Paper Boy has been a BCK mascot for over 20 years!
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 2025 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 Please go to www
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front cover
SUPERSTAR
Our Fall Cover, “Max,” was painted by 8-year-old Maddie while at Tinker Art Studio Using acrylic paint and paint markers, Maddie imagined a bold cat named Max perched on the moon, ready to travel to a purple planet next The painting was inspired by her teacher Mariah’s artwork
Maddie loves that art class lets you do anything you want with your art! It’s her favorite class in school, along with literacy, she especially enjoys reading and writing. This year, she’s starting 3rd grade and says she’s not sure what to expect, but she’s excited for the adventure.
Maddie lives with her older brother and a whole crew of pets: two cats, three fish, and one frog. She also plays the ukulele and the recorder When she’s not creating art, you might find her biking, doing gymnastics, or rock climbing with the auto belay (she loves jumping down) Sometimes she mountain bikes to the creek to go fishing and catch frogs!
Maddie’s favorite foods are mango, raspberries, and pineapple, and loves listening to Taylor Swift and watching episodes of Bluey She says red is the best color, summer and spring are the best seasons, and her favorite thing about fall in Boulder County is how the leaves change color and look really pretty When Maddie grows up, she wants to be a veterinarian and work with animals But for now, she’s pretty happy sending Max to outer space
Thank you, Maddie, for letting us use “Max” for the cover of Boulder County Kids Fall 2025! We hope you and your family have a lovely back to school season
Tinker Art Studio partners with us to provide each cover artist winner a $50 prize. Thank you, Tinker Art Studio, for supporting young local artists! For more information about Tinker Art Studio, please head to their listings in the After School and Birthday Party Directories.
“Max”
Bevie, age 10
Magnolia, age 10
Nello, age 6
Eve, age 10
Vivian, age 7
Immy, age 9
Adelie, age 11
YARN “PEN”
What you need:
Cardboard
Clear packing tape
Yarn
Scissors
Ball point pen
by onelittleprojectcom
AFTER-CLASS CRAFTS
What you do:
1.Once you’ve gathered your supplies and materials, create your frame by cutting a “picture frame” from a piece of cardboard Ours has a 4 x 7 inch area to work in, with a 1 inch border, but you can cut yours to whatever size your prefer
2 Run packing tape across the frame, from one side to the other, then repeat so that the opening is completely covered in tape, like a window
3 Flip your frame over so that the sticky side of the tape is facing up
4 Take the ball point pen removing the lid, end cover, and the ink Set those to tthe side and keep the pen “body” and tip
5 Feed yarn through the pen from the top, then pull the yarn through the tip of the pen and screw the tip back onto the pen
6 Start “drawing” with the yarn on the sticky side of your frame The yarn will stick to the tape and create the image you want to make as you move your hand!
7.Continue with different colors by feeding different colors of yarn through the “pen” you made.
8.Note: we found that designs with rounded shapes stuck a lot easier to the tape compared to sharp angles.
AFTER-CLASS CRAFTS CONT...
MAGAZINE BEAD BRACELET
What You Need:
Magazines
Scissors
White school glue
Straw
Pipe cleaner (or yarn to make a necklace)
Aluminum foil
What You Do:
1 To prepare, cut various strips out of colorful magazine pages
2 Start rolling a magazine strip firmly (but not tightly) around the straw.
3.Once it goes around one full time, put a few lines of glue down the inside length of the strip.
4.Begin rolling the magazine strip around the straw.
5.Once the strip is completely wrapped, rub excess glue around it to firmly secure the end.
6 Carefully slide it off of the straw by pushing the end of the bead that is farthest up the straw If there is glue residue on the straw, wipe it off or just cut off that piece and move up to the next section, otherwise, the magazine strip will stick to it and not come off cleanly
7 Place beads on an aluminum foil or nonporous surface to dry
8 Once the glue has dried, you can create your own bracelet
9 We used pipe cleaners to thread our beads on.
by kidsactivitiesblogcom
MY YEARBOOK OF NATURE MEMORIES
by Dr. Oakleigh Thorne, II
The other day I was thinking about some of the memories that I have about various contacts with nature, from recent ones to childhood ones When I was four or five years old, I was usually put to bed at 7 o’clock each night, even when it was summer and we had daylight savings time Since we lived on the South Shore of Long Island in New York, it was usually hot and humid at that time of year, so my bedroom window would be wide open Every evening, right outside my window, a Wood Thrush would often sing its beautiful song How special this was for me!
