Issuu

summer summer camps camps

age 13

2026 SUMMER CAMPS

DIRECTORY DIRECTORY

KIDS ZONE IN BACK KIDS ZONE IN BACK

CELEBRATING OUR CHILDREN CELEBRATING OUR CHILDREN FOR OVER 30 YEARS! FOR OVER 30 YEARS!

Cover art by Davis, Cover art by Davis, age 13

As summer settles into Boulder County, this issue is filled with ideas to help families make the most of the season, whether that means getting outside, staying busy on rainy afternoons, or finding new ways to learn and play together. Inside, readers will find under-the-sea themed crafts and recipes perfect for fun mystery box cooking competitions with kids on those June days of thunderstorms, along with our updated Camps Directory, featuring new camps and fresh opportunities because it is not too late for this to be the best summer ever at a new summer camp.

This issue also brings a wonderful lineup of seasonal reading, including Oak Thorne’s column, Kids’ Planet on Summer Signs, hiking expert Julie Fernie’s Summer Adventures in Eldorado Springs, and Pam Martin of Granrabbit’s Toy Shoppe sharing how parents can use the Storybook Journey curriculum to teach beyond the book all summer long. We hope this issue inspires plenty of adventure, creativity, and connection in the weeks ahead, and we wish all Boulder County families a happy, healthy summer season.

Isabella

& Annie (& our mascot Junie)

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 2026 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

be returned

is accepted at the discretion of the publisher Please go to

com for

SUPERSTAR front cover

At 13 years old, Davis is already discovering how art can connect people and bring ideas to life. A 7th-grade student with a natural curiosity, he sees art as more than just creating something on a canvas it’s about the shared experience His favorite part of art class is simply being surrounded by others who are also creating, contributing to each others’ inspiration

His featured piece, “Parrots on a Cliff”, created with acrylic paint and paint markers on canvas, reflects his appreciation for color and nature.

In school, Davis gravitates toward both art and science, a combination that highlights his creativity as well as his curiosity about the world around him. Outside the classroom, he stays active in track, where he enjoys running longer distances like the 400-meter race.

At home, Davis shares life with an older brother and a spirited group of pets, including his dogs Dixie and Beans, a fish named Bape, and a tortoise named Ferrari There’s never a dull moment!

Although spring and fall are his favorite seasons because of mild, enjoyable weather (sometimes), summer in Boulder County is one of his favorite ear He looks forward to festivals, mount-

ain views, and the lively atmosphere of places like Pearl Street, but his favorite memories are the simplest ones spending time with friends, playing outside around the neighborhood, and enjoying the freedom of the season

Though he isn’t sure what the future holds, Davis is already building a strong foundation rooted in creativity, curiosity, and connection Thank you, Davis, for letting us use your vibrant piece for this issue’s front cover! Keep up the good work!

“Par rots on a Clif f,” the Summer 2026 Cover Ar t winner

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 Davis, 13

Paloma,

Lydia, age 12

Immy, age 10

Gwen, age 9

Mattis, age 6

Marleigh, age 10

UNDERTHE SEA

TOILET ROLL FISH

Wha t you need:

Empty toilet paper rolls

Acrylic paint, colored pencils or markers

Scissors

Stapler

Glue

Pencil & eraser

Wha t you do:

CRAFTS

11 Repea t to ma ke a whole sc hool of colorful fish! from babysits com Bring the ocean to Boulder County with these fun and simple Summer crafts!

1. Gather materials, including toilet paper rolls, acrylic paint, thick paper or card, scissors, glue or a stapler.

2. Paint each toilet paper roll a color of choice.

3. Add fish scales by painting small U shapes on each roll

4 Paint simple fins and tails on thick paper or card

5 Cut out the tails and fins

6. Ma tc h eac h tail to the color of its fish body.

7 Pinc h the sides of the toilet pa per roll and sta ple the tail to the bac k

8 Paint or color long, thin strips of card pink for the fish lips

9 Glue or sta ple the lips around the front of the roll

10 Ma ke an eye by painting a blac k dot on white card, then cut it out and a ttac h it

Continued on Page 14

UNDER THE SEA CRAFTS

EGG CARTON WHALE

from ihear tcraftythings.com

Wha t you need:

Egg carton

Light blue paint

Paintbrush

Light Blue cardstock paper

Blue pipe cleaner

Googly eyes

Black marker

Tacky glue

Scissors

Craft knife (for adult use only)

Wha t you do:

1 Cut the egg carton into individual sections

(continued)

2 Paint each section blue and let it dry completely

4. Cut a blue pipe c leaner in ha lf, bend the pieces, twist them to gether, and push them through the X to look like wa ter spouting out.

