RM Parent May 2017

MAY 2017 • RMPARENT.COM

Rethinking GENDER

PUBLIC

garden

strolls

Community health programs

SUMMER

ADVENTURES SADDLE UP A

HORSE THE REGION’S

BEST

FAMILY

CALENDAR!

S pecial Section SEASON 2017 GROWING Farm Guide Local Food and

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MAY 2017

Departments PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Acceptance—Gratitude changes how we view the world

WOMEN’S HEALTH . . . . . . . . 8 Summer adventures, mom style—creating joy and fond memories with your kids

FAMILY ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . 10 Breathe in the blooms—experience the smells, colors, tastes and beauty of a public garden

LEARN AND LIVE . . . . . . . . . . 12 Saddle up a horse—and round up some family fun

COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . 14 NoCo is a hotspot of spring activity—gardeners wanted, new bike lanes, fire danger, outdoor art, Habitat partnership

HEALTHY LIVING . . . . . . . . 16

Protect those pearly whites—start dental care early

CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Events and activities for parents, kids and families

TIME OUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

The mom balancing act—bottom line: the kids come first

School District News Greeley-Evans District 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 NCMC Foundation makes large donation to District 6, district revises 2017-18 calendar, eight district seniors named Daniels Scholars, district to shift boundary for Dos Rios Elementary

Special Sections BOUNTY

LOCAL FOOD AND FARM GUIDE

GROWING SEASON 2017

Local Food and Farm Guide

URBAN Discover the bounty that homesteading awaits you in our area in this extensive local resource guide that Sharing your bounty includes listings of local producers, restaurants sourcing local and farmers markets. Also, find out if a CSA is right for you and if you might like to try your hand at urban homesteading.

And, discover where you can share your harvest with those in need.

CONNECTING h CROPS TO CUISINE Restaurants sourcing local food

SUMMERTIME

Explore the possibilities for this summer and see what programs these providers have for your families.

Features 18 WHAT IS GENDER ANYWAYS?

Tenley is just like any 13-year-old. Her face lights up when she rattles off her favorite bands or talks about her best friends. She giggles a lot and has bright eyes and a wide grin. The only difference is her birth sex doesn’t match her gender. In other words, her outside doesn’t match how she thinks of herself, inside.

PSD calendar of events, high school robotics clubs practice teamwork and STEM skills, kinesthetic desks allow students to learn through moving, four schools named Healthy School Champions

Thompson School District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Lunchbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 School menus for Poudre, Thompson, Greeley-Evans and Windsor

WEEKLY FRESHNESS FROM A CSA

YOUR GUIDE TO

FARMERS MARKETS AND FARM STANDS

Poudre School District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

High Plains School earns LEED Gold Green Building certification, TSD names Richard Harris principal of Berthoud High School, new website dedicated to Personalized Learning

From the farm to your table

ABOUT THE COVER: Adelaide, 8 months, loves

eating bananas, petting her cats and music.

Photo by Cheri Schonfeld, courtesy of Sky's Open Design on location at Rolland Moore Park, Fort Collins.

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perspective Acceptance

Gratitude changes how we view the world

O

ne of the best ways to be happy is to accept things as they are…to be content. And even better, if you can go beyond accepting to being grateful, then you will find even more joy. As the saying goes, happiness is not having what you want, but rather, wanting what you have. We find it difficult to be content, though. We get constant messages that tell us that we need to be better at this, and have more of that, and not be like this, but be more like that. We see people on Facebook having so much more fun that we’ll ever have, and with more friends.

Accepting ourselves as good and worthy, just as we are, seems elusive sometimes. And if we have a hard time with that, it’s no wonder that we have a hard time accepting others, just as they are, who are different than we are.

We are running a story about an amazing nonbinary-gender teenager who is learning to accept who she/he is and hopes that others will learn to accept him/her, too. On page 18, Lynn U. Nichols writes about the journey that this teen and supportive family have taken as they navigate these unfamiliar waters. I found this story to be both instructive and inspirational and I hope that you do too.

And now for a jump, because I’m very excited about this and I want to share it too! One thing I’m grateful about is that in our area, we have the opportunity to eat good food that is produced locally, especially in the growing and harvest seasons. Life is full of choices and choosing to do things that are good for us and good for our world just seems to make sense. And that includes eating well and eating fresh food produced locally as much as we can.

I’d like to invite you to spend a little time with our special section Bounty this month. It’s a local food and farm guide that is packed full. Here’s a taste.

Want to try a little urban homesteading?. Wondering who could use your extra produce? Considering a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) membership? Want to know what restaurants source locally or find a list of local producers? Or where those farmers markets and farm stands are? It’s all there. Go dig in.

Also, check out all the fun things going on in NoCo this month in our calendar. Learn where your family can take a walk at a public garden or learn to ride a horse.

Thanks for reading, Scott

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MAY 2017 • Volume 21, Issue 12 PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Kim Sharpe calendar@rockymountainpub.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION Sharon Klahn, Debbie Lee, Rob Martin, Susan Pettit, Nikolai Poppen-Chambers COVER PHOTO Cheri Shonfeld, schonfeldphotography.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lea Hanson, Katie Harris Lynn U. Nichols, Kim Sharpe

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING 825 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80521 Voice 221-9210 Fax 221-8556 editor@rockymountainpub.com www.RMParent.com Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published monthly by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publication of this paper does not consitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

RMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. ©2017 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited.

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MARCH 2017 • RMPARENT.COM

SPRING 2017

SERVING NORTHERN COLORADO • FIFTYBETTER.COM

TEE OFF AT A LOCAL DISC GOLF COURSE

ROAD TRIPPING Road tripping —with—

with toddlers

toddl ers

PREPARING YOUR GARDEN

HEALTHY BODY HABITS for kids

Mindfulness and your health

Sample a local craft

Destinations and

wayside breaks

PLUS

THE 2017

of DIRT

THE UGLY SIDE:

CHILD ABUSE IN NOCO

FIND IT IN THE

DIRECTORY

PIT STOPS

Church

WHAT food labels CAN TELL YOU

[BIG BIKE]

Finding your passions

beer

FUN, FUN, FUN

Front Range staycation

THE REGION’S

RiDE 2017 GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE & EVENTS

Pots and plots—

BIKE

CALENDAR

Ditch the pavement for dusty dirt trails, fire roads, meandering two tracks, and crunchy gravel roads

BEST

FAMILY CALENDAR!

INSIDE: LIFESTYLE, ACTIVE [AND HEALTH DIRECTORIES] RMPARENT

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GUIDE TO NORTHERN COLORADO BICYCLING CULTURE AND EVENTS

RiDE | 1

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women’s health

Summer adventures, mom style Creating joy and fond memories with your kids LY NN U. NICHOLS

I

t’s that time of year to gear up for summer with your kids. While it’s exciting, it can also be daunting. You have to find that balance between too much structured time and too little, and getting your work and chores done while still cherishing summer adventures with your kids. Being productive and getting everything on your list done is great, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t create joy and fond memories.

The key to fitting in fun and finding that balance is setting good intentions and acting on them. That takes planning and contemplating. For example, what is your favorite summer activity, and how and when can you fit it in with your kids? If it’s backpacking or camping, get out the calendar right now and mark out a few summer weekends, even if you don’t know where you’d like to go. Next, deem certain days or afternoons adventure time with your kids—and stick to it as if it’s just as important an appointment as going to work or the doctor’s. Maybe it’s just Friday afternoons, but set everything else aside and let that be the time when you not only soak in summer, but soak in every moment with your kids.

Finally, don’t forget that moms need some adult fun, too—time away from the kids with friends or a significant other. Consider it scheduled time to refresh your engine and gear up for the next family adventure. Here are some ideas to get you rolling: DEEM ONE DAY A WEEK ADVENTURE DAY Let your kids know that Friday, or whatever works, is always adventure day. Sit down and brainstorm out-ofthe-ordinary things to do with them.

Let everyone have a voice and create a bucket list of adventures for the summer. Star the favorite ones and start there. Ideas: Fishing down the Poudre 8

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River at Picnic Rock, visiting The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenseburg, CO that has rescued tigers, lions, bears, wolves and more, hiking in nearby Vedauwoo and Happy Jack natural areas near Laramie, Wyoming, mountain biking in Lory State Park, visiting the Lee Martinez Farm in Fort Collins or simply getting a butterfly net and catching bugs at the local park.

