrontation. He knows he’s lying and you know he’s lying, enough said. It’s all one big test. Are you going to always be there setting boundaries? Are you going to be consistent or are you going to falter? Can he trust you and by extension society in general? Fairness and justice are not givens but honesty can be achieved. “A man and his word” was once a worthy goal and in today’s world, a rarity. You’re being asked to model that for your son.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR ROMONA? Email your question to

info@bouldercountykids.com

18 • bouldercountykids.com

A: Friendship is basically a relationship and as my friend

Dr. Fineman used to say, “Relationships are the hardest thing we do in life.” I would add that helping your husband make friends is the second hardest. It pays to remember that guys don’t usually make friends as easily as women. There’s a whole lot of sizing up and checking out that goes on before the first moves are made. Making friends is ultimately his responsibility and all you can do is provide situations where that might happen. Men usually bond over activities such as sports, barbeques, or pot luck on game day. Double date with your favorite couple and let whatever happens, happen. Do not make a big deal out of it. Encourage him to go hit some balls at the golf course or get him a gym membership for his birthday. There is no strict timeline for making friends and it would be unwise to impose one.

e gonna ’r e w d n a . .. g in m o c Summer is

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bouldercountykids.com • 19

Summer of

by Katie Buckley

ATED R G E INT

LOVE

School’s out for summer but that doesn’t mean that summer isn’t for learning. Summer provides maximum time and opportunity for kids and families alike to learn more about meaningful inclusion for children with disabilities. Learning doesn’t only come from books and technology but also through play and experiences. In fact, studies show that children achieve a richer understanding by connecting the concepts and skills they are learning with real world examples. Take a chance this summer to learn through different places and resources and help our kids build a more inclusive world and community through play, exploration and learning.

Explore Boulder County Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center: More than just a pony ride, this center located in Longmont offers solace for individuals of every age through equine therapy. You work with horses to fulfill their mission of changing the lives of people with disabilities by promoting their physical, psychological and social well-being through equine assisted activities. People of any age and ability can be involved whether as a participant or a volunteer. Learn more at their website: www.ctrcinc.org

ABC Kids Climbing: Sometimes in the summer kids just need to be active and let off some steam, and ABC Kids Climbing gym is the perfect place for that. They offer classes, camps and open gyms for kids to explore, play around and possibly find a new passion. The best part is their inclusivity! They are able to accommodate kids with disabilities and have staff specifically trained to make it a positive and welcoming experience for all. They even mention how beneficial it is when used in conjunction with occupational therapy a child may already be receiving. Check out their website: www.abckidsboulder.com

Learn More About Inclusion Imagine Services: Located in Lafayette, Imagine Services is a great resource to learn more or to provide families with more resources and services. They offer opportunities for both volunteering and advocacy. Their mission is as follows: “Creating a world of opportunity for all abilities! Our goal is to help people aspire to, and achieve, a fulfilling life of new possibilities.” They really get the whole community involved with things like summer camps and art shows. Learn more and get involved at their website: imaginecolorado.org

Best Buddies: While not native to Boulder County or Colorado, Best Buddies is an international organization that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities . They have tons of chapters and events throughout Colorado, so look to see if your child’s school has a program and if not, what’s a better summer project than to help build one? More information on their website: www.bestbuddies.org/

colorado/about

Exploration and play helps kids and adults alike relate to the world, and more importantly how to relate to each other. I challenge your family this summer to take a small step towards more meaningful inclusion whether it’s going to one of these places, reading a book from a previous column or even just having a discussion with your family on the importance of inclusion and disability education. Take this summer as a time to learn, play and grow! See you next time for more books and apps!

20 • bouldercountykids.com

Katie Buckley is a high school special education teacher who teaches in a program for students with cognitive disabilities. She was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, before going to Texas to get her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Special Education from Texas Christian University.

Rodnae Productions

the

CAMPS directory

ABC Kids Climbing Summer Camps—Boulder

Academy Stables

Ages: 6 - 12 years old Hours & Days: “Horse Camp”: M-F, 9am - 2pm. “Pony Camp”: W-F, 9am - 12pm.

Airborne Gym

Ages: 4 - 12 years Hours & Days: M-F. 8:30am 4:30pm. May 31 - August 12. Halfdays & single days available!

1960 32nd Street Ages: 5 years & older Hours & Days: Indoor camps are M-F or M-W. 9am - 3pm or 9am - noon. Indoor and outdoor day camp options. Days are filled with climbing, outside games, arts and crafts, and field trips. Outdoor camps are packed with climbing, adventure, and fun! Kids

will climb in areas such as the Flatirons, Eldorado Canyon, and Boulder Canyon. At this time parents are required to drop off and pick up their children from the climbing area. See ad.

This year we are offering two camp options in order to provide more comprehensive and age appropriate instruction. We will offer a full week (“Horse camp”) option for kids 9-12 years old and a half week (“Pony camp”) option for kids 6-8 years old. “Pony camp” is an introduction to horses for younger kids. They will learn about how to handle horses and how to prepare the horse for riding. They will also learn the basics of basic horsemanship to begin building a horse/human partnership for the mutual respect and enjoyment of the rider AND the horse. The objective of “Horse camp” is to learn and practice the above skills as well as the basic skills of riding. Kids in

horse camp will learn and practice the “four aids,” and good leg, hand, & seat position as they learn and practice walk, trot, halt, reverse. We are excited and proud about the addition of the concept horsemanship and groundwork into our summer camps. We think it’s important to develop good stewards of the sport instead of merely teaching the mechanics of riding. We think riders should understand the WHYs behind what we do.

The morning blocks (8:30-12) are ninja and gymnastics camps; students will play games, learn ninja, tumbling & gymnastics skills, meet friends, & get plenty of exercise. Our afternoon blocks (1-4:30) are theme camps. Instead of a physical focus, theme campers will have a play-based experience during their different rotations around the gym. Airborne Dance offers our popular Prince & Princess camps for ages 3-6 from 9:30-11:45 on M & W. Our professional dance staff will have students dancing, crafting, playing games, & spending time in the gym. Airborne Dance also offers

two weeks of camps for beginning and intermediate level dancers (ages 6-14): Put on a Show Camp and So You Think You Can Dance Camp. Dancers will design a set, learn choreography, & be assigned a role, all in one fabulous week! In So You Think You Can Dance camp, dancers will explore different genres of dance—learning terminology, choreography, even history & famous stars!

P: (303) 443-5437 E: info@abckidsclimbing.com W: www.abckidsclimbing.com

C: Kristin E: kklinger313@gmail.com W: www.AcademyStables.com

P: (303) 651-1456 E: longmont@airbornegym.com W: www.airbornegym.com

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CAMPS DIRECTORY BackStory Theatre —Broomfield

Bixby Summer Camp —Boulder

B-Fit Studio —Boulder

Blossom International Preschool—Boulder

Boulder Performing Arts Co.—Boulder

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Ages: 3 -18 years Hours & Days: Day camp. BackStory has offered high-quality theater education, exploration, and performances to enrich our community for over 15 years. Along with year-round after school programs and auditioned performance opportunities, we offer unique summer camps and activities

designed to build confidence and embrace the teamwork essential to creating art! Fees vary. Register online or contact us.

Ages: 2.5 years -6th grade Hours & Days: 9am - 3pm; Extended care available 8am - 5pm. Bixby Summer Camp is located on three shady acres with unique play structures, an indoor swimming pool, a basketball court, and a sports field. Variety of activities includes swimming, field trips,

arts & crafts, sports, gardening, science, water games, and special guests and performances. See ad.

Ages: 6 - 12 years B-fit coaches b-lieve fitness can be made fun! And we know you already know how to B-cool! So B-yourself! Our camp is designed to help your speed, strength, agility, power and b-alance. While at the hive, we expect and hold true to the motto “Work hard and B-Nice to people.” B-Fit offers Spring and Summer Camps for people 6-12 years old. Each day you will focus on an element of athleticism while using some of our favorite tools, including the TRX and Fitwall! Fitwall is a unique, vertical training apparatus and not to be missed! Campers will get fitter, faster, stronger

and learn how to live healthier lifestyles. Each day will include the best camp games, fun drills, and proof that fitness is fun! Early-bird pricing and registration available. Feel free to reach out for details or questions. We are aware some of our requirements are more restrictive than CDC’s. Please be symptom-free and vaccinated, or wear masks for in-person sessions. Online camps available if opting out of those requirements or are symptomatic.

Ages: 2.5 - 6 years Hours & Days: M-F. June 6 to July 29th. 8am - 5pm. (Est. 2000) Blossom International Preschool offers a Waldorf-inspired curriculum blended with French language and multicultural education . Camp activities are taught in French and English: sewing, arts and crafts, jewelry design, music, singing, storytell-

ing and performing arts. Blossom International Preschool, LLC is fully licensed. $405/week.

Ages: 5 - 13 years Hours & Days: M-F. 9am - 3pm. Friday performances. Developing skills in singing, acting, dancing, painting & storytelling. Our camps are fun and encourage everyone to work as a team but shine like a star. Every camper will develop self-confidence. Everyone gets a challenge. One week camps 5-9 years and adv. camps

2 & 3 weeks ages 8-13 years. All camps are following Covid mandates. Over 40 years in Boulder. Starting at $395.00. Register online $100.00 deposit, balances due the first day of camp.

P: (720)263-0836 E: info@backstorytheatre.org W: www.backstorytheatre.org

P: (303) 494-7508 E: summer@bixbyschool.org W: www.bixbyschool.org

P: (303) 449-5855 W: www.boulderfitnesstraining.com

P: (303) 819-4084 E: info@blossombilingualpre school.com W: www.blossominternational preschool.com

C: Pollyanna Demitro P: (303) 859-4195 E: boulderperformingarts2@gmail.com W: www.boulderperformingarts.com

CAMPS DIRECTORY BVSD Never Bummer Summer Camps!

Camp Oonie Koonie Cha—Boulder

Center for Musical Arts —Lafayette

Cherryvale Day Camps at Boulder JCC

City of Lafayette Youth Adventure Camp

Hours: Mornings: 9am - 12:30pm. Afternoons: 12:30pm - 4pm. Full-day: 8:30am - 4pm. At five BVSD summer hubs, enjoy half-day Enrichment Camps or Day Camps from June 6-July 29. BVSD Lifelong Learning will offer hundreds of morning or afternoon Enrichment Camps including skateboarding, robotics, chess, filmmaking, cooking,

LEGO and much more! At the same locations, BVSD Child Care will offer full-day camps with crafts, STEM activities, outdoor fun, games and cultural activities. W: LLL.BVSD.org (Enrichment Camps) W: childcare.BVSD.org (Day Camps)

7520 S Boulder Rd Ages: 4 - 9 years Hours & Days: M-F. 9am - 12:30pm. Week 1: June 6-10. Week 2: June 13-17. Pull on your boots and polish your spurs for an action packed Wild West music camp. Ride the range and barrel race on your own handmade painted ponies, listen to coyote tales, make handmade instruments including a guitar and agogo, and sing the old cowpoke songs around “the camp fire”. Every child will make instruments, learn songs and stories, get a t-shirt and digital CD of the songs and

stories collecting magical, musical memories of an unforgettable week. Camp integrates science, art, drama, a xylophone orchestra thru music. Teachers are experienced educators in early childhood with a low student-teacher ratio of 8:1. Optional Lunch Bunch Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 - 1:30 $20/day.