5. Cut out a wha le tail and fins from blue cardstoc k or use a templa te.

6. Glue the tail and fins onto the eg g car ton.

7. Add eyes with goo gly eyes or a blac k mar ker.

8 Draw on a mouth with a blac k mar ker

3 Cut an X in the top of each section to make the blowhole

PAPER BOWL JELLYFISH

from ihear tcraftythings.com

Wha t you need:

small paper bowl

tissue paper (in any colors)

self-adhesive curly gift bow (in any colors)

googly eyes

white string (to hang it)

school glue

packaging tape (or any sturdy tape)

scissors

Wha t you do:

1 Cut tissue paper into small squares

2 Turn the paper bowl upside down and cover the bottom and sides with glue

3 Stick the tissue paper squares all over the bowl and let it dry

4 Have an adult poke a sma ll hole in the center of the bowl

5 Thread string through the hole, tie a knot, and ta pe it inside the bowl

6 Attac h a cur ly gift bow inside the bowl so it hangs down like tentac les

7 Glue on goo gly eyes to finish the jellyfish

INCLUSION CORNER with Miss Katie

Summer is a time for sunshine, adventures, and making memories! Whether you're staying close to home or heading out on vacation, this edition of Inclusion Corner offers inclusive ideas to help your family make the most of the season while ensuring every child feels supported, engaged, and celebrated

Activities for Families

Sensory-Friendly Summer Fun: Many communities now offer sensory-friendly movie mornings, splash pad hours, and museum days with reduced noise and crowds Check local listings and call ahead to ask about accommodations that may not be listed online

At Home Tip: Create a calming “cool-down zone” indoors with soft pillows, noise-canceling headphones, and fidget tools to give kids a safe space when they need a break from the excitement

Adaptive Water Play: Water play can be inclusive and therapeutic. Use tools like water tables, inflatable pools, or accessible sprinklers on patios and lawns.

Local Suggestion: Boulder County’s Recreation Centers often offer adaptive swim lessons or accessible pool times check schedules early, as these programs can fill up fast Check out their website: bouldercolorado gov/locations/northboulder-recreation-center

Resources for Families

Looking for more ways to support your family this summer? These organizations and programs offer services, support, and tools to help families of children with disabilities thrive. They are also great resources for families to teach their families about inclusion and what it looks like!

Imagine! Colorado: Provides support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Boulder and Broomfield Counties, including summer activity planning and respite care Visit ImagineColorado org

PEAK Parent Center: A statewide hub for families, PEAK offers virtual trainings, transition resources, and individualized support to help parents navigate summer programs and IEP needs Visit PeakParent org

Autism Society of Boulder County: Hosts summer events, support groups, and sensory-friendly outings Check out bouldercountyautism org for their seasonal calendar

This summer, let’s keep things simple, inclusive, and joy-filled. Whether you’re relaxing at home or off on an adventure, every child deserves a season full of connection, growth, and fun. Wishing your family a safe and sunny summer!

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

S U M M E R S I G N S

There are lots of things that remind me that summer is here! Besides the days getting hot sometimes too hot nature has lots of signs. For example, birds are nesting and feeding their young, or dragonflies are hovering over my favorite pond. I love dragonflies They have amazing wings with many cells Did you know that they also eat other insects? That means that they are predators. (A predator is an animal that eats other animals.)

Green is certainly the color of summer It seems like almost everything is green the trees, plants, and grass. But there are many summer flowers that give us other colors.

by Dr. Oakleigh Thorne, II

When I was a young boy, I had my own garden Some of the flowers I grew were zinnias, marigolds, and cosmos I love the pungent smell of marigolds when you rub their leaves together. That smell certainly reminds me of summer.