VISIT A NEW PARK EACH WEEK There are over 50 parks in Fort Collins, 35 parks in Loveland, and over 30 parks in Greeley—and even more in Windsor—so you could literally explore a new park every day of the summer in northern Colorado and not see them all. Get on the various city websites and pick 12 of the top ones you’d like to visit this summer—ones you’ve never been to before. Put them on the list.

GET CULTURED AROUND TOWN Living in northern Colorado, we are extremely lucky to have so many outlets for music and art. Schedule several Culture Hours throughout the summer

where you go listen to live music, including Noontime Notes, Lagoon Concert Series at CSU, Thursday Night Live concerts at Old Town Square and many more listed in Visit Fort Collins’ Outdoor Summer Concert Series.

Also, visit area art museums and the sculpture parks in Loveland. Then, go home and make your own music and art with your kids. Your first Culture Hour could be going to the store to create an “Art Box” filled with anything and everything your kids might need to create art from paints, markers, crayons, sketching paper, and construction paper to stickers, sequins, feathers, glue, and more. Join in on the fun and worry about the mess later.

MOM’S DAY OUT Lastly, don’t forget time for you. Plan a weekend away with girlfriends or your spouse. Go to a music festival, camp near a hot springs, backpack a new trail, or stay in Denver for the weekend enjoying a special event, good food and music. Remember, life’s an adventure, so plan for it!

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family activities

Breathe in the blooms

Experience the smells, colors, tastes and beauty of a public garden KATIE HARRIS

T

he bright colors of May blossoms make it hard to be inside this month, so don’t! Get outside and enjoy nature at its finest with a family stroll through one of the regions public gardens.

The Benson Sculpture Garden on 29th St. and Aspen Dr. in Loveland is a must see, with paved trails winding through beautiful garden areas and marshes and over bridges. Sculptures from world-renowned artists can be seen throughout the park, and benches are located throughout so you can sit and enjoy the view. Benson Sculpture Garden is open year round at no cost to guests. For more information visit www.sculptureinthepark.org/garden.

The Colorado State University Flower Trial Garden is truly a sight for sore eyes, with a rainbow of blossoms taking over the lawn in front of the CSU Center for the Arts on Remington St. and E. Lake St. each spring. The garden, which is designed from scratch each year to test the success of different plants in the northern Colorado region, is open to the public daily and free of charge. For more information visit www.flowertrials.colostate.edu/.

Also in Fort Collins located at 2145 Centre Ave, the Gardens on Spring Creek are a great place for families to explore a variety of landscapes. The Children’s Garden is perfect for inquisitive young minds to discover, the Garden of Eatin’ is an edible garden full of the veggies needed to grow a whole salad, and the Dahlia and Daylily Demonstration Gardens feature hundreds of varieties of blooms. The garden is open daily for the spring season at no cost, however a $2 donation is suggested. For details visit www.fcgov.com/gardens/.

At the High Plains Environmental Center guests can walk miles of trails 10

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enjoying views of native plants and wildlife, a 1-acre wetland, and large community garden. The center is located at 2698 Bluestem Willow Dr. in Loveland and parking for trail access is also available off Rocky Mountain Ave. in the Centerra business complex. For more information on the High Plains Environmental Center, including ways to get involved, visit www.suburbitat.org/.

One of Greeley’s best-kept secrets is the Houston Gardens, located at 513 23rd Ave. The garden, which is run by the Assistance League of Greeley, is open to the public at no cost and features a community garden, 4.3 acres of scenic trails featuring natural landscape, and an abundance of wildlife. Visit www.wgcd.org/houstongardens/ for more information.

Northern Water in Berthoud maintains a conservation garden that is

open to the public. The gardens contain over 700 plants and 60 turf grasses, all of which thrive in the Colorado climate without heavy water use.

Signs located along the garden paths offer more information to visitors on plants for arid climates. Visit www. northernwater.org/WaterConservation/ ConservationGardens.aspx for details.

On June 17 garden aficionados will have the opportunity to tour local cottage-style gardens during the 14th Annual Loveland Garden Tour and Art Show sponsored by Loveland Youth Gardeners. Stops will include sustainable gardening, container gardening, organic vegetable gardens and flower beds. Admission is $15 for adults and children 12 and under are free. Purchase tickets online at lovelandyouthgardeners.org/lovelandgarden-tour/.

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970.402.2536

for registration and camp details visit: inspirationridingacademy.com RMPARENT

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learn and live

Saddle up a horse …and round up some family fun

KIM SHARPE

T

he most fun a family can have is when its members horse around— as in horseback ride together.

“Horseback riding is a great family activity,” says Stephanie Hoffman of Inspiration Riding Academy. “I have many mothers and daughters or siblings that ride together. Learning together and sharing a passion with a child can be very fulfilling and strengthen family bonds.”

Preschool-age children can begin to get familiar with horses with adult supervision. Seven or 8 years tends to be the age when kids are ready to saddle up.

Hoffman says she teaches riders as young as 3 or 4. “This is just to familiarize a young child with how to handle and be safe around a pony, learn basic riding skills, and enjoy themselves. These lessons are shorter in duration and taught individually on a small pony. As a child gets older (7 or 8) they start to develop the strength and coordination to ride independently and master more complex riding skills. Focus, strength, and maturity all play into an individual’s ability to learn to ride, so ultimately it depends on the child.”

Like other animals, horses teach children many life skills. Molly Brame of Gargot Farms says horses help “children learn responsibility, accountability and hard work. They also help kids become confident of themselves and of their abilities.”

Horseback riding also has physical benefits. Hoffman says, “It helps develop muscle strength in your legs, upper body and core. There’s a lot of motion to a horse’s gait, so keeping yourself in position while the horse moves requires a lot of strength and stamina. Mentally, it teaches focus, resilience, leadership, discipline and empathy. You are working as a team with a very sensitive animal, who can 12

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Places to horse around

Gargot Farms Riding Academy www.gargotfarms.com Hearts & Horses www.heartsandhorses.org Hope Farms www.HopeFarmsFC.com Inspiration Riding Academy www.inspirationridingacademy.com My Heroes www.myheroestherapy.com Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch www.sylvandale.com Tomora Training Center www.tomoratrainingcenter.com

literally feel your breath and heart rate at all times, there is much more to it than most folks can imagine.”

Like other sports with a potential for falls, gear to protect one’s head tops the list of must-have equipment.

Equestrian helmets can be purchased for about $50 at a tack shop or farm and ranch store. It’s also important to

wear boots with a flat sole and low heel.

Most riding facilities have ponies and horses students may use for lessons, so owning a horse isn’t necessary.

Even if you never become an English jumping champion or rodeo cowboy, going for a family horseback ride might just be a galloping good time for all.

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community news

NoCo is a hot spot of spring activity Gardeners wanted, new bike lanes, Habitat partnership KIM SHARPE

H

ave you noticed the relationship between weather and human activity? As the mercury rises, people tend to spend more time outdoors. As the temperatures heat up in NoCo, residents should be mindful about fire danger and road construction zones, as well as take advantage of fun opportunities to get outside. There also are many ways to spring into service, from gardening to volunteering to buying a shed.

NORTH SHIELDS STREET IN FORT COLLINS WILL GET BIKE LANES On the heels of the recently adopted Old Town (Fort Collins) Neighborhoods Plan, the recommended improvements along North Shields Street are soon to become a reality.

Southbound bike lanes will be added between Vine and Magnolia Streets and northbound bike lanes will be added between Mountain Avenue and Vine Street. In addition, the Maple Street pedestrian and bicycle connection along North Shields Street, an important east-west low-stress corridor, will be improved. North Shields Street will be closed during the repaving and restriping work this spring, so please mind the closures.

FIRE DANGER IS HIGH The Front Range is experiencing above normal temperatures and below normal relative humidity and precipitation. The immediate weather forecast and normal springtime green up of fuels should diminish the threat of wildland fires, however, the Larimer County Sheriff ’s Office requests that residents and visitors exercise extreme caution with any potential source of ignition. It reminds people of the following:

• Campfires. Only build them when and where authorized. Do not leave them unattended,

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and put them out completely. Use ample water and stir until the coals are cool to the touch.

• Slash-pile burns. No slash-pile burning is allowed during Red Flag Warnings issued by the National Weather Service.

• Cigarette butts. Dispose of lit smoking materials properly.