200 East Baseline Road Ages: All Music lessons, classes, ensembles, camps. We offer music programs for all ages and abilities, including summer camps, Music

in Motion for all ages (including 0-4), jazz & musical theater ensembles, lessons on all instruments + voice, and more.

Ages: 4 - 12 years Hours & Days: M-F. 9am- 4pm. Sessions begin on June 6 and run through August 12. Cherryvale Day Camp is the Boulder JCC day camp program located on-site at the Boulder JCC. We offer a variety of programs including a classic day camp program, along with two-week specialty programs including Milk and Honey Farm, musicals, and more. Cherryvale Day Camp at the Boulder JCC includes time at our farm, sports, arts & crafts, sprinkler time,

exploring nature, and more. Want to learn more about Cherryvale Day Camp programs? Join us during one of our virtual Campfire Meet and Greets which are scheduled for the first Thursday of each month at 12:30 pm MT.

Ages: 13 - 15 years Hours & Days: M-F, from 9am - 4pm the week of June 13th, July 11th, and August 1st. Do you have a teen looking for some fun this summer? Look no further. Sign up for our new teen-focused Adventure Camp! Each day is an exciting excursion that will have your teen engaged and excited at camp! Your teen will explore new challenges and develop skills to allow them to step outside their comfort zone safely. The focus of this camp is to encourage teens to add ADVENTURE to their summer and

experience rock-climbing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, go-karting, and so much more! The program starts at Pioneer Elementary school and includes an off-site field trip every day. Resident $300, Non Resident $310. Activity # 424010.

C: Amy Haywood & Laura Nordson P: (303) 880-9494 E: bouldercampokc@gmail.com W: www.campokc.com

W: www.centerformusicalarts.org

P: (303) 998-1900 E: julia.paeglis@boulderjcc.org W: boulderjcc.org/camps

C: Jordan Walker P: (303) 661-1288 E: jordan.walker@lafayetteco.gov W: www.lafayetteco.gov/1948/Sum-

mer- Camps

bouldercountykids.com • 23

CAMPS DIRECTORY City of Lafayette Specialty Camps

Children’s House Preschool—Boulder

CU Science Discovery— CU Boulder/CU Anschutz

Dawson School Camp Program

The Food Lab —Boulder

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Ages: 5 - 16 years Hours & Days: Varies by program, but either 9am-noon, 1pm-4pm, or 10am4pm. June-August. Get on board the specialty camp train! Lafayette Recreation has a camp for everyone this summer. If your child has a passion for art, science, engineering, comics, or cosplay, we offer a variety of

specialty camps to engage your child throughout the summer. Please visit the link below to view all of the specialty camps that we have to offer.

3370 Iris Walk Ct Ages: 3.5 -6 years Hours & Days: 8:30am - 1:00pm. M-Th book by the day or by the week. June 13 - July 28 & August 15-25. Come to our little red schoolhouse and aboard our new school bus as we take trips to local creeks, ponds, pools, gardens, forest trails and explore different parks. Jump on a Strider bike, or learn to ride one, as we discover the bike trails that go from our school through local neighborhoods and along creeks. Our farm tubs at the school and our community garden plot give children the oppor-

tunity to plant, water, weed, and harvest food grown from seed. Local farmers provide fresh produce to us on a weekly basis for children to wash, prepare, and cook delicious snacks. Children will get to visit various local farms to meet the farmers and their animals. Sign up now as we have limited our enrollment to 10-12 children a day. Adventure awaits! Cost: $60 per day or $200 per week.

4001 Discovery Dr. Ages: K - 12 grades Science Discovery offers summer camps and high school classes covering a range of science, technology, engineering, and math topics. All programs provide an eclectic mix of engaging, experiential learning activities that are sure to ignite a passion for project-based learning, exploration, and summer fun! Instructors include CU faculty and grad-

uate scientists who are enthusiastic and knowledgeable. From outdoor ecology, herbology, escape room, and Sphero robotics mini golf, to robotics, wilderness survival and backpacking skills, veterinary medicine, and LEGO Spike—we have something for everyone! See ad.

Regularly voted one of the region’s best, Dawson Summer Camps offer more than 80 camps over seven weeks for ages 5-15. With so many choices, there is truly something for every kind of kid - sports, tech, arts, and more. Some of the hallmarks of Dawson camps are the experienced camp directors and low camper: staff ratios. Dawson provides each camper a healthy and delicious hot lunch daily, and every camp gets time to cool off in the Dawson pool! Dawson

is able to make the most of its 107-acre campus and facilities, including two full gyms, extensive arts studios and theater, and the Dawson Center for Innovation. Dawson has campers sign up for multiple camps over the summer and return year after year. Families know that capacity is limited, and to register early for the best selection – a summer of fun is just a click away at our website!

Ages: 6 - 12 years Hours & Days: 9am - 12pm & 1 - 4pm. May 31 - week of August 8. Cooking camps all summer long. Camp themes: Latin, Baking, Asia, Italy. $335/week.

P: (303) 953-8364 E: events@foodlabboulder.com W: www.foodlabboulder.com/kidssummer-camp

C: Jordan Walker P: (303) 661-1288 E: jordan.walker@lafayetteco.gov

C: Michael Knuckey P: (303) 444-6432 E: michael@childrenshousepre school.org

W: www.colorado.edu/sciencediscovery/ P: (303) 492-7188

W: www. dawsonschool.org/summer

CAMPS DIRECTORY Forest & Folk Summer Camp—Boulder

Friends School Summer Programs —Boulder

Front Range Anglers —Boulder

Getting Ahead this Summer with Just2 Tutoring

Garden to Table

Ages: 7 - 12 years Hours & Days: Day camp. 8:30am - 3pm. (Option of aftercare from 3 - 5pm). M-F. At Forest & Folk Summer Camps, we offer your child the simple joy of making things with their hands. In a world that moves faster and faster, we advocate a slower, gentler experience, in a beautiful, outdoor setting that inspires creativity, connection, and beauty. 2022 Summer Camps are 10 weeks inspired by the natural world and include Explorers & Mapmakers, Forest Dwellers, Ages: 3 -14 years Hours & Days: Weeklong, morning, & afternoon sessions. June 6 - July 28. Day camp. Preschool, elementary, and middle school programs. Preschool Backyard Camp, science, cooking, performing arts, art, music, sports, and more. Licensed and accredited.

Masterpieces from Nature, Great Creek Race, Magic Potions, Preparing for the Banquet, Tiny Worlds, Animal Awareness, Rainbow Handwork & Fine Feathered Friends. C: Elizabeth P: (720) 383-4406 E: info@livingartsschool.com W: https://livingartsschool.com/

summer-camp

Discounts available for early registration. View complete details and register online or call. C: Ailish McAndrew P: (303) 499-1999 W: www.friendssummercamp.org

2344 Pearl Street Ages: 9 - 14 years Hours & Days: M-F. 9am - 3pm. June 6-10, June 20-24, July 11-15, July 25-29. Guides hand-picked, CBI background, & CPR certified. Hosted on local Boulder waters, our co-ed kid’s camp will build a foundation for a lifetime of learning about fly fishing. Safety and a quality fishing experience is our #1 goal of our

camp as we work with a 3:1 guide to angler ratio. Price: $650.00 for the week or $750.00 w/ Orvis Encounter Rod/Reel Kit. All campers will receive a complimentary 1 year Trout Unlimited membership!

Whether your child needs to maintain, accelerate or remediate their skills, get them connected to a highly qualified coach to lead a path to credit recovery or acquisition, prepare for a transition or complete a passion project this summer. Just2 is a leader in executive

function skills, focus coaching while providing expert academic support.

Located at 3 different school gardens around Boulder County. Ages: 6 - 9 years Hours & Days: M-F. 9am - 12:30pm and 12:30 - 4pm. Weekly sessions starting June 13 - July 29. Garden to Table has been partnering with schools in BVSD for 15 years, providing gardens and curriculum to ensure all students have the opportunity for garden-based learning. At Garden Camp you will spend the morning exploring a school garden. Activities include garden-

ing, harvesting, preparing, and eating garden-fresh snacks. You will also put on your scientist hat to investigate soil, bugs, plants, and more. Nature crafts, STEM challenges, scavenger hunts, and games will round out the week. This will be a fun camp with a variety of enriching activities for kids. $250 per week. Group size 10-15.

P: (303) 494-1375 E: antonio@frontrangeanglers.com W: www.frontrangeanglers.com

P: (720) 584-6425 E: connect@just2tutoring.com W: www.just2tutoring.com

E: info@gardentotable.org W: www.gardentotable.org

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CAMPS DIRECTORY Growing Gardens Children’s Peace Garden

Longmont Museum

Longmont Climbing Collective

Mackintosh Academy 2022 Specialty Summer Camps

Miss Joanie Drama —Boulder

26 • bouldercountykids.com

Ages: 5 - 11 years Hours & Days: M-F. Full-day summer camps. In-person. Join us for an active week of summer camp and experience the wonders of our urban farm. Camp themes include Field to Fork Cooking, Art and Photography, Magic and Mysteries on the Farm, and Survival

Skills. We’ll tend to the garden, explore through the lens of art and science, and make tasty snacks from the bounty of our harvests. Register to save your spot by calling or online.

400 Quail Road Ages: 3 -16 years Hours & Days: Day camps. June - July. M-F. Discover history, art, music, culture, and technology in these hands-on camps. Learn from artists and musicians. Paint a masterpiece or become an archeologist.

Camps held indoors and outdoors at the Longmont Museum. For requirements, fees, and details call or visit our website.

Ages: 4 - 13 years Hours & Days: M-F. 9am - 12pm and 9am 3pm. June 7 - August 13. This summer, June 2022, The Longmont Climbing Collective Summer Camp program kicks into high gear! Our programs are designed for various abilities, ages, and experience levels. Our expert coaches will ensure your climber has a blast, while also getting in a fun workout and an exciting learning experience. Our summer camps offer indoor exercise and activity in a fun and active environ-

ment. These camps will focus on climbing skill building and practice, team building oriented games, challenge and obstacle courses, as well as yoga for focus and flexibility.

At Mackintosh Academy Boulder, we believe summers should be about your child’s passions, being creative, and digging in the dirt! This summer we are offering specialty camps to fill your camper’s wildest dreams. We have specialized camps that allow students to create their own individualized experience with both half-day and full-day camp options. We are located on 23 beautiful acres with panoramic views of the Flatirons.

Mack has a wonderful playground and outdoor spaces, low ropes course, and a pond and stream for hands-on exploration and fun. For more information or to register, go to mackboulder.com. For a full list of camp descriptions check out our online 2022 camp brochure in Quick Links on our website.

Ages: 4 - 11 years Hours & Days: M-F. 8:30am - 4:30pm. Using a theme specific to each week, children are guided to create adaptations of play from favorite story books. From Dr. Seuss and fairy tales to Fancy Nancy and animal stories, imaginations run wild as we write and perform plays with these themes. Free performances each Friday for friends and family.