I used to grow the best corn in my garden, thanks to what I had learned from reading about indigenous peoples’ habits. I would catch a small sunfish, dig a hole, and place the fish in the bottom of it with a couple of grains of Golden Bantam corn, then cover the hole with dirt. The rotting fish made great fertilizer, so my corn grew up tall and strong!

For me, a major sign of summer is when the Cliff Swallows return from having wintered in South America (southern Brazil and Argentina). They nest colonially under road culverts where a stream goes under a street or highway. There may be a couple of hundred swallows in one colony, so they are easily spotted as they fly in and out of the culvert creating a “cloud of Cliff Swallows.”

Zinnia

Cliff Swallow in flight

Cosmos

Marigold

I teach a class in Bird Banding where we drop a mist net in front of a culvert opening and catch 20-30 Cliff Swallows at a time. My students learn to carefully remove them from the net, open a band, then using special pliers, close the band around the Cliff Swallow’s leg so it fits like a bracelet Each band has its own unique series of numbers, so if this bird shows up again or is found somewhere else, we know it’s the exact same bird We had one Cliff Swallow that returned after 11 years, so that proved that it was at least 12 years old, since we had banded it originally as an adult bird. This bird, therefore, made at least 12 round trips to South America and back, and survived! We like banding Cliff Swallows because they don’t bite or scratch, like the way Redwinged Blackbirds do!

How about frog sounds? Out here in Colorado we have the Chorus Frog. Each one of these frogs makes a call that sounds like a person running one’s fingernail along a comb In early summer when a whole bunch of these frogs are making this sound at the same time, it’s indeed a chorus!

Seeing bats flying around at dusk means summertime to me. I have a neighbor across the alley from me who has an overhanging second-floor porch. There is a small colony of bats that roost under his porch every summer. It’s great to have them around because they eat lots of mosquitos!

Ripening of fruit is a good summer sign I have a friend who told me that ripe strawberries in his garden always remind him that it’s summer. The arrival of ripe peaches from Palisade, Colorado tell me that it’s August. To me, these are the best peaches in the world…totally yummy!

What are your good signs of summer? Make a list and keep adding to it as you think of new ones Make your own lists for all four seasons: summer, fall, winter, and spring.

Dr Thorne is founder and honorary president of Thorne Nature Experience (formerly Thorne Ecological Institute), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Lafayette (a suburb of Boulder) For 72 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.

Boreal Chorus Frog

Palisade Peaches

summer adventures in

eldorado springs

By Julie Fernie

N

estled just south of Boulder, Eldorado Springs is home to both excellent hiking trails and a historic swimming pool. Fir st opened in 1905, the Eldorado Springs Resor t has hosted many celebra tions and celebrities throughout the past 121 year s. The pool is filled with wa ter from the iconic Eldorado Spring. The soaring c lif fs of Eldorado Canyon provide a stunning bac kdrop to the pool. Following extensive renova tions in the ear ly 2020s, the Eldorado Springs Resor t has upda ted the pool, pool house and event center Pre-purc hased reser va tions for the pool are now availa ble on the Eldorado Springs Resor t website (eldoradospringsresor t com, c lic k “Purc hase Tic kets”)

Young c hildren will likely enjoy the underwa ter steps and a kiddie pool integ ra ted into the pool of fer s more sha llow wa ter Obser vant visitor s may notice tha t the sa lted wa ter ma kes floa ting in the wa ter slightly easier! A visit to the Eldorado Springs Resor t pool is especia lly refreshing after a hike Here are three toddler-friendly hikes around Eldorado Canyon to pair with a visit to the pool

Fowler-Spring Brook Trail (1.4 miles or 2.8 miles)

Parking: Fowler Trailhead, no ba throoms

From the trailhead, proceed uphill on the Fowler trail At the fir st junction (0 6 miles), tur n left onto the Spring Brook Loop Nor th trail After 0 1 miles, notice the fossilized sandstone from an ancient sea on the west/righthand side of the trail Tur n bac k here for a roundtrip distance of 1 4 miles If your crew still has energy, continue up to the trail 0 8 miles to a bridge across the cana l Continue across the bridge into the forest for a shaded snac k spot, then retur n bac k to the trailhead via the same route. This wide trail wor ks well for hiking with friends or family. The g ravel road is fair ly smooth, so hiking down par t or a ll of it can be a good way for new wa lker s to practice hiking on their own.