You might be able to listen to this song by going to a bird-search engine, such as Merlin All the thrushes have special songs, even our American Robin, which is a thrush! In the mountains west of Boulder you can hear the lovely song of the Hermit Thrush This is my favorite song of all the western birds
Another special memory is when I was ten years old and was fly-fishing on a trout stream with my cousin As I looked up, a small flock of ducks were flying by overhead Suddenly out of the sky came a Peregrine Falcon, diving in a full stoop, and it knocked down one of the ducks with its clenched talons That was my first encounter with a predator/prey relationship! In those days, the natives referred to the Peregrine Falcon as a “Duck Hawk ” I can see why!
For eighteen years (1969-1987) my family owned and I lived at Valley Ranch in Northwest Wyoming on the South Fork of the Shoshone River This was a native Cutthroat Trout stream One evening, I caught a 12-inch trout that was to be my fish dinner I left the trout on some rocks while I continued to do some more fly-fishing When I returned to pick up my trout and leave for home, it was gone! Just then a mink appeared from under the rocks “licking its chops ” It had just had a good dinner: my trout!
Another time when I was fly fishing on the River, a cow Moose stepped out of the bushes right in front of me This really scared me Have you ever seen a cow moose? They have a strange-shaped head We used to say that a cow moose was “a horse put together by a committee!”
My office at Valley Ranch was on the second floor, overlooking our hay meadow One day there were two Mule Deer does there A coyote appeared and started chasing one of the does They went around in circles until the other doe started chasing the coyote around in circles It was like they were playing a game of “bolds versus cowards ”
Another time, right after six inches of snow, I saw a coyote “mousing.” It stood absolutely still, then jumped up in the air, landing “on all fours,” listening intently for the sound of a mouse under the snow. If it heard one, the coyote would plunge its head in the snow and usually come ith i it j
Wood Thrush
American Mink
Peregrine Falcon
One time I was staying with a group of fellow singers at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. It snowed during the night. The next morning our building was surrounded by a herd of about two dozen elk. That was exciting, especially for some of my friends who were from the East Coast!
I hope you will have some good memories of when you have had your own special encounters with nature.
Dr Thorne is the founder and honorary president of Thorne Nature Experience (formerly Thorne Ecological Institute), a nonprofit organization, now headquartered in Lafayette For 71 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
American Coyote Bull Elk
HermitThrush
CowMoose
PeregrineFalcon
SUSHI-INSPIRED DESSERTS
BANANA SUSHI
by passionforsavingscom
What You Need:
Bananas (1 per serving)
Chocolate sauce
Peanut butter
M&Ms
Graham cracker crumbs
Sprinkles
Any other toppings of choice!
What You Do:
Peel banana and place onto sushi plate and slice with a paring knife, spreading banana sushi pieces slightly apart
Drizzle on chocolate sauce
Put peanut butter in a disposable pastry bag and heat for 20 seconds Drizzle on warm peanut butter
Sprinkle your “sushi roll” with your M&Ms, graham cracker crumbs, sprinkles, and any other topping of choice!
Enjoy with chopsticks!
CANDY SUSHI
by conservamomecom
What You Need:
1 package of Rice Krispie Treats
1 package of Fruit by the Foot (Mixed Flavors)
1 package of Swedish Fish candy
1 Package of Sour Punch Straws
What You Do:
Cut each rice crispy treat in half widthwise, so each bar is thinner and still a rectangular shape
Cut 3-4 of the candy straws to the length of the short side of the rice crispy treat
Roll up tightly, cut in half, and roll each piece of the fruit by the foot around the outside. Stand up each piece so it resembles a piece of sushi.
For the sushi pieces with the fish on top: Repeat steps 1 and 2, then roll it up tightly, lay a fish on top, and roll a piece of fruit by the foot around the entire thing
Serve on a plate and have fun eating the sushi candy!
INCLUSION CORNER with Miss Katie
As cooler weather rolls in and backpacks come out, fall brings a fresh start—and a perfect chance to recommit to inclusion, kindness, and connection in our schools and communities. Whether it’s inclusivity, empathy, or just plain old kindness, this season is full of opportunities to model and teach our children what it means to be welcoming to all.
Inclusive Ideas for a New School Year
Meet the Teacher (and the Team): If your child receives special education services, use the beginning of the year to introduce yourself to the full team. Teachers, aides, therapists, and front office staff. A friendly email or quick hello can go a long way in creating collaboration and trust from day one.