Laugh, play, explore and perform! Summer week long sessions from May 30 - September 2, $350/week. Spring Break Camp is March 21 - 25, $350/week. Equipment needed: water bottle, lunch/ snacks, sunscreen.

P: (303) 443-9952 W: www.growinggardens.org

P: (303) 651-8374 W: www.longmontmuseum.org

C: Shauna Hylenski P: (720) 340-3640 E: info@longmontclimbingcollective. com W: www.longmontclimbingcollective. com

E: enrichment@mackboulder.com W: www.mackboulder.com

C: Joanie Rubald E: joanie@missjoaniedrama.com W: www.missjoaniedrama.com

CAMPS DIRECTORY Marine Science and Swim Mini Camps This Summer

Music Together® with Mountain Song Music Studio, Inc.

Mudslingers Pottery Studio—Lafayette

Northern Colorado Fencers Summer Camp

Off Broadway Preschool

Open Hands Art Camp

3015 Bluff St, Boulder Hours & Days: M-Th. 12pm - 2pm. Looking for safe and fun activities for your kids this summer? Join us for one of our marine science-focused programs offered through various weeks June-August. Taught through hands-on activities, crafts, and experiments, all of

our summer camps will have your kids exploring and discovering the magic of the oceans followed by a half-hour swim lesson.

Ages: Birth and up Music Together ® OUTDOORS in person. Singing, movement, instrument play for Mixed Ages (0-4). Drumming, multi-cultural focus for Rhythm Kids (4-8) Small Groups, siblings welcome. Central Boulder Private Location. Indoor option under consideration (stay tuned!). Also

Individual Private Piano Lessons indoors In-Person or Online (ages 5 and up). Following Covid Safety Protocol.

Ages: 8 and up Hours & Days: M-F. Day camp. Morning sessions from 10am - 12pm. Afternoon sessions from 1 - 3pm. Summer Clay Camps. Our 25th year! One-week classes, $175 per week, per child. Fun, professionally taught clay camp in full-service studio. Children

receive hands-on instruction on potters’ wheel, slab, and sculpture methods, creating pieces to be proud of in stoneware clays and high-fire glazes.

1949 33rd Street, Boulder Ages: 7 -13 years Hours & Days: M-F. 9am - noon (1 - 4pm on selected weeks). USFA coaches. All the instruction/equipment needed for a safe and exciting experience. Runs most weeks throughout the summer. Check out our website

for camp/registration details and other great club activities! $195/week (multiple weeks/sibling discounts).

1235 Pine Street, Boulder Ages: 2.5 -5 years Hours & Days: June - August. M-F. 8am - 5:30pm. Summer camp at Off Broadway Preschool means lots of outdoor FUN and ADVENTURE. Each week is a different theme with activities, field trips to local attractions and in-house challenges to entertain and educate your child. Splash days twice a week. Healthy

snacks provided. Half-day, full-day and extended-day schedules. Choose your weeks or sign up for the whole summer for a discount. Call or go online for more information and the weekly themes.

7873 St. Vrain Road, Longmont 80503 Ages: 6 - 17 years Open Hands Art Camp offers week-long art camps in paint, clay, mixed media and more. Our camps are designed to spark imagination, experimentation and creative fun. We are located on a small family farm outside of Longmont and our studios are both indoors and out!

Each week is limited to 12 campers. Our teachers are artists, past campers, and art students who love kids and creative fun. Come join us this summer!

P: (303) 444-7234 E: swim@oceanfirst.blue W: www.oceanfirst.blue

C: Jane Smolens, Director P: (303) 413-1120 W: www.mountainsongmusic.com E: jsmolens@mountainsongmusic.com

P: (303) 926-0996 E: info@mudslingerspottery.com W: www.mudslingerspottery.com

C: Gary Copeland P: (303) 443-6557 W: www.ncfencers.org

C: Bethany P: (303) 800-0324 E: info@offbroadwaypreschool.org W: www.offbroadwaypreschool.org

C: Page Zekonis P: (720) 400-1319 W: www.openwindowstudio.org

bouldercountykids.com • 27

CAMPS DIRECTORY Adventure Quest with Renaissance Adventures

Dungeon Delvers with Renaissance Adventures

Rocky Mountain Theatre For Kids Summer Performing Arts Camp —Older Company

Rocky Mountain Theatre For Kids Summer Performing Arts Camp —Younger Company

Rocky Ridge Music— Nuestras Raíces: Música Mariachi

28 • bouldercountykids.com

Boulder, Littleton, & Denver Ages: 6 - 17 years Your child is the hero of a mythic quest in an incredibly fun, award-winning outdoor experience like none other! In small groups of like ages, children ages 6-17 read maps, solve mysteries and riddles, overcome dynamic challenges, and battle using safe, foam swords. Adventure Quest summer camps are designed to develop teamwork, critical thinking,

ethical reasoning, communication, and other skills for social emotional development. Highly-trained staff, and over 25 years experience make Renaissance Adventures a family favorite kids camp since 1995.

Boulder Ages: 10 - 17 years Join Renaissance Adventures for a tabletop RPG program that utilizes the Dungeons & Dragons® tabletop game system! Explore and create an adventure in the fantasy world of one of the most popular tabletop roleplaying games. Play as a powerful wizard, crafty rogue, swift warrior, mystical healer, or another

exciting archetype. The hero’s journey is full of challenges – dangerous beasts, mythical monsters, negotiations, and mysteries to solve. Come play with RA’s expert game masters and story crafters in one of our in-person camps!

5311 Western Avenue; Suite 135 (near 55th/Arapahoe) Ages: 8 - 17 years Hours & Days: Day camps. Indoor: M-F, 9am - 4pm. Outdoor: M-F, 10am - 4pm. Join us for Matilda, Willy Wonka Jr., Legally Blonde, The Tempest, and more. One- through four-week camps, starting May 31st. Programs include dance, voice,

music, makeup, performance, character building, musical theatre, improvisation, mime, creative movement, and stage combat. A nurturing, non-competitive program that merges the creative process with professional product. See ad.

5311 Western Avenue; Suite 135 (near 55th/Arapahoe) Ages: 5 - 8 years Hours & Days: Day camps. Indoor: M-F, 8:30am - 3:30pm. Outdoor: M-F, 9am - 1pm. Join us for Annie Kids, Frozen Kids, The Greatest Showman, and MUCH MORE. One and two-week camps starting May 31st. 9:1 student-teacher ratio. The Estes Park Ages: 10 - 15 years Days: July 19 to July 24. Presented in partnership with Denver’s Latino Cultural Arts Center, Nuestras Raíces is an exciting new summer residential camp that explores the musical cultures of the Americas. In 2022, expert faculty members will guide beginners in the study of mariachi within a supportive and inspirational environment

P: (303) 786-9216 E: info@renaissanceadventures.com W: www.RenaissanceAdventures.com

P: (303) 245-8150 W: www.theaterforkids.net program includes music, dance, acting, performance, musical theatre, imaginative play, and creative movement. Each session culminates with a final performance in our theater. See ad. P: (303) 245-8150 W: www.theaterforkids.net

in order to broaden students’ musical experience and knowledge. No audition required and no prior experience necessary! Since 1942 we’ve been taking musical excellence to new heights, one student at a time. C: Megan Quilliam P: (303) 449-1106 E: RRMC@RockyRidge.org W: www.RockyRidge.org

CAMPS DIRECTORY Rocky Ridge Music— Jumpstart: String Fundamentals

Shining Mountain Waldorf School

Singletrack Mountain Bike Adventures

Storycamp

Studio Arts Boulder

Estes Park Ages: 10 - 15 years Days: July 12 to July 17. Residential summer music camp in Estes Park for true beginners ages 10-15! July 12 to July 17, 2022. Learn the fundamentals of violin, viola, or cello. This 5-day residential summer camp program will prepare beginner young musicians for success in middle and high school programs with a solid, rudimentary foundation. Learn from expert teachers through private lessons and group classes in a supportive environ-

ment that encourages fun. Students are guided to practice effectively and even parents are advised on how to help set up an ideal practice environment for their child at home. No audition required! Students should be beginners or should have been taking private lessons for less than a year. Since 1942 we’ve been taking musical excellence to new heights, one student at a time. C: Megan Quilliam P: (303) 449-1106 E: RRMC@RockyRidge.org W: www.RockyRidge.org

Ages: 2.5 - 7 years plus Middle School Grades 6 - 8 Immerse your child in the joy of summer with Waldorf-inspired activities, crafting, and outdoor play on our beautiful 12acre campus. Serving children from 2.5 to 7 years of age. Middle school sports

camps are also available to 6th through 8th graders, including cross country/ track & field, volleyball, and basketball.

Boulder Ages: 7 - 17 years Hours & Days: M-TH. SMBA has been creating champions on and off the bike through outdoor play, MTB skill development, team camaraderie, and fun in the Boulder County area for almost 30 years. Offering fun for all skill levels and mountain bike riding styles. Summer Day Camps include 4-day all girls and co-ed camps for

newer riders ages 7-13. Team programs include weekly summer part-time or full-time all day programs, as well as spring and fall after school and weekend programs for riders ages 8-17 years. Seasonal overnight Adventure Trips also offered.

Niwot Ages: Grades 1 - 7 Hours & Days: Full days. M-F. Explore the forest, swing from trees, build obstacle courses, and bring your stories to life through aerial dance and stilt-walking. At Storycamp, with 38 acres of open space and a small wilderness of cottonwood trees, we combine circus, primal skills, art, and theater into a nature-based program that is

child-directed and encourages collaboration. Practice archery, fire-building, puppet-making, and take part in a woodland performance. We field trip to mountains, museums, and places to swim. Our teachers are experienced educators, artists, and bushcraft specialists.

Studio Arts Boulder is offering weeklong pottery camps for kids of all ages! Campers of all skill levels will have plenty of time to create and learn new techniques. Wheel-throwing or hand-building camps run each morning and afternoon M-F with the option to

add supervised lunch. Each instructor is background checked, CPR certified, and health screened before each day.

W: shiningmountainwaldorf.org/ programs/summer-camps

P: (303) 447-8014 E: info@lertprograms.com W: smba.lertprograms.com

P: (603) 770-3358 W: storycampdangercamp.com

P: (720) 379-6033 E: contact@studioartsboulder.org W: www.studioartsboulder.org

bouldercountykids.com • 29

CAMPS DIRECTORY Sunflower Farm Summer Camps

Sunflower Preschool Summer Camp

Thorne Nature Summer Camp

Tinker Art Studio —Boulder

Tinker @ BMoCA

30 • bouldercountykids.com

Longmont Ages: 5 - 10 years Hours & Days: Full days, 9am - 3pm. Weekly Summer camps beginning May 31st through Aug. 5th (Registration for summer begins on January 31st). School Age Weekly Camps. Choose 1 week or

multiple- Monday - Friday. $490/per week (Discounted 4 day weeks, of 5/31 & 7/5: $395 for full day session.)

3340 Dartmouth, 80305 Ages: 2.5 - 6 years Hours & Days: M-F. Day Camp. Parttime schedules available. Sunflower celebrates 40 years of connecting young children to nature and their inherent sense of wonder! The Summer Camp emphasis at Sunflower is on outdoor activities and connecting children with nature. Sunflower is now a Certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom, a National Wildlife Feder-

ation certified wildlife habitat, as well as PACE certified since 2008. We enjoy taking walks to Martin Park, gardening, water play, arts and crafts, and learning about native plants and animals. Please bring your own lunch, bathing suits, and towels. See ad.