• Heat transfer from exhaust systems. Do not park a vehicle in areas with tall grass that could catch fire.

The sheriff ’s office is not imposing any restrictions or bans at this time, but will continue to monitor fire danger conditions. More information regarding wildfire preparedness and prevention is available at www.larimersheriff.org/sitepage/wildfire-preparedness.

For more information about the plans, visit www.fcgov.com/bicycing.

LARIMER COUNTY GARDENERS WANTED TO PLANT IT FORWARD If you grow vegetables, the Gardens on Spring Creek asks that you consider

participating in its Plant It Forward program, a partnership between the Gardens and the Food Bank for Larimer County. The Gardens’ goal is to donate 60,000 pounds of fresh produce to Food Bank this growing season from area gardens. Learn more about the program at www.plantitforwardnoco.org.

If you would like to grow vegetables, but don’t have space, you can reserve some at a community garden.

Limited plots remain in Fort Collins, so now is the time to claim yours. Special plots are available for nonprofit organizations, schools and churches that would like a community garden space for educational purposes, as well as people participating in the Plant It Forward program. To learn more and reserve a space, please contact Vicki Cotton at vcotton@ fcgov.com or call 970-416-2486.

ENJOY ART OUTDOORS IN LOVELAND If you enjoy art and the outdoors, head to Loveland on Saturday, May 20 for

PHOTOS THIS PAGE BY ALEX STATHAM

the Plein Art Festival and Auction. This free family-friendly festival showcases 50 Colorado artists as they masterfully paint works of art on location throughout Loveland, providing a unique opportunity to experience each piece as it is being created. Once finished, the paintings will be auctioned off at Loveland’s Rialto Theater. Attendees may receive information on the day of the festival at Studio Vino, 426 N. Lincoln Ave. in downtown Loveland.

The Plein Art Festival and Auction is one of the most highly attended events of the annual Governor’s Art Show and Sale, the largest juried art show to exclusively feature Colorado artists. It’s hosted by the Loveland Museum Gallery and presented by the Loveland Rotary and Thompson Valley Rotary Clubs. All proceeds will benefit Rotary-sponsored charitable projects and causes, including scholarships for local art students. The Plein Air Festival is free; exhibit admission to the Governor’s Art Show is $5, and free for museum members. Learn more at www. governorsartshow.org.

37 GREELEY-AREA RESIDENTS RECEIVE PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD In 2016, the City of Greeley Museums had 136 volunteers donate over 10,000 hours of service. Thirty-seven of those volunteers will be presented with the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) for 2017. Six of those volunteers were local teens who will be recognized at the gold level. They volunteered anywhere from 108 to 345 hours last year.

Additionally, four volunteers were recognized at the silver level and 28 volunteers were recognized at the bronze level. Volunteers’ ages range from youth through adult. Each recipient receives a letter signed by the President of the United States, certificate of recognition and a lapel pin in honor of their achievement.

For information about the PVSA, visit PresidentialServiceAwards.gov. For information about volunteering at the City of Greeley Museums, visit Greeley museums.com/Volunteer.

FRCC, HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PARTNERSHIP A WIN-WIN Students at Front Range Community College are taking hands-on learning to a new level and helping the community, too.

During the spring 2017 semester, students in the Architectural Engineering and Construction Technology class designed and have been building a shed they’ll donate to Habitat for Humanity to sell for profit. The shed building project has been assigned to students of this class for several years, but sheds were always disassembled after they were graded because there wasn’t a place to store them on campus. Jamie Hahn, the program director and teacher of the class, felt frustrated by this and contacted Habitat to see if the organization had a need for a new shed. The partnership grew from there.

“This really is an excellent opportu-

nity for students to get real-world experience working with clients and building to a sellable standard,” he says.

“As a nonprofit home builder, this partnership was a great fit for our organization,” adds Kristin Candella, Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity executive director. “I love that we can help provide real-world educational opportunities for local students and the fundraising element helps us to keep our mission financed.”

The shed will be transported and displayed at the Fort Collins Habitat ReStore in May and the public will have an opportunity to purchase it at that time. All proceeds from the sale of the shed will directly benefit Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity. To learn more about Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity and their community partners, visit www.FortCollinsHabitat.org.

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healthy living

Supporting community health Programs give access to health and wellness for all LEA HANSON

M

ost adults wish that they had more time to focus on fitness and wellness, and those caring for children often find there is less time to do so. Add financial limitations to the chaos of family management and managing a heavy work schedule and achieving fitness and wellness goals can seem even less accessible.

Healthy bodies ought not to be reserved for those with the financial means to pay for gym memberships, which are often costly. For this reason and others, an increasing number of programs are sprouting in northern Colorado that aims to create health and wellness equity.

VIDA SANA FORT COLLINS Vida Sana is a health movement desiring to bring communities together to assert their voices for the changes the community needs and wants in order to improve their own health. Those interested in the Vida Sana program need to complete an application and a fitness assessment. Applications are available online in English and Spanish (www. fcgov.com/recreation/vidasana.php).

Only applicants who have an income at or below 250 percent of the poverty line are considered.

Vida Sana passes are discount recreation passes available for participants ages 12 years and older. The Vida Sana Pass can be used for group-based classes, such as Zumba. While passes cannot be used for access to other health facility equipment (weights, cardio equipment, etc.), Vida Sana members can obtain access to the Northside Aztlan Community Center for $1 per visit. In addition to access to group classes, Vida Sana members have access to free educational events and opportunities related to health, exercise, and nutrition.

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HEALTHY WELD 2020 Healthy Weld 2020 is a privately funded grant program at the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment that takes a leading role in obesity prevention initiatives in the county by creating healthy environments where residents work, learn, live, and play. The initiative has assessed areas in Weld County that qualified as food deserts to identify those neighborhoods and community members that lack sufficient access to healthy foods. Community initiative tied to the Healthy Weld 2020 program includes the 5210 Make Today Count campaign and Eat Right Colorado.

LARIMER COUNTY HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM The Healthy Communities Program helps families with children under age 21 and pregnant women apply for Medicaid and/or the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). The program also helps families on Medicaid and/or CHP+ understand their benefits and find

medical, dental, vision, mental health, and specialty services. The program can assist families with eligibility questions, referrals to community services, and other health information.

Adults without dependent children needing help can contact the Larimer County Department of Human Services at (970) 498-6300, Larimer Health Connect at (970) 472-0444 or go to colorado.gov/PEAK.

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What is GENDER, anyways?

The story of one northern Colorado transgender, non-binary teen Lynn U. Nichols

Tenley is just like any 13-year-old.

Her face lights up when she rattles off her favorite bands or talks about her best friends. She giggles a lot and has bright eyes and a wide grin. The only difference is her birth sex doesn’t match her gender.

In other words, her outside doesn’t match how she thinks of herself, inside.

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As a child, Tenley didn’t really feel like a girl or care for her feminine-sounding name, but being a kid, she didn’t think about it too much. That is until she turned 12 and entered the throws of puberty.

Although she couldn’t fully define it, she knew she felt dissimilar from other kids her age. She started withdrawing from those around her, spending hours in her room, feeling depressed and alone. Her parents racked their brains to figure out what was going on with her. She wasn’t her funny, curious, warm self and they were desperate to bring their daughter back.

“It was our first experience parenting a teenager, so we didn’t know how to navigate. We had checked off the boxes for everything else that could be causing her behavior,” says her dad.

One day, driving to school, it dawned on him and he asked: “Are you gay?” and Tenley answered with a confident, yes.

It was our first experience parenting a teenager, so we didn’t know how to navigate.

We had checked off the boxes for everything else that could be causing her behavior.”

While it’s easier for everyone to think of her as gay, Tenley now knows that she is really “non-binary” a term that defines a person who doesn’t identify as male or female, boy or girl, man or woman—yet she does lean towards the more masculine side of the spectrum than the feminine when it comes to gender, and is more attracted to girls than boys, sexually. People who identify as non-binary don’t care for the pronouns he or she, understandably, and neither does Tenley.

That’s why from here on out, I’ll refer to Tenley as they and their, rather than she and her. Please consider it an exercise for your brain.

I’m grateful to Tenley for walking me through their reality, and helping me understand what it’s like to be a non-binary teen in a sometimes binary-obsessed world, especially when it comes to middle school when every teen

on earth is figuring out their gender and sexuality—often acting out their binary choice by wearing makeup and dressing provocatively as with girls, or being macho and acting cool as with boys. Tenley expanded my understanding that gender does not equal sex, and gender and sex exist on separate continuums that don’t neatly correlate with each other.