Build a Routine That Works for Everyone: Fall schedules can be a big shift Using visual calendars, social stories, and quiet morning routines can help ease anxiety and create smoother transitions for all
Books to Kick Off the School Year
Books are a simple and powerful way to start conversations about inclusion at home. For younger readers. These stories don’t just reflect the world we live in, they help shape a more accepting one, too
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold:
Discover a school where all young children have a place, have a space, and are loved and appreciated. Readers will follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where students from all backgrounds learn from and
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll: Award-winning and neurodivergent author Elle McNicoll delivers an insightful and stirring debut about the European witch trials and a girl who refuses to relent in the fight for what she knows is right. celebrate each other's traditions. A school that shows the world as we will make it to be.
Resources for Families
Navigating the school system and the services it provides can feel overwhelming at times Here are some local and statewide resources that can support families and educate them on educational services:
Parent to Parent of Colorado: Offers one-on-one parent mentors, online groups, and statewide workshops to connect and empower families: p2pco org
Boulder County Autism Society: Hosts family events, education nights, and community meetups to help local families feel supported and seen: bouldercountyautism org
What is a better way to begin the school year than by building a more inclusive world, one small act at a time? Here's to a season of learning, growth, and community for every child Until next time!
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.
Toddler-Friendly Fall Foothill Hikes
By Julie Fernie
With drier weather and beautiful colors, autumn is an excellent season for hiking with toddlers. If your toddler has mastered flat hikes of about a mile and you are interested in more adventurous hikes, there are three ways to increase the challenge of a hike: distance, elevation gain or rocky terrain Toddlers need multiple short breaks built into physical activity As a result, toddlers will respond better to elevation gain and/or rocky terrain rather than trying to do a longer distance
Here are five toddler-friendly hikes in the foothills, listed in increasing order of difficulty Enjoy snacks and water breaks along the way and see if you can find every color of the rainbow!
Parking: Realization Point Trailhead (park on south side of Flagstaff Road, requires Boulder County Open Space pass or daily parking fee). No restroom facilities.
This trail departs from the south side of Realization Point From the trailhead, follow the gravel road past the gate down the hill After 0 1 miles, the trail merges with the Gregory Canyon Trail Proceed straight ahead for 0 2 miles to the junction of the Ranger Trail and Long Canyon Trail The historic Green Mountain Lodge is at this junction A small bridge is a few steps up the Long Canyon Trail There are picnic tables around Green Mountain Lodge Points of interest abound on this trail, keeping kids interested in what might be around the next bend The final portion of the trail back to the trailhead is uphill, so expect a tired kid at the end!
Rattlesnake Gulch to Bastille Rock, Eldorado Springs (08 miles, approximate elevation gain: 50 feet)
Parking: Rattlesnake Gulch Trailhead (requires Eldorado Canyon State Park entrance fee). Pit toilet.
From the trailhead, follow the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail 0 1 mile to the junction with the Fowler West Trail Stay left on the Fowler West Trail Continue 0 3 miles to Bastille Rock Several benches along the way offer great views of the canyon walls and rock climbers Walk through the rock cut-out and observe the sedimentary layers of rock Imaginative toddlers may even find pretend dinosaur teeth in the gravel on the trail! Return to the trailhead via the same route. If your child still has energy, consider continuing along Eldorado Springs Drive for 0.1 miles to South Boulder Creek to enjoy creekside splashes.
Parking: Button Rock Trailhead. Pit toilet 0.2 miles from parking.
From the trailhead, hike up Longmont Dam Road
An artificial waterfall captivates attention after 0 2 miles As the trail passes along the side of Longmont Reservoir, there are several access points to the water, providing many opportunities for throwing pebbles into the creek or reservoir Choose your turn-around spot as you wish The wide Longmont Dam Road makes this a good option for hiking with a group
Parking: Rabbit Mountain Trailhead. Pit toilet and picnic tables.
After a few steps on the Eagle Wind Trail, take the left branch to go past the pit toilet and proceed up the trail for 0 4 miles to a bench with a scenic view of Bear Peak From the bench, continue up the trail 0 1 miles to the intersection with the gravel road and turn right to return back to the trailhead (0 7 miles) The Eagle Wind Trail is a challenging trail for toddlers for its elevation gain and rocky terrain, so the gravel road offers a nice respite on the route down
Bald Mountain, Boulder (1.1 miles, approximate elevation gain: 200 feet)
Parking: Bald Mountain Scenic Area Trailhead. Port-a-potty and picnic tables. Two trails leave from the trailhead but join shortly thereafter Take either trail, hike 0 2 miles to the trail fork and take the left fork Continue 0 2 miles to the summit where a bench and wide area offer a great spot for a snack with views of the Flatirons and Indian Peaks Continue on the trail down a steep section Once the trail bends to the right, it gets much flatter Two benches along the trail down from the summit provide beautiful views of the Indian Peaks Continue downhill to return to the trailhead This hike is a gem and is my go-to trail when introducing friends to hiking with toddlers. A variety of landmarks keep children highly engaged. It always delights!