Boulder & Lafayette Ages: 3 -15 years Hours: Day Camp. Thorne Summer Camp has been connecting youth to nature for over 60 years and we know that KIDS GROW BETTER IN NATURE! Our unique camps focus on outdoor exploration, wilderness skills,

and so much more. Thorne campers follow their passions, build confidence, and learn about and connect with nature, all while having a lot of FUN. Join us for your child’s best summer ever!

693B S. Broadway Ages: 3.5 -16 years Hours & Days: Day Camps. M-F. Half-day. 9am - 12pm or 1pm - 4pm. Join us this Summer in our studio for a huge selection of art camps! We are excited to launch a series of Brand New for 2022 camps including Puppy Camp, Rainbow Sparkle Camp, Treasure Island, Pizza Party Camp, and Glow in the Dark Art Camp! We’ll also have our favorite staples like wheel throwing and hand building clay camps, Make & Play, Fairy

Keepers Camp, Realistic Drawing, Origami, Teen Camps and so much more. Every day includes an art lesson, open art exploration, and time outdoors—led by experienced teachers. Celebrating our 11th year of summer camps in our convenient South Boulder location. See you in the studio!

1750 13th St, Boulder Ages: 5 - 16 years Hours & Days: Day Camps. M-TH. Halfday. 9am - 12pm or 1pm - 4pm. Tinker Art Studio and Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) have teamed up to bring a summer full of art camps to BMoCA’s beautiful space! Our fantastic lineup of camps include: Art at the Museum, Sculpt & Build, Art in Motion, Painters Camp, Realistic Drawing, Teen Paint, Teen Draw, and Rainbow

Sparkle Camp. We have great options for all artists! Every day includes an art lesson, open art exploration, and time outdoors—led by experienced teachers. This is the second year of our Tinker @ BMoCA camps and we are thrilled to be back. See you at the museum!

P: (303) 774-8001 W: www.sunflowerfarminfo.com

C: Marisa Ellman P: (303) 494-2012 E: sunflowerpreschoolboulder@gmail.com W: www.sunflowerpreschoolboulder.com

W: thornenature.org/summer-camp/

P: (303) 503-1902 E: tinker@tinkerartstudio.com W: www.tinkerartstudio.com

CAMPS DIRECTORY TLC Learning Center

Wee Folk Forest Summer Camp—Boulder

Wild Bear Nature Center

611 Korte Pkwy, Longmont Ages: 8 weeks - 6 years Hours & Days: M-F. 7:30am - 5:30pm. Preschool and early child care. TLC Learning Center (formerly Tiny Tim) Colorado Shines Level 4 Program Rated. Preparing children for success by supporting the individual child has been our focus for over sixty years. Our Longmont center offers high-quality infant, toddler,

and preschool educational and pediatric therapy services in a year-round setting to successfully prepare children for academic and life success. See ad.

Ages: 2.5 - 6 years Hours & Days: Day camp. 8:30am - 3:30pm. Optional before care 8am 8:30am & after care 3:30pm - 4:30pm. M-F. At Wee Folk Forest Camps, we’ll be spending our mornings exploring our light-filled forest, and our afternoons beside our pond and taking adventure walks around the land. All 10 weeks of camp include a fun and balanced

approach to the day; blending activities with outdoor free play, collaborative group play, music, and storytelling.

Nederland Ages: 3 -12 years Hours & Days: M-Th. 8am - 4pm. June 6 - August 12. Join Wild Bear Nature Center in the cool mountain air this summer! Hike the mountain forests, play in the woods, discover the mountain water creatures, create art to take home and more! For ages 5-12 choose any combo of Mon/ Tues, Wed/Thurs, or all four days for

each two-week session or all summer long. Shuttle service from/to Boulder available. $75/day, $20/day Bear Cubs. Transportation: Yes. Appropriate outdoor clothing, lunch & snacks, water, and program-specific gear needed.

C: Lisa Stratton, Educational Services Manager P: (303) 776-7417 W: www.learningwithtlc.org

C: Elizabeth P: (720) 383-4406 E: info@livingartsschool.com W: www.weefolkforestkindergarten. com/summer-camp/

P: (303) 258-0495 E: registrar@wildbear.org W: www.wildbear.org

bouldercountykids.com • 31

Boulder’s Newest

INTERNATIONAL PRESCHOOL BCK: First off, tell us about yourself! What is your experience with international and play-based learning? Why are you passionate about this? MPN: I was born and raised in a French and Italian bi-cultural family in the French Alps near the Italian border. I spent my school years in France and the summer months in northern Italy. Growing up with two cultures was not unusual in my area. School curricula were very diverse. By 8th grade, for example, every student had been studying Latin and two foreign languages of their choice and had attended school trips to the countries of the languages they were studying. BCK: Why do you think it is important for children to have international and play-based learning compared to a traditional learning experience? MPN: I do believe it is important for children to be immersed in and surrounded by diversity from an early age. The capacity in which children learn sounds, pronunciations, rhythms, movements, and so forth should be fostered by a diverse curriculum that offers options to cultivate these abilities and make them forever accessible. I was first introduced to playbased learning when I assisted in a Waldorf Kindergarten classroom before opening Blossom. I began to realize that not imposing academics on the children, but rather striving to provide a developmentally appropriate learning base, tailored to the order in which the brain develops, is the goal of play-based education. Academics are integrated with free play, art, handwork, music, and stage performances, and provide a well-thought-out learning environment. The choice of developmentally appropriate play materials inside and outside the classroom, reading materials with beautifully written and illustrated stories, is extremely important. Hands-on

Why Marie-Pierre Nicoletti is launching a new international preschool to Boulder County: a Q&A with Boulder County Kids. activities offered through a playbased curriculum are carefully selected and respond to an avid desire to learn through play and work. BCK: What will the average day be like for students of Blossom International Preschool? MPN: A typical day at Blossom consists of spending 5.5 hours outdoors and 3.5 hours indoors all year round (we follow Child Care Weather Watch). Appropriate outside play and work are done outdoors and mid-morning snacks, inside play, and handwork are done indoors. This well-balanced schedule promotes self-regulation and offers opportunities for socialization in different settings. Our curriculum changes every two weeks and follows nature’s rhythm throughout the year. On Mondays, we explore colors through Watercolor Wet on Wet painting. On Tuesdays, we peel and chop vegetables to make soup. On Wednesdays, we bake sweet bread. On Thursdays, we bake French bread. On Fridays, we work on art projects. BCK: Why did you feel Boulder County needs a preschool like this? MPN: Already, in our seven years in the community, Blossom has served many, many families from all around the world, families inspired by our bilingual and international approach. These families were inspired that we even existed as an option for their children. This has encouraged us to expand our language and cultural mission to encompass a more global perspective. We will continue to honor and

celebrate diversity and inclusion through our new expanded curriculum, and we will invite families to actively participate in sharing their culture to enrich and expand the perspectives of each of us at Blossom International Preschool, as well as our extended community. BCK: What is your vision for the future of Blossom International Preschool? MPN: My vision for the future of Blossom is to continue to bring our educational philosophy and our focus on inclusion and diversity to as many children as possible. I would like for every child that comes to Blossom to feel represented as a person and an important part of their family, their school, and the community in which they live. I would like Blossom to always feel like a second home for children and a great stepping stone to academic success. I would like Blossom International to continue creating ties with outside educational entities to enrich our curriculum with their expertise. Ultimately, I would love for Blossom to own its permanent location in the city of Boulder. Marie-Pierre Nicoletti grew up in France. She is the founder of The Language of Food, created in Boulder in 2000, a culinary and cultural program that taught children traditional and regional French cooking and the French language. Marie’s love of working with children led her to further her education in Early Childhood Education and finished her Early Childhood Education Lead Teacher certificate and her Director Qualification requirements in August 2014. One year later Marie opened Blossom Bilingual Preschool and 7 years later, is launching Blossom International Preschool, in June 2022.

YOUR AD HERE EMAIL ADVERTISING@BOULDERCOUNTYKIDS.COM OR HEAD TO BOULDERCOUNTYKIDS.COM TO LEARN MORE.

SUMMER HORSE CAMP !! Weekly: May 30 through August 14

“Horse” Camp for kids age 9-12 yo

“Pony” Camp for kids age 6-8 yo

Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Wednesday - Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

www.AcademyStables.com▪ 4277 N. 109th Street Lafayette, CO 80026 ▪ 303-665-4637

Rocky Mountain Theatre For Kids

SUMMER CAMPS AGES 8-17

  Matilda Matilda

  Willy Willy Wonka Wonka Jr Jr

  Legally Blonde   The Tempest

 Beauty Beauty & & the the Beast Beast Jr Jr

AGES 5-8

  Annie Kids

  Frozen Kids

  Alice in Wonderland

 The The Greatest Greatest Showman Showman

Save $50-$250 off camp

www.theaterforkids.net/coupon

and more!

Experience the RMTK Difference!

RMTK is the only local youth theatre company that provides professional theatre staff, 9:1 student-teacher ratio, professional performance venues, and a daily camp curriculum sculpted by 27 years of experience.

303.245.8150

www.theaterforkids.net

5311 Western Ave, Ste 135 (near Arapahoe & 55th) Boulder, CO

bouldercountykids.com • 33

Cottonbro

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL

directory

alf-day care, full-day care, music-focused, nature-focused, and more! Scout out the best child care organizations and early education programs in the Boulder area.

Blossom International Preschool, LLC—Boulder

Boulder Country Day School — Preschool

34 • bouldercountykids.com

5001 Pennsylvania Avenue Boulder, CO 80303 Ages: 2.5 - 6 years Hours & Days: 8am - 5pm. M-F. Year round. Blossom International Preschool, LLC is a member of WECAN, CAEYC, CAFCC and AATF. We are a FARM to ECE preschool and the recipient of a 2020 Grant from Early Childhood Council of Boulder County (ECCBC). Blossom International Preschool is a Waldorf-inspired, play- and nature-based Licensed Child Care Center in operation since 2015. We follow a multicultural Waldorf inspired curriculum all year round and French language is integrated into our

daily rhythm and circle/songs. We create a safe, nurturing and supportive environment, empowering children to explore and expand during their early years. We celebrate U.S. and International festivals and holidays. We host mixed-age groups in a beautiful Waldorf-inspired environment. At Blossom, we celebrate diversity and we welcome families with children ages 2.5 to 6 years old.

4820 Nautilus Ct. North Ages: 2.5 - 8th grade Hours & Days: half and full-day options: 8am-1pm or 8am-3pm. M-F, 3-day and 5-day options for Preschool. Licensed June-August/Camp. After school care and enrichment classes available. Accreditations: NAIS, ACIS, and Approved Middle Years International Baccalaureate School. Boulder Country Day School, where academic distinction meets education with character. BCD is a top-rated, accredited private school in Boulder, Colorado where every child has the opportunity

to discover their own unique excellence. Distinguished by small class sizes, outstanding faculty, engaging academics and a focus on community, our preschool, elementary and IB middle school teachers strive to create a well-rounded educational environment that balances traditional subjects with the arts, world languages, athletics and project-based learning.