The Fowler trail is named in honor of the Fowler family, who were par tia l or full owner s of the Eldorado Springs Resor t for the fir st 78 year s of the resor t

Rattlesnake Gulch to Bastille Rock (0.8 miles)

Parking: Ra ttlesna ke Gulc h Trailhead (Eldorado Canyon Sta te Par k – entrance fee required), pit toilet availa ble

From the trailhead, follow the Ra ttlesna ke Gulc h trail 0 1 mile to the junction with the Fowler West trail Ta ke the left for k onto the Fowler West trail Continue 0 3 miles to the Bastille Roc k for ma tion Severa l benc hes a long the way of fer g rea t viewing of the canyon wa lls and roc k c limber s Wa lk through the roc k cut-out and see the sedimentar y layer s of roc k showing millennia of geolo gica l histor y. Retur n to the trailhead via the same route. For creekside snac ks on the way bac k,

*Ima ge top right: Julie’s son a t Eldorado Springs Resor t Pool

continue past the Ra ttlesna ke Gulc h trailhead and wa lk down the g ravel road 0.1 miles to the bridge over South Boulder Creek. Enjoy time a long the shores of the creek. This trail is fair ly fla t and the inter pretive signs with anima l car vings ma ke this a g rea t introductor y hike for toddler s

In the 1900s through 1940s, visitor s to the Eldorado Springs Resor t were trea ted to many spectac les, inc luding tightrope crossings of Eldorado Canyon. Ivy Ba ldwin made 86 crossings. His last was a t a ge 82!

Towhee and Homestead trails (0.8 miles)

Parking: South Mesa Trailhead (requires Boulder County Open Space pass or a daily par king fee), pit toilet availa ble

From the trailhead, follow the Mesa trail 0.1 miles to the bridge crossing South Boulder Creek Many c hildren have thrown roc ks into this creek! The historic Doudy-Debac ker-

Dunn House is a shor t distance past the creek Continue up the Mesa Trail for 0 2 miles to the junction with the Homestead Trail. Tur n right onto the Homestead trail. Continue through the sumac g rove for 0.1 miles to a ver y sma ll creek crossing. This is a nice spot for a snac k and is a na tura l tur n around spot for toddler s.

To crea te a 3-mile loop, continue up the Homestead trail for 1 2 miles to the Mesa trail Tur n right onto the Mesa trail and continue for 0 2 miles to the Towhee trail Tur n right onto the Towhee trail and continue for 0 6 miles to where it rejoins the Mesa Trail Continue on the Mesa trail bac k to the trailhead

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.

ge left: Boys a t the Doudy-

House

*Ima

Debac ker-Dunn

to Spar k Your Next

Books kid-friendly, outdoor adventures

by the book exper ts a t Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppe

In a world full of screens and schedules, summer’s the perfect time to unplug and find new ways to find the ma gic in the ever yday For kids, na ture is more than just a place it’s a playg round, a c lassroom, and an adventure a ll rolled into one Whether it’s a bac kyard, a par k, or a trail in the foothills, stepping outside can open up endless oppor tunities to explore, ima gine, and discover the wider wor ld

A thoughtfully c hosen book can help tur n an ordinar y outing into a fullblown adventure To see the na tura l wor ld in new and exciting ways, you might tr y A Field Guide to Summer by Ga bby Dawnay This lively, interactive guide invites kids to dive into the wonder s of summer with activities like bug hunting and tree identifying, while sug gesting projects like building a sundia l or ma king a flower crown. Filled with poems, crafts, and fascina ting facts, Dawnay encoura ges kids to use their senses to connect with na ture, and its compact size a llows you to tuc k it into a bac kpac k and easily ta ke it a long on any outdoor jour ney.