In sixth grade, Tenley went through a phase of trying to conform by growing long hair, wearing a lot of make-up, sporting a ton of jewelry and wearing tight, revealing clothes. A friend shifted this one day when she responded to what Tenley was wearing with, ‘Oh, that’s not you.’ Tenley went back into the house and looked in the mirror and thought, ‘She’s right.’ A similar shift happened after Tenley took the risk to cut their long hair short and put a streak in it. When Tenley’s mom saw

the haircut she said, ‘You look more like yourself.’ These affirmations were little guideposts along the way for clarifying Tenley’s identity.

“All the girls at school are stereotypical girls and all the boys are stereotypical boys and then there’s me. I’m over here, like, ‘Hi,’ Tenley says.

Just a few weeks ago, Tenley officially changed their name at school.

They don’t like change, so they worried about going through that awkward phase of waiting for classmates and teachers to get the new name down.

“Every time someone calls me by my old name it’s like getting punched in the stomach,” Tenley says.

Yet Tenley is wise for their young age, and has their eyes on the future.

They figure it took their parents four weeks to fully adopt the new name, so it will be a similar timeframe for people RMPARENT

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at school. They’re patiently waiting it out. It helps to also wear a “binder” that flattens their chest. It makes Tenley feel more comfortable in their own skin, and they don’t feel like they have to hide themselves under a jacket all day at school, anymore.

“I wanted a new name because I felt something more masculine would fit me better. When I asked myself, ‘Can I change my name to Tenley?’ I felt butterflies. I also liked that it was androgynous, and better fit how I think about myself in my head,” Tenley says.

Changing their name publicly was one of the first steps in Tenley’s “transition,” a sort of coming out—a transitioning from society’s expectations and gender stereotypes for a physical female, into who they really are.

“Our immediate reaction when we found out Tenley was non-binary, was sadness and worry. We just didn’t want them to deal with extra baggage in their life, but when Tenley makes a determination on something, it’s solid. We felt sure of that, and sure of Tenley. I don’t know where they will land in the world, but I’m sure they’ll be in charge,” says Tenley’s dad, who oozes pride when he talks about Tenley.

Coming home to the comfort of parents who are supportive and accepting is helping Tenley get through these awkward days of people at school learning their new name.

“Coming home to my parents who are calling me by the right name at the end of the day makes it okay. It’s like I’m getting beaten up for six hours and then I go to the hospital where they make it okay. I am not sure I’d be here today, if my parents weren’t supportive,” Tenley says.

The best approach for parents with teens who are questioning their gender is to stay open-minded and be willing to explore what they are feeling in a supportive way, rather than seeing it as a problem that needs to be fixed. Jennifer Amaral-Kunze, M.Ed, LPC, a licensed professional counselor with Beyond the Mirror Counseling advises parents to 20

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live in the gray area of not knowing, allowing space for their teen to find clarity at their own pace. She says a lot of times parents feel confused and don’t have answers, but they need to realize that their child might not either. It’s most helpful to allow space for exploration without expecting answers to come quickly.

“It’s okay to say, ‘This is hard for me, it’s new but we will figure it out together.’ Some parents jump on board and others have a harder time, but that’s okay. Remember that this is your child, the same child from before you received this new information. It doesn’t have to change the love you have for them, but you will have to navigate differently. As parents, we don’t get to decide what our teens will do or who they will be, we can only decide how we are going to love and

parent them. We can teach them our beliefs, but we must keep in mind that they have the ultimate choice in deciding who they are,” says Amaral-Kunze.

After responding yes to being gay, Tenley started to reawaken. They began cracking jokes again, and getting back into their passions of music, drawing, 4H and learning more about being non-binary, primarily from You Tube, where transgender individuals like Miles McKenna and Ash Hardell tell it like it is, offering a community for teens who are trying to figure out where they fit, or who already know they land outside the binary idea of gender. Unfortunately, there are not as many resources as you’d think for people who don’t fit neatly into the male, female, or even gay buckets.

“What people don’t always understand is that the term transgender or

“Coming home to my parents who are calling me by the right name at the end of the day makes it okay. It’s like I’m getting beaten up for six hours and then I go to the hospital where they make it okay. I am not sure I’d be here today, if my parents weren’t supportive.”

“Let’s say the straw is girl and the cup is boy. With gender, there is a spectrum.

People can identify on one side or the other, or people can land anywhere in between.

I was born a girl, but I land more over here, on the boy end.” non-binary doesn’t reflect how someone expresses themselves outwardly, but how they experience themselves, inwardly.

When a person identifies as transgender, it means they are experiencing themselves other than their born sex and it has nothing to do with their sexual preference,” explains Amaral-Kunze.

Tenley agrees, and offers advice to other teens who may think they are transgender or non-binary. “You don’t have to act or look a certain way to be non-binary. It’s all about your brain and how you feel. Some people are completely feminine and you look at them and think, ‘That’s a girl,’ but they are really non-binary, so it’s all about how it feels inside,” they said. To further their point, Tenley placed a straw at one end of the table and a cup at the other and explained, “Let’s say the straw is girl and the cup is boy. With gender, there is a spectrum. People can identify on one side or the other, or people can land anywhere in between. I was born a girl, but I land more over here, on the boy end.”

Amaral-Kunze reminds parents that the outcome can look different for every transgender child and their family.

Counseling can help, but in her view counseling is not only for the teen, but also for the whole family, to figure out how to navigate the change. She gives the analogy that if you are suddenly dropped in the middle of the forests of Alaska for the winter, it’s helpful to have a guide or map to tackle the new terrain.

She warns that if parents are struggling and have no support, they might let their emotions come out sideways and possibly hurt their teen.

“Being transgender means something different for everyone, so ask your child what it means to them. Just because someone identifies as transgender it doesn’t mean they want to be a man or a woman or have a sex change. It could, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that. It’s all about their expression of self, and how they want to do that,” she says.

Recently, Tenley met their girlfriend in Denver where they have found a more

open community of people their age, who don’t put much weight onto how they are outwardly defined or how they identify.

They just connect. Tenley’s girlfriend reassured them that their identity is valid.

“She reminded me that it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of me. I realized that even if people turn against me, it’s not going to hurt as much as it did when I was down on myself before transitioning,” Tenley says.

Tenley’s hopes for the future are clear. They can’t wait for the idea of gender to become less rigid and for variations to become acceptable, even expected. They simply want to get back to the business of being a 13-year-old teen that is discovering who they are in all aspects of their life.

“It would be just awesome if people could walk down the street and say hi to a person, and not assume anything about them or wonder, ‘Are you rare?’ But instead think of them as just another person. I’m looking forward to a future like that,” Tenley concludes.

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greeley-evans district 6 news Foundation makes large donation to District 6

The NCMC Foundation has granted $118,274 from its Curtis Strong Eye Fund to Greeley-Evans School District 6 for the purchase of eye-care diagnostic equipment that will benefit all of the district’s 21,000-plus students.

“We are pleased to be able to make a positive impact on the students in District 6 through the Curtis Strong Eye Fund,” says NCMC Foundation President Chris Kiser. “The equipment will be used for annual screenings of all students in the district, as well as to purchase specialized equipment for students with significant low-vision needs.”

The grant will provide assistive technology devices that directly support students with low-vision needs; provide annual vision screenings of all District 6 students per state guidelines, including students receiving special education services, students new to District 6, and students referred from teachers; and, it will provide assistance to low income students to access vision professionals and glasses. Some of the vision testing equipment in District 6 is 35 years old, and can no longer be repaired.

“This kind of partnership and community support will impact every student in District 6, and give our staff the tools they need to further assist our low-vision and blind students to access 24

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educational opportunities and materials,” says Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch.

“We are very grateful to the NCMC Foundation and the Curtis Strong Eye Fund for this generous donation.”

A check presentation ceremony was held Monday, April 10 in the Union Colony Room at NCMC. Kiser says it is the largest community donation the NCMC Foundation has ever made.

The Curtis Strong Eye Fund was established in 2000 at the NCMC Foundation, upon the death of longtime Greeley businessman and philanthropist Curtis Strong. Strong suffered from macular degeneration late in his life, and was motivated to make a difference through his personal philanthropy.