C: Marie-Pierre Nicoletti P: (303) 819-4084 E: info@blossombilingualpreschool.com W: blossominternationalpreschool.com

C: Susan Boyle P: (303)-527-4931 x 248 E: info@bouldercountryday.org W: www.bouldercountryday.org

CHILD CARE DIRECTORY Fairy Ring Garden— Longmont

Flagstaff Academy Preschool—Longmont

Friends School —Boulder

Montessori Academy— Lafayette

9147 Fleetwood Ave. Ages: 1 - 5 years Hours & Days: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm. Full-days and part-time. M-F. Licensed. Lifeways (Waldorf) Certified. Year round. A small, play-based, outdoor-oriented home school for children ages one to five in North Longmont. We see every child as unique and beautiful with unlimited potential. They are seeds to be nurtured with love, guidance, and grace so that they might blossom into the fullest expression of who they are meant to be. Outdoor learning with gardening and farm animals.

Master’s degree teachers. Chemical free, eco-friendly environment. Waldorf/Lifeways curriculum. Organic, all natural foods, many taken from our own garden. Natural, wood and sustainable toys. Non-profit school welcoming of diverse families, regardless of race, socio-economic status, or gender orientation. CCAP families welcome!

2040 Miller Drive, Longmont 80501 Ages: 3 - 5 years Hours & Days: Full-Time: M-F, 7am - 6pm. Part-Time: M-Th; 8:30 - 11:15am or 12:45 - 3:30pm. Now enrolling for the 22/23 school year. Flagstaff Academy offers both full-time and part-time preschool options for children ages 3 - 5. Founded in 2009, our preschool incorporates the Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence Curriculum and Early Learning Developmental Guidelines.

Children in the preschool program develop both socially and academically, and discover that learning is fun through play-based activities. Unique learning opportunities include regular visits to our greenhouse/ geo-conservatory classroom and teaching garden, and school library time.

5465 Pennsylvania Ages: 3 - 5 yrs. Preschool/Pre-K 3-5 year olds. Days & Hours: Full-day: 9 am to 3 pm M-Th; 9 am to 1pm F; Half- day: 9 am to 12 pm M-F. August - May/Summer Camp. Licensed & Accredited. A supportive community, committed to educating the whole child--head, hand, and heart. Outdoor-oriented classrooms connected to nature encourage learning through play and exploration with a focus on relationships, communication, art, nature immersion, and a foundation for pre-academic skills. Small classes,

low student teacher ratios, wide variety of high-quality materials and experiences. Specials including music, art and PE. Award-winning, master-level teachers with over 20 years of experience in each classroom. Personalized Affordable Tuition. ACIS accredited, NAIS member.

801 N 111th Street Ages: 1 - 6 years Hours & Days: M-F. 8:30am - 3pm. Fulland half-day programs, with some before& after-school care. August - May school year, June - August Summer Camp Program. Licensed. Montessori Academy provides a challenging and nurturing environment that leads children toward confidence, independence, and a life of learning through discovery, observation, and positive, helpful friendships. We offer toddler, preschool, and kindergarten programs in a nurturing environment that respects each individual

C: Ginger Johnson, M.Ed. P: (303) 507-7331 E: fairyringschool@gmail.com W: www.fairyringschool.org

C: Jeanna Peppler, Interim Preschool Director P: (303) 651-7900 W: www.flagstaffacademy.org

W: www.FriendsSchoolBoulder.org E: admissions@FriendsSchoolBoul-

der.org

P: (303) 499-1999 C: Taylor Replane

child. Montessori Academy has been an American Montessori Society full-member school since 2002. Our lead teachers are certified. Preschool classroom currently bilingual with a Spanish teacher. Multiple Covid-safety precautions. See our Facebook page for a short virtual tour! Please call if you would like more information or to enroll. C: Beth Weekley P: (303) 926-8321 W: www.montessoriacademylafayette.com E: montessori.academy@mac.com

bouldercountykids.com • 35

CHILD CARE DIRECTORY Off Broadway Preschool 1235 Pine Street

Ages: 3 - 5 years Hours & Days: M-F. Full- or half-days from 8:30am - 12:30 or 3:30pm. Extended care 8am - 5:30pm. Year-round. At Off Broadway Preschool, we aim to inspire curiosity, creativity, and compassion in children and families through the arts. Our daily schedule balances child-directed play experiences with structured group classes in music, yoga, visual art, and integrated arts. We employ professional educators to guide children through the school day, and keep low teacher to student ratios (1:5) to ensure that children and families are given personalized attention.

Promise Christian Preschool

Sunflower Farm Preschool and School Aged Program —Longmont

Thorne Nature Preschool —Boulder & Lafayette

36 • bouldercountykids.com

Meals are prepared in-house using high quality organic ingredients. Our recently updated facility is conveniently located in downtown Boulder which allows us to take walking field trips to the Farmers Market, library and Museum of Boulder. Adjustments have been made to the facility and daily program to adhere to state, city and Early Childhood Council COVID-19 guidelines. E: info@offbroadwaypreschool.org W: www.offbroadwaypreschool.org P: (303) 800-0324 C: Bethany

76th St Boulder, CO 80303 Located on the border of Boulder and Louisville, Promise Christian Preschool strives for academic excellence in all areas while achieving our mission of teaching every child that they are personally known and loved by God and created in His image. Through small class sizes and age appropriate curriculum, each child is encouraged

to grow spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Promise is entering its 30th year of educating children in Boulder County. Contact us today for a personalized tour!

Ages: 5 - 8 years and 3 - 5 years Hours & Days: Half Day Program 8:30-12:30 or Full Day Program 8:30-3:00. New this year-School-Age 10 week Summer Program, Ages 5-8: Backed by multiple requests, we are now offering a 10-week School-Aged Program, for ages 5-8, which begins on May 31st and runs through August 5th, 2022. Students can come 1 Full Friday, 2, 3, 4, or 5 half or full days per week for 10 weeks. Hours are 8:30 - 12:30 or 8:30 - 3 pm. Note July 4th we are closed. Tuition is under our Camp page on

our website. Preschool SproutHouse Program Ages 3-5, is a 10-Week Summer Program from May 31st-August 5th, Half-Day Program 8:30-12:30 or Full-Day Program 8:30-3:00. Choose Mon/Weds, Tues/Thurs, 3 days, 4 days or 1 Full Friday. For registration for the preschool Summer Program, prices and more detailed information, please visit our SproutHouse Preschool webpage.

Ages: 3 -6 years Hours & Days: August – May school year, June – August Summer Camp. Days: M-F, 2/3/5-day options. Hours: 9am - 1pm, extended care available. Licensed. Thorne Nature Preschool is built on the simple belief that kids grow better in nature. Our preschool offers a unique early childhood education experience where young children go to learn, grow, and reach their full potential through daily immersion

in nature with caring, attentive mentors. With dual goals of nature connection and fostering the development of the wholechild, Thorne Nature Preschool prepares young children to succeed in school and in life.

P: (303) 666-9874 W: promisechristianpreschool.org E: promisechristianpreschool@gmail.com

W: www.sunflowerfarminfo.com P: (303) 774-8001

E: info@thornenaturepreschool.org W: www.ThorneNaturePreschool.org P: (303) 499-1999 C: Lorene Wapotich

CHILD CARE DIRECTORY Sunflower Preschool —Boulder

TLC Learning Center —Longmont

3340 Dartmouth Ages: 2.5 - 6 years Hours & Days: Year-round. Call for hours. NOW ENROLLING. Licensed. Celebrating 40 years, Sunflower Preschool is now a certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom, National Wildlife Federation certified wildlife habitat, as well as PACE certified since 2008. Sunflower Preschool, which opened its doors in 1981, offers a small, eco-friendly, play-based, hands-on, nurturing environment, where children learn through exploration and discovery.

At Sunflower, our classrooms are Montessori-based with a science and nature emphasis. The teachers are well-paid professional ECE teachers who have been a part of the Sunflower staff for years. Please come and take a look at our unique children’s science museum as well as the multisensory outdoor environment.

611 Korte Pkwy, Longmont 80501 Hours & Days: M-F. 7:30 am -5:30 pm (fulland half-day options available) About TLC: We’ve been nurturing success in all kids for over 65 years! Our childcare, preschool and therapy center focuses on helping kids of all abilities develop the cognitive, physical and social-emotional skills

they need to thrive in school and beyond.

E: sunflowerpreschoolboulder@gmail.com W: www.sunflowerpreschoolboulder.com P: (303) 494-2012 C: Marisa Ellman

E: lstratton@learningwithtlc.org W: LearningWithTLC.org P: (303) 776-7417 C: Lisa Stratton, Educational Services Manager

Finding the best

care for your kids in Boulder County

Babysitters of Boulder Locally founded and owned. Kind sitters and nannies for evenings, weekends, holidays, and events. Temporary & permanent support. P: (303) 749-1168 E: help@babysittersofboulder.com W: www.babysittersofboulder.com

My Boulder Nanny Our mission since 2012 for has always been to find pre-vetted “nanny quality” occasional babysitters (all bookable online) for our member families. E: myboulderbabysitter@gmail.com W: www.mybouldernanny.com

Nannies of the Rockies

We adhere to a strict standard of excellence in our recruitment of top notch childcare candidates. We are the agency your family will come to rely on for years to come! P: (303) 513-7733 W: www.nanniesoftherockies.com

bouldercountykids.com • 37

PICTURE BOOKS THAT

VA L I D AT E and HEAL

by Pam Martin

THROUGH STORY

It makes sense that practitioners, parents, and educators recommend books to young people as a way to support positive mental health. One reason for their success, particularly with kids, is that stories are entertaining, which is why their messages can be delivered with such little resistance. Considering the myriad cultural challenges young people face today–we need the guidance of talented authors now more than ever. According to a recent article in Publisher’s Weekly, the industry is stepping up to provide kids with the competencies they can use to tackle adversity—by accepting themselves and others—not despite their identities, but because of them. This year’s light-filled Caldecott Medal winner, Watercress, by Andrea Wang, about a girl who learns to see her Chinese heritage through fresh eyes, is a brilliant example. The story opens as the girl’s mother spots watercress growing in a roadside ditch. Her father pulls over, and the girl’s handed a paper bag and some rusty scissors to use for collecting. As she squelches through the mud, she ducks whenever a car passes

The best of friends can sometimes challenge us, and when Charlie gently encourages Jack to play with the other goats or with the new raccoon, Jack responds in a sharp, angry way. Afterwards, the weather turns, and Charlie is caught out in the rain, trapped beneath a broken tree limb. To save him, Jack must face his greatest fear and ask the other animals for help. Love, the story’s message tells young readers, can help you overcome even the seemingly impossible. In Matt de la Pena’s Last Stop on Market Street, C.J.’s nana is similarly challenging. First C.J. wonders why the other kids own things he doesn’t—a car for example, and then later, he watches enviously as two older kids listen to an iPod at the back of the bus, she responds. “What for?” Nana asks. “When you got the real live thing sitting across from you?” meaning the man across the aisle who’s been tuning his guitar. When their fellow passenger starts to sing, C. J.’s chest grows full as he listens, while “the sound gave him the feeling of magic.”

by, embarrassed that she might be recognized by someone from town. Food is supposed to come from a grocery store, she thinks, and the word “free” reminds her of hand-me-down clothes or lumpy furniture left out with the trash. But then her mother’s story about growing up in China brings with it a greater understanding of what her extended family has endured, freeing the girl up to connect with her parents and sibling in a deeper way. Wang’s story is autobiographical and shows how she forged a path healed of shame through embracing, rather than turning away from, her roots. This Way, Charlie by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso, is also based on a true relationship, this time between a vision-impaired horse and a standoffish goat. Both are residents of an animal sanctuary in Claremore, Oklahoma, and at first Jack the goat scolds Charlie for his oafish ways. But in time, he learns that Charlie can’t help being clumsy on occasion, nor can he get very far on his own. Jack begins to lead Charlie to the best patches of grass to graze, and carefully down the hill to the watering hole. When it’s hot, he takes Charlie to the shady places, where sometimes, “a quiet like warm milk filled the space between them.”