If your c hild tends to notice ever y flutter and c hir p, The Kids’ Guide to Bir ds of Color ado by Stan Tekiela of fer s a c hance to become a bac kyard bird exper t. This kid-friendly guide helps young birder s identify loca l species with a pproac ha ble descriptions and c lear photo g ra phs Suddenly, a wa lk through the neighbor hood becomes a scavenger hunt: Is tha t a robin or a finc h? Why is tha t bird ca lling? Kids love having a sense of exper tise, and this book gives them just enough knowledge to feel like rea l na tura lists

For those who prefer getting their hands dir ty, the Bac kpac k Explor er : Bug Hunt from Storey Publishing is wonderfully interactive right from the fir st pa ge Kids will find prompts, c hec klists, and even space to jot down or draw their obser va tions Tur n over a roc k, peek under a lo g, or examine the flower s in your yard kids will find a whole wor ld of insects waiting to be discovered Wha t I love a bout this book is how it encoura ges kids to look with care to pay c lose a ttention Bugs are ever ywhere, even in the sma llest pa tc h of g rass, and noticing them can transfor m a “boring” outing into an exciting investiga tion, transfor ming a simple wa lk into a mini science expedition.

Sometimes an outdoor adventure requires nothing more than your ima gina tion W ild Things by Jo Sc hofield and Fiona Danks is pac ked with crea tive outdoor activities suc h as building dens, ma king na ture ar t, or playing games inspired by the wild It reminds kids tha t na ture isn’t just something to obser ve it’s something to interact with Climbing trees, splashing in streams, and crea ting with stic ks and leaves are a ll ways to help c hildren feel a sense of connection to the wor ld around them A perfect antidote to those “I’m bored” moments, instead of defaulting to screens, you can flip to a pa ge and find a simple project tha t gets ever yone moving and enga ged.

And sometimes the best adventures begin with a stor y We’r e Going on a Bear Hunt by Mic hael Rosen, with illustra tions by Helen Oxenbur y, has inspired genera tions of presc hooler s (and beyond) to step outside and ima gine their own jour neys In the stor y, a g roup of c hildren and their caregiver bravely trek through g rass, river s, mud, and forests in searc h of a bear, facing eac h obstac le with excitement and curiosity. Reading it a loud a lmost feels like going on an adventure your self and it might just inspire kids to crea te their own “bear hunt” in the bac kyard or a t a loca l par k.

Exploring the outdoor s isn’t just fun—time in na ture helps boost kids’ confidence, improves their focus, and helps them stay active It encoura ges crea tivity and problem-solving, whether they’re figuring out how to cross a stream or identify a new bird Na ture a lso teac hes pa tience and obser va tion, skills tha t are va lua ble in ever y area of life

Getting star ted is easier than you might think Kids can begin by stepping outside and asking simple questions: Wha t kinds of plants are g rowing here? Can I hear birds? Are there insects under tha t roc k? Bringing a long a notebook to draw or write down discoveries can ma ke the experience even more exciting. Books like those mentioned a bove can act as guides, tur ning curiosity into knowledge and explora tion into lifelong lear ning.

Parents and caregiver s can join in too, ma king outdoor time a shared adventure. Whether it’s a family hike, a picnic in the par k, or just an evening spent wa tc hing the sunset, these moments crea te lasting memories

So g ra b a book, step outside, and star t your adventure Who knows wha t you’ll discover?

The staf f at Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppes is on hand to suppor t your ef for ts in seeking superior playthings to enhance your c hild’s development For a curated selection of toys, games, and books, please stop by our Boulder or Broomfield locations, or visit www gr toys com

SUMMER RECIPES: SUMMER RECIPES:

m y s t e r y b o x k i t c h e n

Rainy Day Recipe Cha llenges for Junior Chefs

Looking for a fun twist on summer cooking? This season, instead of simply following a recipe, families can tur n the kitc hen into their ver y own cooking competition Ga ther a few sur prise ing redients, set a timer for one hour, and c ha llenge the kids to crea te something delicious using ever ything in the box It is a playful way to build confidence in the kitc hen, encoura ge crea tivity, and ma ke those stor my June after noons feel a little more exciting

B R E A K F A S T F O

Myster y box ingredients:

Eggs

Bread or bagels

Shredded cheese

Spinach

Apples

Maple syrup

Cinnamon

Cha llenge idea: Can the chefs turn breakfast basics toast, cheesy egg sandwiches, mini breakfast melts, or a sweet-and-savory combo meal.