He was a partner in the Herren & Strong Company, which constructed many major thoroughfares in northern Colorado, including the U.S. 34 bypass and U.S. 85 south of Greeley.

The Curtis Strong Eye Fund has generated $2.1 million, and is used for the treatment of disease and eye disorders, such as macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.

DISTRICT 6 REVISES 2017-18 CALENDAR; NO MORE EARLY RELEASE The Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education approved a revised

calendar for the 2017-18 school year that includes the elimination of earlyrelease Mondays for elementary, middle and K-8 schools.

Beginning next school year, Monday will be the same start and release time as other days of the week.

Instead of the weekly early release, all schools will now have full-day training days for its staff six times throughout the school year. Students will not report to school on these staff training days.

This change does not affect charter schools. The 2017-18 calendar is similar to what District 6 high schools have this year.

The full-day student release days on the revised calendar are: • Monday, October 23, 2017 • Monday, December 4, 2017 • Wednesday, January 3, 2018 • Monday, March 26, 2018 • Monday, April 30, 2018

“We believe this change will be beneficial to our students, families and staff and provide a consistent schedule in all our schools,” says Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “It will also give us time to conduct important training and professional development with our staff.”

Families with questions about this change should contact their individual school. The change will go into effect on the first day of school, Monday August 21, 2017 for grades 1-12 and Thursday, August 24 for kindergarten. The revised calendar is posted on the District 6 website at www.greeleyschools.org.

EIGHT DISTRICT 6 STUDENTS NAMED DANIELS SCHOLARS Eight Greeley-Evans School District 6 seniors who will graduate in May have been notified they will receive the prestigious Daniels Scholarship.

Paid for through the Daniels Fund, a private foundation started by entrepreneur and cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, these scholarships cover four years of tuition and fees, room

and board, books and miscellaneous educational expenses for scholars who attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States.

Five of this year’s winners are from Northridge High School. The District 6 Daniels Scholarship recipients for 2017 are: • Gisel Chavez-Perez, Greeley Central High School • Pablo Lopez, Greeley West High School • David Orozco-Baldovinos, Greeley West High School • Sergio Daniel Estrada Murguia, Northridge High School • Fernando Alfredo Garcia-Moreno, Northridge High School • Remi Ruiz-Martinez, Northridge High School • Brayan Alexis Serrano Padilla, Northridge High School • Darius Emanuel Simon, Northridge High School

More than 2,000 students applied for Daniels Scholarships this year. The foundation awarded more than 200 scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

“Our Daniels Fund scholars are some of our most outstanding, resilient and hard-working students,” says Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “We are so proud of these students, and grateful to the Daniels Fund for giving them this amazing opportunity to further their education.”

Last year, five District 6 students received Daniels scholarships. Over the past 11 years, 87 District 6 scholars have received this competitive award. Since the program was launched in 2000, the Daniels fund has awarded more than $150 million in scholarships.

DISTRICT 6 TO SHIFT BOUNDARY FOR DOS RIOS ELEMENTARY Beginning in the 2017-18 school year, the middle school boundary encompassing Dos Rios Elementary School in Evans will shift from Prairie Heights Middle School to Brentwood Middle School.

This shift will allow Dos Rios students a continuum of International Baccalaureate instruction. Dos Rios

hosts the Primary Years Program for IB. Brentwood Middle School hosts the Middle Years Program for IB. The high school and diploma program for IB are at Greeley West High School.

“This just makes sense,” says Dr. Deirdre Pilch, superintendent of Greeley-Evans School District 6. “We want these students to have the opportunity to continue their IB education in middle school. Brentwood is rated as a performance school, the highest rating given by the state, and will provide excellent educational opportunities for these new students. It really is a positive shift for everyone.”

The boundary shift will also alleviate the need for some bus transportation, because more Dos Rios students live in the walk boundary for Brentwood. It will also help equalize the enrollment between Prairie Heights, the district’s largest middle school, and Brentwood, the district’s smallest middle school.

Families who have questions about this boundary change should contact the administration at their current school.

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poudre school district news Kinesthetic desks TEACH through movement because we want to teach the whole child, not just a piece of a person.”

Wiggly students at Putnam Elementary have a new option this year to help incorporate their movement into their learning: kinesthetic desks.

From desks with bicycle pedals to swinging elliptical platforms, each grade has a different type of desk available for students who need a way to wake up the brain.

“I fidget a lot in class — tapping on my desk and moving around — but this desk is fun because it helps me get my energy out,” fourth grader Jasper explains as he swiveled back and forth on his knees during the middle of a reading lesson.

The desks were funded by a grant written by the Wellness Department, which works hard to ensure the latest scientific research is being implemented in district classrooms. Grant funds from the Colorado Health Foundation were used to support two active, movement classrooms in PSD this year. Three classrooms at Cache La Poudre Middle also received active movement desks.

“We know that movement is an essential cognitive strategy for learning,” wellness coordinator Amanda Brantley says. “Movement and active 26

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desks are a sustainable way to incorporate physical activity into everyday classroom activities.”

Regular physical activity increases neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to learn new things. Research also suggests movement increases memory, attention, faster cognitive processing, decreased behavior problems, and increases positivity and optimism. John Ratey, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School explains, “Movement activates all the brain cells kids are using to learn, it wakes up the brain.”

“When I do my math, using this desk helps me because I get my work done faster,” second grader Theresa explains. “You put your feet on it and wiggle it.”

In some classrooms, the desk provides a safe space for students who are angry to take a break and de-escalate. In others, it’s a reward for positive behavior. In all cases, the desks provide an accessible way for students to process their emotions and thoughts with movement.

“Wellness is a key piece of an integrated, whole-child approach to learning,” Brantley says. “This is important

HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS CLUBS PRACTICE TEAMWORK Think you could build an entire robot in six weeks?

In early January, groups of students at each PSD high school accepted the challenge. During a frenetic build period, the robotics teams worked to design and manufacture a functioning robot capable of completing specific tasks like climbing a rope, shooting wiffle balls and manipulating gears.

“The goal is to win by building our skill set in 21st-century manufacturing,” says Ben Beauvais, who manages electronics for the Poudre High School team.

“We’re getting to participate in something in high school that’s a fun competition but will also really help us in college and have a big impact on our future.”

The teams took their robots to the Denver regional competition, where they competed against 50 other teams to see which robot could best perform the prescribed tasks.

“I was one of the two people driving our robot during the competition,” Hunter Pearson, mechanical lead for Fossil Ridge High School says. “It was so cool to go down there and see all of our work come into play like it should.”

The Fossil Ridgebotics team — in partnership with two other teams, known as an alliance — took second place, which earned them a spot in the World Championship in Houston.

“Placing second really means we’ve reached this very high level of achievement, especially for ourselves — it’s a testament to the team,” Geordi Emnett, a senior leader on the Fossil Ridge High School team says.

The teams function like a small business, with internal groups who manage mechanics, computer programming, marketing, fundraising, community outreach and finance. While the students

PSD Calendar of Events May 9 ............ 6 :30pm, Board of Education business meeting, JSSC, 2407 Laporte Ave. May 23 .......... 6 :30pm, Board of Education business meeting, JSSC, 2407 Laporte Ave. May 26 - 29 ... No School K-12

receive support from community mentors through FIRST, the sponsoring nonprofit robotics organization, the clubs are student-led and managed. At Poudre, each team member is charged with training a younger student who can take their spot when they graduate.

“You get to work hands-on with the younger students and pass along your knowledge,” says Olivia Brett, chairman and shop co-captain of the PHS team.

Her work with the team has helped her earn a scholarship to college, and set her up for success pursuing an undergraduate STEM program.

“Without Ridgebotics as that engineering foundation, I don’t think I would have some of the opportunities that are before me now,” Emnett, the Fossil senior, says. “The big reason for being in this program is the kind of experiences it opens up for you.”

Along with technical skills and exposure to engineering concepts, working on the robotics teams has helped the students to develop 21st-century skills like communication, teamwork and problem solving.

“I’ve learned to work well with other people’s ideas,” Luke Bodine, FRHS sophomore and co-captain says. “During the first week of planning, you see many other ideas and approaches to solving the problem. Learning to work with or around those ideas has helped me to grow a lot.”

Building the robots provides students with the final piece of education that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application.

“This is different than any other club — while we have experienced mentors who offer us advice and expertise and guide us along the path to success, we are the ones who make the decisions.