When another passenger steps on the bus carrying a cane, C.J. wonders how come the man is blind. “Boy, what do you know about seeing?” his Nana asks him. “Some people watch the world with their ears.” The man holding the cane agrees, adding, “and with their noses, too,” and then compliments Nana on her perfume. She laughs and squeezes his hand. C.J. and Nana end their journey at a soup kitchen, where they don aprons and get to work feeding the hungry. In time, C.J. understands his Nana is teaching him to appreciate what’s in front of him instead of pining for what’s out-of-reach. Her lessons also teach readers about the richness of the community surrounding us all, if we would take the trouble to notice and nurture it. People, de la Pena is also saying, are far worthier of our attention than any shiny bauble bought in a store.

38 • bouldercountykids.com

Pam Martin is one of the book specialists at Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppe in Boulder. For any questions, or to browse the curated selection of books, games and toys, please visit grtoys.com.

Boulder County Head Start

Head Start

now enrolling for the 2022-23 school year.

del condado de Boulder ahora se está inscribiendo para el año escolar 2022-23.

School starts Monday, Aug. 22. Register today!

La escuela comienza el lunes 22 de agosto. ¡Regístrese hoy!

To enroll: hsenrollment@bouldercounty.org

Para inscribirse: hsenrollment@bouldercounty.org

www.boco.org/HeadStart

To be eligible, children must be 3 years old by Oct.1, 2022.

Para ser elegibles, los niños deben tener 3 años antes del 1 de octubre de 2022.

720-564-2206

Scan QR code with your phone to enroll or learn more

720-564-2206

Escanee el código QR con su teléfono para inscribirse u obtener más información

bouldercountykids.com • 39

Thirdman

PRIVATE SCHOOL

directory

Expand your search for an educational institution by exploring the private school options in the Boulder County Area. Boulder Country Day School

B.A.S.E. —Lafayette

Mackintosh Academy —Boulder

40 • bouldercountykids.com

4820 Nautilus Ct. North Ages: 2.5 - 8th grade Hours & Days: 8am - 3pm, middle school until 3:15 pm. After-school care and enrichment classes available. M-F, 3-day and 5-day options for Preschool. Licensed June-August/Camp. Accreditations: NAIS, ACIS, and Approved Middle Years International Baccalaureate School. Boulder Country Day School, where academic distinction meets education with character. BCD is a top rated, accredited private school in Boulder, Colorado where every child has the opportunity to discover their own unique excellence. Distinguished by small class sizes, out-

standing faculty, engaging academics and a focus on community, our preschool, elementary and IB middle school teachers strive to create a well-rounded educational environment that balances traditional subjects with the arts, world languages, athletics and project-based learning.

111 W. Baseline Road Ages: 5 - 12 years Hours & Days: M-F from dismissal to 6pm, and on BVSD no-school days, full-day care 7:30am - 6pm. August-May. Jump into fun in our Colorado State Licensed BASE child care programs that meet the needs of every child. We offer a wide range of activities including arts and crafts, STEM, active play, sports and games, swimming, and much more. Children will have time for homework assistance and a few snacks along the way. Safety is our top priority, including following all COVID-19

guidelines in effect at program time. Children from Ryan, Lafayette, and Peak to Peak elementary schools are provided transportation at dismissal to the Bob L. Burger Recreation Center. Pioneer Elementary students will walk with staff from the school to the BBRC.

6717 South Boulder Road Ages: K - 8th Grade For over 40 years Mackintosh Academy has been pioneering next-generation gifted education. Mackintosh Academy nurtures the keen minds and compassionate hearts of gifted and creative students in a caring community of learners so that they contribute to a world that needs them. Authorized IB World School, social-emotional

learning, gifted and creative students, design/innovation, service & global action, $26,150 (LS) and $27,140 (MS) with tuition assistance available. Maximum 10:1 student to teacher ratio.

C: Susan Boyle P: (303)-527-4931 x 248 E: info@bouldercountryday.org W: www.bouldercountryday.org

C: Jordan Walker E: jordan.walker@lafayetteco.gov W: www.lafayetteco.gov/200/AfterSchool-Care-BASE P: (303)-661-1288

C: Jenny Strode P: (303) 554-2011 E: jstrode@mackboulder.com W: www.mackboulder.com

PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY Dawson School —Lafayette

Friends School —Boulder

North Star Microschool

Watershed School

10455 Dawson Drive, Lafayette Ages: K-12th grade Days & Hours: M-F, 175 days. 8am - 3:30pm, plus free after-school care. September-June / Camp. Licensed & Accredited. Boulder County region’s leading independent, college-preparatory school, Dawson offers challenging academics, robust arts and athletics programs, and renowned outdoor and experiential education to students K-12. Small class sizes (average 15, with student/teacher ratio of 7/1); individual attention from experienced faculty; daily enrichment (art, music, PE, technology, language, library). The 107-acre campus

features a new 25,000sqft Center for Innovation, two full-size gyms and numerous athletic fields, separate K-5 playground, an Arts Center with 20+ offerings, and a Dining Commons with daily homemade hot lunch at no charge. The school is committed to the development of character, emphasizing respect, compassion, courage, and integrity, and to social-emotional wellbeing. Engaged parent community. Preparing students to bring their best to the world for over 50 years.

South Campus: 5465 Pennsylvania (Preschool and Elementary), North Campus: 3800 Kalmia Ave. (Middle School/Teacher Prep Program) Ages: Preschool-8th Grade. Days & Hours: M-F. Hours: Preschool 9:00am-3:00pm (optional half day), Elementary 8:30am-3:15 pm, Middle School 8:45am-3:45 pm. AfterCare and enrichment classes. August-May/Camp Program. Licensed & Accredited. A supportive community committed to educating the whole child--head, hand, and heart. Social-emotional curriculum catered to each individual grade level. Experiential

and integrated curriculum, emphasizing academics, problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, and social responsibility. Exceptional specials including art, music, Spanish, library, technology, and PE programs. Small classes, low student/teacher ratios. Personalized Affordable Tuition. ACIS accredited, NAIS member.

813 Nelson Park Drive, Longmont, CO Ages: Pre-K - 6th grade At North Star Microschool your child will experience an enriched environment catering to their unique learning style. It is modeled after the “one-room schoolhouse” with the aim of providing an educational experience that enriches children academically as well as socio-emotionally. Fran is an

1661 Alpine Avenue Ages: 6th - 12th grades Hours & Days: M-F. 8:15am - 3:15pm ACIS accredited. August - May. A progressive independent school in Boulder, CO, the Watershed School is committed to a program and school culture that inspires and educates students to become highly capable, healthy, wise, and engaged citizens, prepared to take on the world’s great challenges. Our students engage in work that matters—work that is important to the student and has a positive impact

W: www.dawsonschool.org E: admissions@dawsonschool.org P: (303) 665-6679

W: www.FriendsSchoolBoulder.org E: admissions@FriendsSchoolBoul-

der.org

P: (303) 499-1999 C: Taylor Replane

experienced homeschool parent, Colorado State certified educator, and daycare provider who hand tailors her instructional plans according to her student’s levels and abilities. C: Fran Stuart P: (505) 629-9985 E: northstarmicroschool@gmail.com

beyond the walls of the school. We believe schools should not only help students develop the skills and habits for future success, but should also awaken their curiosity, expand their view of the world, and empower them to make a difference in their local, regional, and global communities. P: (303) 440-7520 E: admissions@watershedschool.org W: www.watershedschool.org

bouldercountykids.com • 41

Vacation’s All I Ever Wanted THE RIGHT MINDSET FOR FAMILY VACATIONS THIS SUMMER by Abby Ault

There’s a special little town in Michigan that I due to Hadley’s needs. I never hesitated to adjust have been visiting at least once a year for my our plans, wanting the best for our daughter. Howentire life. Since I was little, I have dreamt of ever, I felt this slowly growing ache in my stomach. bringing a boyfriend, then a husband, then my I held it in, smiled, and pretended I was expecting children to see and be a part of this little piece this all along. Until one night there were beans in my dinner… of my soul. That’s right. My sister had put beans in our dinOne June, we took our 4-month-old, Hadley, to Michigan for her first vacation. We prepared ner, and I’m allergic to beans. I didn’t actually care for weeks. I thought through every possible about the beans, but it tipped me over the edge … scenario and tried to arm ourselves with toys, big time. As tears welled in my tired eyes my sister tools, and whatchamacallits so we would be stared back at me with a shocked and apologetic look. I shouted with a tight throat, “it’s not about able to enjoy our vacation like we always do. The plane departed at the perfect time for the beans!” With that, I was in hysterics. I was exHadley’s second bottle of the day, followed hausted, and let down. I cried into my own mother’s arms as all of the by a well-timed nap. negative, stressed, and The plane ride went The plane ride went so well, we unhealthy emotions I’d so well, we strolled strolled off feeling like superbeen keeping in poured off feeling like super-parents. “Man parents. “Man our baby is the BEST out. Vacation, by definiour baby is the BEST tion in Miriam Webster’s baby,” I was thinking baby,” I was thinking to myself. Dictionary, is, “a period to myself. The first two days of vacation were incred- spent away from home or business in travel or recible. Hadley had never slept better and she reation.” I was away from home; I was not working; was so intrigued by the new sights, sounds, I was traveling, and at a beach. But it was at this and people around her, she was always enter- moment I realized, “I am not on vacation.” Fast forward about three years, another baby tained. Then day three arrived. There I was, sipping added to our family, and I have really honed my exmy steamy coffee and playing a daily morn- pectations for these trips we call vacations. As we all prepare to hit our summer vacations in ing board game on our front porch with my sisters when I heard her cry. “Wait a second,” I 2022, let us remember that if it’s a “family vacation” it’s not meant to feel like a vacation of our past. thought, “she naps right now.” That was the beginning of a reality check. Family vacations are special in a new way. They’re filled with firsts we get to see all over Day after day I found myself feeling let down or frustrated because another plan had to be again through the eyes of our children. It’s our turn canceled, shortened, or drastically changed to facilitate the memories that come from family

42 • bouldercountykids.com

vacations for our kids. Although family vacations are no longer a time of rest for us parents, it can still be a time to refresh. Perhaps it provides us with a chance to explore, connect with our kids in a new way, and regain that appreciation for home. Here are a few of my favorite tips to help you cope with this new normal which is family vacations in a parenting role. It’s a trip, not a vacation. What Instagram mom -fluencer hasn’t shared this mantra? However, it really helps me when I’m setting my mental expectations for a trip with my family. Even if it is technically a family vacation, it’s a reminder of what I as “mom” can expect from our time away. Planned parental fun. When planning a family vacation, I love to identify one thing that I want to do to make me feel like I really am on vacation. This could look like securing a babysitter in advance for one night of your trip to be sure you and your husband can have one night for a dinner. It could look like splitting adult time up between you and your partner. Whatever it is that will work for you and your partner, ensure that you both have one thing you can count on to give you a moment of personal vacation gratification.