HAPPY TRAILS!
Julie Fernie has a master’s degree in Health and Exercise Science from Colorado State University and works as a pediatric clinical exercise physiologist. She has hiked all but a handful of trails in Rocky Mountain National Park, the Indian Peaks Wilderness and Boulder County. Julie enjoys countless trail giggles and snacks while out hiking with her husband and young son.
Left: Bald Mountain Below: Fowler West Trail
Environmental Trends
are shaping the content of
Children’s Books
“Parks”
by Pam Martin
As one of the book specialists at Grandrabbits Toy Shoppe in Boulder, I’m seeing a lot of new book releases with environmental themes. The natural world is a wonderful playground to explore, authors seem to be telling young readers, while offering gentle messages about recycling, or caring for endangered animals, or living more mindfully with finite resources The messages have a lighter touch than I remember from past years, and as a result, these books may find themselves a wider and more willing audience
is a joyful celebration of the world’s protected greenways, or those cherished public spaces that anyone is free to gather in and enjoy with family, friends, and tail-wagging canines These special spaces take center stage, underscored by simple text that describes them as “big, or small, quiet, or loud,” but most importantly, they’re places to “play, and play, and play some more” in.
The end papers include facts about the parks especially chosen by the author, from Central Park (which we learn is larger than the whole country of Monaco), to the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands (where, each autumn, gardeners plant more than seven million bulbs), to the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania (where more lions live than in any other place in Africa)
“The
is a modern fable about respecting the vast wild places that are “not too far away,” which welcome all of us. The Wild is vast and generous and full of exciting changeable weather, but when humans begin to take more than the land can replenish, the Wild becomes ill When the Wild can no longer give, what it needs, the author tells us, is a voice
“A voice to make people notice,” a voice that says, “the Wild is huge and giving but there will only be enough for us all if we take care of it ” In the end, it’s all the small changes by young individuals first in their minds, then in their homes and communities which make a difference.
Wild” by Yuval Zommer
by Marc Majewski
“The Wild Robot Protects” by peter brown
In middle grade fiction, Peter Brown’s third book in the Wild Robot series: The Wild Robot Protects, explores themes of survival as well as environmentalism, and I think the story’s emotionally complex enough to make a satisfying read aloud for families with kids aged 8-12.
As the title suggests, Roz the Robot and her island-dwelling animal friends face a new threat— a “poison tide” that contaminates their water, forcing the animals to move inland where they have to compete for dwindling resources There’s also a logging company that threatens the island, symbolizing the negative impacts of deforestation, and a coming storm, which represents the unpredictable consequences of climate change As a waterproof machine, Roz is immune to the toxins, so she alone sets off on a solo journey to find the source of the tide and ultimately save her island home
Speaking to readers of all ages, Brown reminds us of the importance of protecting our planet, as well as the interconnectedness of all living/sentient beings.
“best of all worlds” by kenneth oppel
Lastly, environmentally-minded YA readers might want to consider Kenneth Oppel’s thoughtprovoking sci-fi thriller, Best of All Worlds, which the School Library Journal calls, “the definition of a page turner ” Set in a dystopian future, the novel’s plot highlights how upsetting the balance of ecosystems can lead to disastrous consequences for both humans and the environment.
A trip to a lakeside cabin taken by 13-year-old Xavier “Zay” Oak, his father, and pregnant stepmother, Nia, goes awry when they wake up in a completely different world: a red barn replete with goats and cornfields an entire farm, in fact, encased under a transparent, impenetrable dome
With no means of escape, the family shifts their focus from fleeing to surviving, as other necessities miraculously appear water, electricity, even help during Nia’s labor and delivery
Three years later, Zay is now a restless teenager when another family arrives: the Jacksons from Tennessee, who have a daughter his own age, Mackenzie. But the families’ belief systems clash as they consider whether to content themselves with a confined, domesticated life within the parameters defined by their captors, or risk punishment or worse by rebelling and trying to escape
It’s the kind of book you can’t help but ask yourself: “what would I do under similar circumstances?”
Pam Martin is a book specialist at Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppe in Boulder. To browse the store’s curated collection of books, toys, and games, please visit grtoys com