Ridgebotics is a hands-on, student-led

club,” Brianna Johnson, a junior who does marketing and fundraising for Fossil explains. “We pretty much get to do things for ourselves.”

FOUR SCHOOLS NAMED HEALTHY SCHOOL CHAMPIONS The Colorado Education Initiative for their success in creating healthy environments named four schools Healthy School Champions.

“This recognizes schools that have cultivated an overall culture of health and wellness,” Ashley Schwader, district wellness manager says. “They’re using data to make big changes.”

The competitive award required schools to submit five letters of recommendation and provide authentic evidence of improvement. Two schools earned Excellence Awards and two earned Promising School Awards: Excellence Award: Beattie Elementary — Beattie Elementary transformed its school schedule after internal research indicated that putting recess before lunch would benefit students.

Since the switch, student referrals for poor behavior and lunchroom waste have decreased.

The Wellness Committee also purchased two hydration stations — which make filling up water bottles easier — and were able to increase staff water consumption through a friendly competition.

In addition to those highlights,

Beattie hosts over 45 wellness events and activities throughout the year, including bowling and roller-skating family nights, a fall run, bike-to-school days and Beattie Be Fit Day. Excellence Award: Irish Elementary — Irish Elementary launched a new bike club for students this fall to educate them on bicycle safety and gain experience riding. The school also hosts a weekly walking club, which helps create community among parents, staff and students of all ages.

Irish also collaborates with groups like the Downtown Business Association, Project Smile, Safe Routes to School, the City of Fort Collins and its own parent/ teacher organization to meet students’ physical, emotional and social needs.

Promising School Award: Shepardson STEM Elementary — Shepardson was recognized for organizing healthy events that impact the entire school community, including wellness workshops, Workout Wear Wednesdays, brain breaks, a student mileage club, climbinggym outings, and a family 4K run.

Dunn Elementary, an IB World School — Dunn Elementary was recognized for making several healthy changes at school, including adding a school garden, defining a homework policy to help families find balance, replacing sugary treats on birthdays with an extra recess, and hosting yoga, taekwondo and running clubs at school.

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thompson school district news School Earns “LEED Gold Green Building” Certification

Thompson School District is pleased to announce that High Plains School has been awarded with the prestigious “LEED Gold” certification status.

The school becomes the first building in TSD to earn the designation. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is one of the foremost rating programs available for public school buildings that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for best environmental and human health performance.

High Plains School, which currently serves approximately 400 students, achieved LEED Gold certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high building performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, construction materials and indoor environmental quality.

Groundbreaking on the school took place on April 22, 2015 and culminated with the Grand Opening on August 2, 2016. During the construction time, numerous LEED building design and construction aspects were implemented: • The building was developed as a Sustainable Site to maximize openspace areas for students and local 28

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community members. Larger openspace areas allow students and teachers to incorporate learning lessons around environmental systems and natural science systems.

• Numerous water efficiency aspects were designed and constructed into the building. Low-flow sinks and toilets were built into the school that account for a 20-percent decrease in water usage compared to traditional buildings. These water efficiency measures not only conserve municipal water supplies, but also

they lower annual water utility costs to the district and the community.

• A highly efficient Geothermal Exchange system was installed at High Plains that provides heating and cooling for the building. This system is one of the most beneficial Heating/Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems that can be implemented into new buildings. This system will perform more than 50 percent better than a typical central chiller/boiler system and will greatly reduce energy costs.

• During construction of the building, more than 50 percent of the construction waste was recycled or recovered. This construction waste was recycled back into the manufacturing process and diverted from landfills.

Recycling or recovering this construction waste also realized material cost savings. These design and construction aspects are examples of strategies that were implemented to give High Plains School the opportunity to earn the LEED Gold certification for Energy and Environmental design. A formal ceremony that celebrates the designation will be held soon. Details will be released as they become available.

TSD NAMES RICHARD HARRIS PRINCIPAL OF BERTHOUD HIGH SCHOOL Thompson School District is pleased to announce that it has named Richard Harris as principal of Berthoud High School, effective July 1. He will fill the vacancy that will be created when Chris Garcia departs the district

at the conclusion of the school year.

Mr. Harris comes to the Berthoud High School community from St. Vrain Valley School District, where he has served as an assistant principal since 2013. His career also includes experience as a Language Arts teacher in the Boulder Valley School District and an English teacher in the East Side Union High School District in San Jose, California.

Mr. Harris earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from California State University and a Masters in Education in Crosscultural Teaching from National University in San Jose. He is currently enrolled in the Organizational Leadership doctoral program at Grand Canyon University.

“This is an exciting opportunity and I am very happy to join the Berthoud community,” Mr. Harris says. “I really look forward to getting to know everybody.”

Thompson School District is grateful to Principal Garcia for his many years of service and we wish him the best for the future. We also hope you will join us in welcoming Mr. Harris to the team.

NEW WEBSITE DEDICATED TO PERSONALIZED LEARNING TSD started its journey to personalized education through its “Thompson2Life” committee in 2013. The group realigned graduation guidelines and built capacity around preparing our students to be college, career and community ready. Now with regional and national recognition for the focus on students, we know that this is just the beginning. The district is humbled to be part of such an amazing journey.

As part of the project, this new web site will provide you with all of the latest information: www.thompson schools.org/voiceandchoice The web link above will start you on the “Competencies” section. On the left navigation, you will see links to the “Intro to Journey” brochure, the large story Flipbook entitled “Journey to Personalized Education” and the “Thompson2Life” committee work.

We hope you enjoy the new information. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your school.

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lunchbox POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT—Elementary student lunches are $2.55, secondary student lunches are $2.80 and reduced lunches are PK-5 free, grades 6-12 $0.40.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 Hamburger & cheeseburger; Philly cheesesteak sandwich 2 Cheese ravioli & roll; mac n’cheese 3 Teriyaki meatballs & rice; chicken patty sandwich 4 Beef taco & rice; chicken bites & roll 5 Meat lovers & cheese pizza; veggie wrap 8 Tomato soup & grilled cheese; chicken nuggets 9 Spaghetti & roasted veggies & meatsauce; turkey gravy & roll 10 Thai chicken & rice; hamburger & cheeseburger 11 Chicken burrito; trout treasures 12 Pepperoni or cheese pizza; hummus &

veggie box 15 Chicken drumstick & roll; mac n’cheese 16 Lasagna w/beef; cheese calzone & mariara 17 Asian noodle & meatball; chicken patty sandwich 18 Chicken tacos & rice; hamburger & cheeseburger 19 Meatlovers or cheese pizza 22 Taco burger; chicken nuggets 23 Meatball sandwich; chicken Alfredo 24 Orange chicken & rice; hot dog 25 Pepperoni or cheese pizza; chef salad & roll 30 Chicken patty sandwich; ham &

cheese sandwich 31 Beef & bean burrito MIDDLE SCHOOLS 1 Honey sriracha boneless wings; chicken nuggets 2 Spaghetti & meatballs; cheese ravioli & roll 3 Teriyaki beef, chicken & roll 4 Beef & bean burrito; cilantro lime rice 5 Bacon cheeseburger; pancake wrapped sausage 8 Turkey gravy & roll; chicken drumsticks & roll 9 Cheese calzone & marinara; spring veggie rotini 10 Asian bar: Orange chicken, beef & egg roll 11 Taco bar beef or chicken & rice

12 Philly cheesesteak sandwich 15 Hot dog; honey sriracha boneless wings 16 Chicken Alfredo; meatball sandwich 17 Asian bar: General Tso steak & chicken & egg roll 18 Beef & bean burrito 19 Mac & cheese; mashed potato & chicken bowl 22 Chicken parmesan sandwich; BBQ pulled pork sandwich 23 Cheese calzone & marinara; chicken nuggets 24 Sweet & sour meatball & chicken & egg roll 25 Taco bar: beef or chicken & rice 26 Tortilla soup bar

THOMPSON R2J SCHOOL DISTRICT—Elementary lunches are $2.75. Secondary school lunches are $3. Reduced lunches are PK-5 free, grades 6-12 $0.40.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 Chicken breast nuggets; fruit salad w/ yogurt 2 Nachos w/cheese; chicken tender salad w/roll 3 Baked ziti; chef salad w/roll 4 Chicken drumsticks; Caesar salad 5 Burrito variety; turkey sandwich 8 Bosco sticks with marinara sauce; fruit salad w/yogurt 9 Burrito grande; chicken tender salad 10 Mac n’cheese; chef salad

11 Sweet n’sour chicken; Caesar salad w/roll 12 Crispy chicken sandwich; turkey sandwich 15 Hamburger; fruit salad w/yogurt 16 Cheese quesadilla; chicken tender salad 17 Meatball sub; chef salad w/roll 18 Pancakes & sausages; Caesar salad 19 No school!