We’re doing it. My dear friends passed along this great anecdote. As they ventured out on their first road trip as a family of three, day one seemed to be one struggle after the other. Just the act of getting to their destination felt impossible. Dad looked at mom and said, “Hey, we’re doing it.” And so began our friend group’s favorite mantra while on family vacations. In moments of frustration (you know the ones—the baby is hungry and crying in the back seat, all of your snacks are in the trunk, but you’re in bumper to bumper traffic and the next exit isn’t for 10 miles), we just shout, “we’re doing it!” It’s a reminder that, yes, although it’s tough, we’re taking our family on an adventure. We will survive this moment and get to the good parts soon! Abby is a mom of two girls, living in Loveland, CO. She is passionate about connecting with and supporting other moms. Connect with her and other moms in the area by joining the Mamas Together NOCO Facebook page.

Here’s what Boulder County Parents are saying about hosting an au pair for live-in childcare: “Our au pair is terrific—a thoughtful communicator, reliable, responsible and the kids love her.” “Everything she does, it is with such enthusiasm. Plus she is an amazing cook!” “The program brings joy, mentorship, companionship, and cultural awareness in ways we haven’t been able to provide before. We highly recommend it.”

What is an au pair? An au pair is an educated young person from abroad who lives with you in your home for up to two years, cares for your children and becomes a part of your family. To find out if hosting is right for your family: Contact Local Childcare Consultant: Jen Rodehaver, 303-956-6189 Jen.rodehaver@lcc.culturalcare.com Facebook: @LCCJenRodehaver

www.culturalcare.com/jrodehaver

bouldercountykids.com • 43

birthday party

directory

Find the best, most creative, and most accommodating places and programs to host your kiddos’ birthday parties.

ABC BIRTHDAY PARTIES Ages: 3 - 18 1960 32nd Street

Birthday pARTies at

Climbing Parties! Fun, low-stress, quality parties with

Tinker Art Studio

ABC Kids Climbing. Includes games, activities, and climbing for kids of all ages and abilities. Hours: Monday-Sunday. Call to make a reservation. Contact: Staff

Ages: 3-15 693B S. Broadway, in the shops at Table Mesa. Celebrate your child with a Tinker Birthday Party! Book your party today and get ready for a party full of fun,

P: (303) 443-5437 E: info@abckidsclimbing.com W: www.abckidsclimbing.com

art, and laughter. Visit us online to pick your project from our party menu, then get ready to create together in the studio! We can’t wait to celebrate with you! E: tinker@tinkerartstudio.com W: www.tinkerartstudio.com P: (303) 503-1902

Birthday Party at The Carousel of Happiness Ages: All What better place to celebrate your birthday than at the Carousel of Happiness! Enjoy the Carousel’s fun atmosphere with upbeat music from our Wurlitzer band organ and creative playtime in our do-it-yourself Puppet Theatre. Fees: During our regular open hours, $75/hour for the Party Room, option to reserve the Puppet Theater for an additional $40/hour ($25 deposit required). Party room rental includes 10 ride tickets per hour, tables, chairs, and a tablecloth. Maximum of 12 people. You are welcome to bring food and drinks and decorate the room as you wish. Additional tickets may be purchased at the front desk. The Carousel is also available to rent after hours. Call to discuss your particular needs and reserve your date for one of the best party venues around. P: (303) 258-3457 E: info@carouselofhappiness.org W: www.carouselofhappiness.org

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22nd ANNUAL COMMUNITY

PLANT SALE May 7 & 8 May 14 & 15 May 21 & 22

Bee Safe

1630 Hawthorn Ave, Boulder Open 8AM - 4PM Best selection of local organically grown plants, including heirloom tomatoes, veggies, herb starts, bee-safe annuals & perennials, natives, berries & more! Join us on our urban farm for fun, hands-on activities that the whole family can enjoy, including community classes, family classes, tours, goat bottle feeding, summer camp, and more!

K-12 Summer Camps and High School Classes In-Person, Outdoor and Limited Virtual STEM Programs

CU BOULDER | CU ANSCHUTZ May 31 - August 5 REGISTER ONLINE: colorado.edu/sciencediscovery

303.492.7188 bouldercountykids.com • 45

RAISING RESILIENT KIDS:

Using Movement

by Jamie Carr

In life, we all face hardships and difficulties. It’s more important than ever for our children to be resilient and have the ability to find balance after challenges and tough times. Learning how to process difficult news and problems in a positive way is not easy. Typically, it takes time and resolve before balance and positivity are prominent in your life again. Youth can become more resilient when integrating a strong skill-set with a supportive team of family and friends. Having a supportive team in a child’s life assures them that they are not alone and enables them to navigate through the obstacles and challenges they face. Certainly, feeling sad, upset, depressed, having low motivation, etc. are expected and usual ways of reacting to difficult news or a hardship. The duration of feeling these emotions varies for everyone but, generally last for a relatively short period of time. However, if this is not the case, we must provide our children with a toolbox that enables them to find a way to process and understand these hardships and move forward. The first step to raising resilient children is by encouraging them to ask for help and empowering them to openly discuss what is on their mind. It’s essential to let them know their feelings are real and valid. Remind children of the importance of talking out their feelings instead of keeping them inside. And finally, urge them to evaluate and understand the situation to help them problem solve and develop their own managing strategies. Another often overlooked way of creating resiliency in kids is through movement.

Dance and movement are fun and rewarding ways to manage many challenges life throws at us. Movement provides a positive way to refocus and reset our minds, as well as gives us a chance to smile. Dance and movement releases endorphins that help rejuvenate our inner thoughts. Changing up our thought process can provide strength during a difficult time. A strong and resilient mental attitude enables us to overcome disappointment, bad news, setbacks and regain internal strength.

“...we must provide our children with a toolbox that enables them to find a way to process and understand these hardships and move forward.” Dance and movement help reduce stress and anxiety which allows children to process their emotions and the adversity everyday challenges present. Moving the body allows children to practice resiliency by grounding them in the present moment and settling their mind.

Use these 5 easy steps to add movement into your everyday routine to be more resilient or when you feel stress, anxiety, depression, low energy, or are overwhelmed. 1. Slow your breath – 3 counts to inhale, 3 counts to exhale 2. Circle your wrists and ankles - 3 circles in each direction 3. Reach tall above your head and touch your toes 4. March in place 10 times 5. Give yourself a hug and slightly twist side to side For more resiliency movement practices sign up for a dance class, a stress release workshop, or a movement-based class with Authentic: Grooves. Visit AuthenticGrooves.com for more information. You can also see Authentic Grooves in action no matter where you are located in our next livestreamed dance event.

46 • bouldercountykids.com Yan Krukov

Yan Krukov

AFTER SCHOOL

directory

ock climbing, performing arts, nature and science clubs—that’s just the beginning! The best lineup of after school activities to get the kids back in the swing of things.

ABC Kids Climbing

Amy’s Zoom Music Classes

Boulder Performing Arts Company

BVSD Lifelong Learning

1960 32nd Street Ages: All Hours & Days: M-Sun. Hours varied. ABC Kids Climbing offers classes, teams, clubs, open gyms, private lessons, indoor and outdoor camps for climbers of all ages and abilities. Our programs are thoughtfully

Hours & Days: Daily Zoom classes M-F, 9am. During this uncertain time with social distancing and closed schools, I do not want the kids to go without music. Music not only engages the mind and soul, but it encourages the spirit to dance! Through live zoom classes and videos, I try to reach out to my young friends and occupy them for a rich half hour with songs, musical activities, puppets, instruments and movement. I send home coloring sheets or suggest art

themes, and we show and tell before class each morning. Have on hand a little shaker, a box for a drum, chopsticks for rhythm and get ready for a lot of musical fun! Amy Haywood is a two time Parent Choice Recommended winner for her songs and stories.

4847 Pearl St. Unit B4 Ages: 5 - 13 years Fun classes for your star: Movie making: run the camera, be the star, create the story, make the sets. Auditions for fall Star Performers 3rd week of August. Performing musical productions. Contact us for a slot. Classes for everyone *does not require

an audition. Check our website for show themes and class times. All performances are live on the big stage.

Ages: K - 8th grade Hours & Days: M-Th. Offering high-quality enrichment classes before and after school at 24 BVSD schools. Let your kids get creative, get active and get smart with classes in cooking, chess, soccer, robotics, filmmaking, Spanish, hula

hooping and more! Please visit our website for complete class listings and to register online.

C: Staff P: (303) 443-5437 E: info@abckidsclimbing.com W: www.abckidsclimbing.com

W: music-kids.us/amy-haywood-colorado E: missamyh@gmail.com

C: Pollyanna Demitro P: (303) 859-4195 E: boulderperformingarts2@gmail.com W: www.boulderperformingarts.com

P: (720) 561-5968 E: lifelong.learning@bvsd.org W: LLL.BVSD.org

bouldercountykids.com • 47

AFTER SCHOOL DIRECTORY B.A.S.E.—Lafayette

Melody Kids Music Together®

Music Together of Boulder

Music Together® with Mountain Song Music Studio, Inc.

Parlando School for the Arts

48 • bouldercountykids.com

2015 Ionosphere Street, Longmont Ages: Birth - 5 years In-person classes available.

C: Xan Fischer P: (720) 773-0742 E: xan@melodykids.com W: www.melodykids.com

Ages: Birth - 8 years Boulder’s premier early childhood music & movement program, offering family, babies, and early elementary classes. Sing, dance, and support your child’s musical growth in a rich, fun, nurturing, and interactive environment. Preview spots available outdoor, inside, and online. Offering

weekday, weekend, and afternoon classes. Text or email for more information.

Private Piano Lessons indoors In-Person or Online (ages 5 and up). Following Covid Safety Protocol.

Pursue your musical and theatrical passions with Parlando School of Musical Arts! Our talented faculty teach all ages, all abilities, and all instruments, including piano, voice/singing, musical theater, and acting. Try a starter pack, online or limited in-person, or dive into a full semester or school year of lessons! With 50 faculty members, over 700 lessons occurring every week,

and classes, performances, and workshops held throughout the year, we have something for everyone. Join our musical community and ignite your inner artist! **Please see our ad on the back cover for a special offer!