22-25 Manager’s choice 26 No lunch served

MIDDLE SCHOOLS 1 Chicken breast nuggets; fruit salad w/ yogurt 2 Nachos w/cheese; chicken tender salad w/roll 3 Baked ziti; chef salad w/roll 4 Spicy chicken salad; Caesar salad 5 Burrito variety; turkey sandwich 8 Bosco sticks with marinara sauce; fruit salad w/yogurt 9 Burrito grande; chicken tender salad 10 Mac n’cheese; chef salad

11 Sweet n’sour chicken; Caesar salad w/roll 12 Crispy chicken sandwich; turkey sandwich 15 Hamburger; fruit salad w/yogurt 16 Cheese quesadilla; chicken tender salad 17 Meatball sub; chef salad w/roll 18 Pancakes & sausages; Caesar salad 19 No school!

22-25 Manager’s choice 26 No lunch served

GREELEY DISTRICT 6— Elementary lunches are $2.55, and middle school lunches are $2.80, reduced-price lunches are K-2 free, 3-8 $.40.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 BBQ pork sandwich; Italian sandwich 2 Beef & cheese nachos; chicken fajita wrap 3 Buffalo chicken w/breadstick; PBJ 4 Hamburger/cheeseburger; turkey & cheese hoagie 5 Cheese or chicken, bacon, ranch pizza; PBJ 8 Mac n’cheese w/roll; American beef hoagie 9 Soft shell taco; chicken salad sandwich 10 BBQ chicken w/breadstick; PBJ 11 Stuffed shells w/garlic knot; ham &

cheese wrap 12 Cheese or green chili chicken pizza; PBJ 15 Breakfast for lunch; Italian sandwich 16 Bean & cheese burrito; green chili 17 Teriyaki chicken w/brown rice; PBJ 18 Chicken queso gordita crunch; turkey & cheese hoagie 19 Cheese or Hawaiian pizza; PBJ 22 Chicken cordon bleu sandwich; American beef hoagie 23 Sloppy Joe; pesto chicken salad wrap 24 Hot dog; PBJ MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 BBQ pork sandwich; Italian sandwich

2 Beef & cheese nachos; chicken fajita wrap 3 Buffalo chicken w/breadstick; PBJ 4 Hamburger/cheeseburger; turkey & cheese hoagie 5 Cheese or chicken, bacon, ranch pizza; PBJ 8 Mac n’cheese w/roll; American beef hoagie 9 Soft shell taco; chicken salad sandwich 10 BBQ chicken w/breadstick; PBJ 11 Stuffed shells w/garlic knot; ham & cheese wrap 12 Cheese or green chili chicken pizza;

PBJ 15 Breakfast for lunch; Italian sandwich 16 Bean & cheese burrito; green chili 17 Teriyaki chicken w/brown rice; PBJ 18 Chicken queso gordita crunch; turkey & cheese hoagie 19 Cheese or Hawaiian pizza; PBJ 22 Chicken cordon bleu sandwich; American beef hoagie 23 Sloppy Joe; pesto chicken salad wrap 24 Hot dog; PBJ

WINDSOR SCHOOL DISTRICT—Price for elementary lunch is $2.75, for middle school students, $3. Reduced lunches are elementary, free; middle school, $0.40.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1 Cheese breadstick w/marinara; PBJ 2 Chili nachos; mini cheeseburger 3 Mac & cheese; corn dog 4 Popcorn chicken; PBJ 5 Big Daddy’s cheese/Hawaiian pizza; fish sandwich 8 Mini cheese ravioli; PBJ 9 Chicken flatbread pizza; mini cheeseburger 10 Waffle sticks & sausage patties; pancake wrapped sausage 11 Chicken tenders; PBJ

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12 Big Daddy’s cheese/veggie pizza; fish sandwich 15 Cheese-stuffed breadsticks, rotini w/ meatballs 16 Taco; mini cheeseburgers 17 Mandarin orange chicken; corndog 18 BBQ pork sandwich; PBJ 19 Big Daddy’s cheese/pepperoni pizza; turkey & cheese sub 22 Hot dog; PBJ 23 Cheese pizza; mini cheeseburgers 24 Pancake wrapped sausage 25 Hamburger; PBJ

26 No lunch SECONDARY SCHOOL 1 Pasta bar; hamburger 2 Cheese enchiladas; hamburger 3 Tuscan turkey & ham wrap; hamburger 4 Sloppy Joe; hamburger 5 Chili nachos; Domino’s pizza 8 Stuffed shells; hamburger 9 Chicken flatbread taco; burger 10 Waffle sticks & sausage patties; corndog 11 Chicken tenders; popcorn chicken 12 Steak & cheese sub; Domino’s pizza

15 Teriyaki chicken; Domino’s pizza 16 Rotini; French bread pizza 17 Bean & cheese burrito; chicken taco 18 BBQ pork sandwich; hot dog wrap 19 Meatball sub; hamburger 22 Chili dog; hamburger 23 Taco; hot ham & cheese 24 Pancakes w/sausage; beef & bean burrito 25 Cheeseburger; chicken nuggets 26 No lunch

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M AY 2 0 1 7 ONGOING Car Seat Distribution and Education Class Anew car seat and education on how to use it properly to families who otherwise cannot afford a seat. $30 donation requested. One seat per family per year.

Offered once in LV and twice in FC each month. Dates and time varies. 970495-7508, www.sklarimer.org/car-seatresources/. Se Habla Español.

THROUGH May 15 Back on the Bike Get re-familiarized with bicycling skills and basics in this four-part series. Ages 14+. Free. Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 5-6pm. 970-221-2987, www. fcgov.com/bikespring.

THROUGH JUNE 20 Tai Chi Chih, Beginners Soft gentle movements to promote health. Ages 18+. $80. Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 1-2pm. 970-221-6644, www.fcgov.com/recreator.

THROUGH JULY 1 Discover Health Exhibit and Programming A hands-on exhibition for the whole family that addresses diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular health. Riverside Library & Cultural Center, 3700 Golden St., Evans. 970-330-4204.

THROUGH JULY 30 Painting the World Beautiful Enjoy a panorama of breathtaking scenes from around the world. On display will be the exquisite works of three local artists: Don Vogl, Rosalie “Rosie” Sinnett, and Joe Flores. Global Village Museum of Arts and Culture, 200 W. Mountain Ave., FC. Times vary. Jan. 6 exhibit opening is 6-9pm; free admission. 970-221-4600, www. globalvillagemuseum.org.

MAY 1 THROUGH JULY 31 Fit Families on the Move A summer program sponsored by Healthy Kids Club, UCHealth, that includes a calendar of over 100 free and low-cost activities, like swimming, laser tag, mini golf, bowling, more! Ages 2+. $7/person. Locations vary. 970-495-7511, www.healthykidsclub.org.

MAY 1 THROUGH AUGUST 19 Healthy Kids Run Series This run series includes seven free, noncompetitive fun runs; kids earn prizes for participating in four or more runs.

Ages 5-12. Locations vary. 970-495-7511, www.healthykidsclub.org.

Fit.Teen Run Series Teens receive a $10 discounted 5K rate for the seven runs in this series. Ages 1318. Locations vary. 970-495-7511, www. healthykidsclub.org.

MAY 1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER National Bike Challenge Log your miles biked, form a workplace team, or compete for prizes locally and nationally. www.nationalbikechallenge. org.

MAY 2 AND 18 Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Testing Includes total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides and blood glucose results, plus interpretation. Ages 18+. $15.

Appointment required. Fort Collins Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 8:15-10:30am. 970-224-5209, www. healthdistrict.org/heart MAY 5 AND 6 Wonderful World of Trains Featuring a 1950’s Disneyland layout and craft. $10/adults; $8/seniors; $5/ kids 4-12; Free/kids under 3. Colorado Model Railroad Museum, 680 10th St., GR. 10am-4pm. 970-392-2934, www.