C: Jordan Walker E: jordan.walker@lafayetteco.gov W: www.lafayetteco.gov/200/AfterSchool-Care-BASE P: (303)-661-1288

C: Laura Nordson P: (720) 440-2775 E: musictogetherboulder@gmail.com W: www.musictogetherboulder.com

C: Jane Smolens, Director P: (303) 413-1120 W: www.mountainsongmusic.com E: jsmolens@mountainsongmusic.com

P: (303) 442-0006 E: info@parlando.org W: www.parlando.org

AFTER SCHOOL DIRECTORY Sandy Burrell Music Studio —Niwot

Ages: All Hours & Days: Call for current class times. Individual private lessons in flute, violin, and piano. Group lessons: a) Intro to Music, 1 semester- explore flute, violin or piano,

CU Science Discovery 4001 Discovery Drive

Ages: K - 12th grade Choose school year enrichment that’s so engrossing and entertaining your child will want to return time and time again! CU Science Discovery offers a variety of school year enrichment programs including afterschool, homeschool, BVSD day-off, and holiday classes for K-12 participants. All classes explore a variety of STEM topics

Studio Arts Boulder

SWIM•FLOAT•SWIM! Home of Infant Aquatics—Longmont

The Arts Hub —Lafayette

Tinker Art Studio

b) Penny Whistle Program—ideal class for ages 3 to 6. Fees: Pay by semester/session. C: Sandy Burrell P: (303) 652-3287 using a hands-on, experiential learning approach designed to complement what your child is learning in school while encouraging them to further explore and expand their knowledge. Register online or by phone. P: (303) 492-7188 W: www.colorado.edu/sciencediscovery

Studio Arts Boulder is offering after-school pottery programs for kids of all ages! Students of all skill levels will have plenty of time to create and learn new techniques. Wheel-throwing and hand-building classes meet weekly. Each instructor is back-

ground checked, CPR certified, and health screened before each day.

795 S. Sherman Street Ages: 2 months - 5 years Hours & Days: M-Th: 7am - 7pm, F: 8am - 1pm. WE ARE OPEN! At Swim•Float•Swim! Your child will learn to swim safely in weeks, not years. We have decades of experience teaching aquatic survival and swimming skills. Our aquatic academy features two 90-degree indoor pools with a UV water purification system which ensures the

safest and most comfortable water experience. Stop by our child-friendly facility and discover the difference.

420 Courtney Way Ages: 4 - 17 years The HUB offers after school programs in theater, art, music, dance and more, for kids 4-17.

693B S. Broadway, in the shops at Table Mesa. Ages: All Hours & Days: M-F, daytime and after school programs available. Join us in the studio for art making and community! Spring semester classes for kids, teens, and adults start January 18th. Wheel-throwing classes, teen paint & draw, art lab for elementary ages, and Tinker Time Art & Play for our youngest tinkerers are just a few classes you’ll see this spring.

P: (720) 379-6033 E: contact@studioartsboulder.org W: www.studioartsboulder.org

C: Judy Heumann P: (303) 499-2229 E: judy@infantaquatics.com W: www.swimfloatswim.com

P: (303) 229-1127 W: www.artshub.org

Book a table in our Make & Take Studio to drop in and create, or visit our online shop to purchase at-home art kits and supplies — perfect for gifting and shopping small when it’s more important than ever. P: (303) 503-1902 E: tinker@tinkerartstudio.com W: tinkerartstudio.com

bouldercountykids.com • 49

The Puzzle of Learning Difficulties by Cynthia Johnson, PhD, NCSP

As many parents were increasingly involved with their children’s education during COVID-19, many have come to realize that their child is truly struggling with reading, writing, or math efforts, perhaps with attention or impulsivity - maybe all of the above. If this is the case, it is important to get this figured out as soon as possible, as there is a lag time between determining the best course of action and actual implementation in a school setting. This is especially true given the stress schools have been under since the beginning of the pandemic. If you’ve seen that your child is struggling, you may be asking, “What do I do now?” For parents in the situation, the next step is to get more specific information about which targeted areas and processes are most affected and causing difficulty for your child. Finding out your child’s specific areas of strengths and weaknesses is imperative; knowing areas of weakness provides explicit information regarding specific support needed while knowing areas of strengths helps to tailor interventions accordingly. The best way to find your child’s areas of strength and weakness is through comprehensive evaluation with a qualified professional. Psychologists are trained to assess cognitive abilities, academic skills, phonological processing, language, memory/executive function, and the social/behavioral/emotional development of your child or adolescent. They then provide necessary interventions to help your child succeed. What is the overall evaluation process like? Evaluations typically include a clinical interview where family, medical, social, and educational history is discussed. The interview culminates with diagnostic questions, where the psychologist and family know exactly what information is needed and the areas that need to be assessed. Following the interview, there are typically multiple assessment sessions where specific scientifically-based measures are administered. They include hands-on individual activities for the student and rating scales to be completed by the child, parents and teacher. The psychologist then creates a comprehensive report detailing assessment results and recommended interventions. All this information is then explained to the parents and child (if age-appropriate) during an in-depth feedback session.

50 • bouldercountykids.com

Ron Lach

How does evaluation work? Evaluation is like assembling pieces of a puzzle. The assessments measure many areas of student functioning (i.e. cognitive, academic, executive function, language, motor, social/behavioral/emotional). Each area is a piece of the puzzle. Once all necessary areas are assessed (according to the diagnostic questions determined in the interview), the psychologist “assembles the puzzle” and uses this information to identify how to help the student succeed. Let’s take a look at each area of functioning that may be assessed to see what types of information is gathered: Cognitive Functioning: measures the ability to process different types of information such as verbal comprehension (how the individual understands verbal information they encounter), visual-spatial abilities (how the individual integrates what they see with the world around them), nonverbal reasoning abilities, short-term memory and processing speed (the ability to quickly and efficiently process simple information). The results show a pattern of strengths and weaknesses that illustrates a pattern of learning. Academic Functioning: measures skill levels in reading, math, and written expression. Reading measures look at decoding (the ability to sounds out and identify words), oral reading fluency and reading comprehension. Math measures typically look at math problem solving such as un-timed basic skills (counting, identifying shapes, etc.), and everyday applications of mathematics (time, money, word problems, etc.), geometry, and algebra. Numerical operations, such as un-timed word problems, basic operations with integers, geometry, algebra, and calculus are also assessed. Math fluency includes timed tests of addition, subtraction & multiplication (if age appropriate). Measures of written expression include sentence and paragraph writing along with spelling. Be more involved with your child’s education by taking the time to learn about how they learn best! Getting in touch with a family psychologist to assess cognitive and academic functioning is the perfect place to start.

bouldercountykids.com • 51

gift giving

directory

Support local businesses while shopping for unique gifts, everyday items, and more!

Front Range Anglers FLY SHOP

2344 Pearl Street, Boulder Front Range Anglers FLY SHOP is a premium fly fishing gear SHOP for all levels of anglers. We offer guided fly fishing trips for trout in Boulder and along the entire Front Range. Plus, we specialize in fly fishing trips into Rocky Mountain National Park, where anglers can catch the beautiful greenback cutthroat trout. The SHOP features classes in Fly Tying, Casting, Beginner’s Orvis 101, Guide School, Summer Co-Ed Kids Camp and much more! In addition, based on our owner, Steve McLaughlin’s love for travel, we have garnered quite a reputation for our Adventure Travel Program hosting and booking anglers to Christmas Island, New Zealand, Iceland, British Columbia, Alaska, Australia, Belize, Mexico, Bahamas, Florida Keys and many more international and domestic locations. Never too young to own a fly rod! P: (303) 494-1375 W: https://frontrangeanglers.com/

Grandrabbits Toy Shoppe

2525 Arapahoe Ave. We are an independently-owned, specialty toy store with three locations in the Front Range of Colorado. We carry a wide range of hand chosen, educational and fun toys for gifts, holidays, birthdays or any special occasion. We’ve been voted The Best Children’s Store in Boulder for over 40 years. E: webmedia@grtoys.com P: (303) 443-0780

Skoy Cloth Skoy is a woman-owned business that started 10 years ago with

a single product sold in local stores and has grown to a recognized brand with a product line sold in North America and growing globally. We are proud to offer products that are superior to existing ones in the market. We always have the environment and the community in mind. Our products are packaged in the USA by people with disabilities. Skoy offers sustainable cleaning products that will revolutionize your home. W: www.skoycloth.com/ E: info@skoycloth.com P: (800) 990-4757

52 • bouldercountykids.com

INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS you should be following

@trading_for_trails Trading for Trails is a Colorado-based outdoor collective for hiking & backpacking. Their goal is to get kids and families out in nature, regardless of means.

@slidesandsunshine Slides & Sunshine is an Instagram account dedicated to sharing the best playgrounds & kid activities in Colorado.

@blackadventuremom Kyana is a Denver-based mom who shares her family’s adventures throughout Colorado and beyond.

@therockymountainmom Jessica is a Colorado-based blogger and photographer. She shares tips for exploring Colorado with kids and is an advocate for infant & pregnancy loss awareness.

@bouldercountykids Wait, you don’t follow them already? What are you waiting for?

bouldercountykids.com • 53

Photo by Rodnae Productions.

kids zone

54 • bouldercountykids.com

coloring page did you know? summer word search road trip bingo summer crossword

click here to find the answers and play more games online!

bouldercountykids.com • 55

COLOR IN THIS COLORADO MOUNTAIN SCENE

Drawing from coloringhome.com.

56 • bouldercountykids.com

DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT SUMMER? Popsicles were invented in 1905 by an 11-year-old boy named Frank.

The biggest scoop of ice cream ever weighed over 3,000 pounds! The strawberry-flavored scoop was made by Kemps Dairy in Wisconsin.

July is national blueberry month.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris gets taller by up to 6 inches in the summer because the heat causes the metal to expand.

The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. This year, it falls on June 21st.

Name: _________________________________________________

BCK Summer Word Search BCK

Can you find all of these words in the Summer Word Search? Find the answers online at bouldercountykids.com/for-the-kids S

W M

A M W

O G

A M

M A

M C

M N

D W A

A M

PICNIC

POPSICLE

O Q

C G

Find the following words in the puzzle. Words are hidden and .

BBQ

C O O

BOULDER CAMP CANNONBALL FLOAT HAT LEMONADE MOUNTAINS

ROADTRIP SUNSHINE SWIM VACATION

bouldercountykids.com • 57

ROAD TRIP

BINGO

Color in all of the bingo squares, then cross off the ones you see while on a summertime road trip!

FREE

58 • bouldercountykids.com

BOULDER COUNTY KIDS SUMMER CROSSWORD

ACROSS

2. Red, hot, and caused by sun exposure 5. Afternoon summer downpour 7. Shoes you wear in warm weather 9. Light show on the 4th of July 11. The best place to be a kid in Colorado! 12. Fiesta around a body of water 13. Prevents sunburns! 16. A day program or overnight trip you go on to learn new things and make new friends 17. “Everyone out of the pool! There’s ______!” 18. Device that helps you stay above water 19. What pollinates the flowers?

DOWN

1. The most beautiful sight at the end of every day 3. “Pants that go to your knees” 4. Outdoor adventure on a trail 6. The sport where you sing the “seventh-inning stretch” at games 8. A cold treat on a hot day. Comes on a stick! 10. “School’s ____ for summer!” 12. A meal on a blanket outside 14. What keeps the pool water clean? 15. An outdoor activity that involves catching things that swim!