CMRM.org.

Hours of Operation: M-Th 8-5pm, Fri 8-4 Fort Collins (970) 493-7442

Loveland (970) 493-7442

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY

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Cinco de Mayo Festival Music, food, dancing, arts, crafts. Old Town Fort Collins. 5/5, 4-10pm; 5/6, 10am-10pm. www. fortcollinscincodemayo.com.

MAY 5 THROUGH 14 A Wrinkle In Time A legendary adventure that stretches across both time and space, and challenges what is real, and what we believe to be real. All ages. $8. Lincoln Center, Magnolia Theatre, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. Times vary. 970-2216730, www.lctix.com.

MAY 27 AND 28 Centennial Celebration Step back in time to Colorado’s Centennial Decade, 1866-1876. Native American tipis, buffalo soldier demos, blacksmithing, home tours, more.

Family admission: $18 for up to 5 people. Centennial Village, 1475 A St., GR. Times vary. 970-350-9220, www.

GreeleyMuseums.com.

MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS (except holidays) Read & Seed Preschool Program Stories and activities that build early language comprehension, fine motor skills and curiosity about the world.

Preschoolers and their grown-ups. $3 per participating child; no charge for adults.

Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. 10am & 11am. 970-416-2486, www.fcgov.com/gardens.

WEDNESDAYS, THROUGH MAY 24 Mindfulness Workshop Are you stressed out, anxious, depressed or dealing with out-of-control emotions?

Learn to cope with mindfulness. Ages 13-17. Registration required. Salud Family Clinic, 1635 Blue Spruce Dr., FC. 4-5pm. 970-494-2902.

THURSDAYS Little Healthy Me Enjoy fun stories, snacks, crafts and a visit to a health exhibit. Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., EV. 10:30am. 888-8617323, www.MyLibrary.us.

THURSDAYS, MAY 4, 18 AND 25 StorySprouts Dance with EarthBeat Dance Support healthy growth and learning through whole body movement, through storytelling about the natural world.

Wear workout or loose fitting clothes.

Pre-schoolers who are sturdy walkers to age 5 with an adult. $10/child. Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. 970416-2486, www.fcgov.com/gardens.

THURSDAYS, MAY 4 THROUGH MAY 25 Women’s Learn to Ride Learn to ride a bike, taught by women for women. Ages 16+. City of Fort Collins Parks Shop, 220 N. Howes St., Unit B, FC. 6-7:30pm. 970-221-6987, www. fcgov.com/bikespring.

THURSDAYS, THROUGH MAY 11 Powerful Tools for Caregivers An educational program designed to give caregivers 35 helpful tools to avoid burnout, reduce stress, better communicate feelings, deal with difficult emotions and locate helpful resources.

Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 5:30-7:30pm. 970-221-6644.

Meditation for Brain Health Combine memory games and meditation techniques to improve memory and reduce stress. Ages 18+. $10. Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 11am12noon. 970-221-6644, www.fcgov. com/recreator.

FRIDAYS, MAY 5, 12 AND 19 Beyond the Classroom Learn and create. 5/5: Balloon Sculpting. 5/12: Japanese Culture. 5/19: Polymer Clay Bookmarks. Grades 3-5.

Registration required. Centennial Park Library, 2227 23rd Ave., GR. 1pm. 888861-7323, www.MyLibrary.us.

MAY 2

Film: Lafayette Escadrille A film about the American volunteer pilots who flew with the French Air Service in World War 1. Loveland Public Library, Gertrude Scott Room,300 N. Adams Ave., LV. 6-8pm. 970-962-2665, www.lovelandpubliclibrary.org.

MAY 3

Gardening Back & Upper Body Training on adaptive equipment, injury prevention and modified activity training.

18+. $10. Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 9:30-11am. 970-221-6644, www.fcgov.com/recreator.

MAY 4

The Prairie That Nature Built Listen and watch local illustrator, Cathy Morrison, read her book in the OtterBox Digital Dome Theater, then make a nature pendant to take home! Kids with adults. $8/child; $6/member. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 408 Mason Ct., FC. 10:1511:15am. 970-221-6738, www.fcmod.org.

Kessel Run/Walk Features fun activities and obstacles along Annie’s Walk and throughout Library Park. Family friendly. Donation appreciated. Registration required.

Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 5-9pm. 970-221-6740, www. fococomiccon.com/kesselrun/.

MAY 5

Book Signing with James Fantauzzo Fantauzzo will be in the store signing copies of his book On the Shoulders of Leaders. Old Firehouse Books, 232 Walnut St., FC. 1pm. 970-484-7898, www. oldfirehousebooks.com.

FC Rides Slow, family friendly guided rides in various neighborhoods. See website for locations. 4:15-5:30pm. 970-416-2628, www.fcgov.com/bikespring.

Noches en Familia A time of children’s stories, crafts, puppets, and music in Spanish, that invites fluent speakers, as well as those interested in the Spanish language. All ages. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 5pm. 970-221-6740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Lights, Camera, Take Action Film Festival One long-format documentary while also highlighting local short films and photographs about food insecurity and poverty. CSU Behavioral Sciences Building, A101, 410 W. Pitkin St., FC. 6pm. http://fococafe.org/lights-cameratake-action-film-festival/.

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Children’s Day Celebration Celebrate Children’s Day and the Japanese national holiday Kodomo no Hi. Japanese hina dolls will be on display to celebrate and promote the happiness and well-being of children. All ages. $2.50/adults; $1.50 students and seniors; 50 cents for ages 4-12; under 4 free. Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures, 200 W. Mountain Ave., FC. 6-9pm. 970-221-4600 www.globalvillagemuseum.org.

Borromeo String Quartet Enjoy one of the most highly acclaimed musical quartets of our time. University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington St., FC. 7:30pm. 970-221-6730 www.lctix.com.

MAY 6

Spring on the Farm Baby farm animals, gardening info, children’ activities, tours, and trolley rides will be included in the days’ activities.

Bring a picnic lunch. All ages. $3. Bee Family Centennial Farm Museum, 4320 E. CR58, FC. 970-482-9168, www. beefamilyfarm.org.

Fiesta 5K Fun Run A fun run that kicks off Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Greeley. All ages. $30/ adults; Free for kids. Island Grove Regional Park, N. 14th Ave., GR. 8am.

970-484-7123, https://raceroster.com/ events/2017/12519/fiesta-5k-2017.

Cinco de Mayo Greeley Festival Car Show Enjoy food, music, children’s activities, a soccer tournament, car show, 5k walk/ run, more. Island Grove Regional Park, GR. 501 N. 14th Ave., GR. 8am-4:30pm. 970-336-4288 www.cincodeMAYogreeley.com.

Minecraft Mania Play Minecraft, enjoy light snacks and make a craft. Laptops provided.

Registration required. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. Grades 1-5, 9:30am. Grades 6-12, 11:30am. 970221-6740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

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The Story of the American Bison Learn about bison and their impact on this ecosystem while you observe the herd. Please note: The bison are constantly on the move and we cannot guarantee that they will be visible. Bring binoculars, snacks, water, closed-toe shoes, sun protection. 0.5 miles easy hike. Registration required: www. fcgov.com/register. Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, meet at south parking lot, Wellington. 10am-12noon. 970-4162815, www.fcgov.com/naturalareas.

Sensory Storytime for Children with Special Needs Preschool-level books, songs and movement for children who have a hard time in large groups, are on the autism spectrum or are sensitive to sensory overload. Registration required.

Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave., GR. 10:30am. 888-861-7323 www.MyLibrary.us.

Coding Club Learn coding basics. Grades 3-8.

Registration required. Centennial Park Library, 2227 23rd Ave., GR. 10:30am.

888-861-7323, www.MyLibrary.us.

MAY 7

Spring Fiesta Features cuisine from Mexico and Central America, as well as music, dancing, games, cultural ex-hibits. Holy Family Parish, 326 N. Whitcomb St., FC. 8am-8pm. 970-484-1171, www. stjosephschoolfortcollins.org.

Make-It Together for Mother’s Day Learn how to finger knit and make a yarn necklace that you can give as a gift for Mother’s Day. Yarn and healthy snacks provided. Ages 7-12 with adult.

Registration required. Centennial Park Library, 2227 23rd Ave., GR. 1:30pm.

888-861-7323, www.MyLibrary.us.

Lego Assemble Build Create Create cars, trucks, carts, anything that rolls. All ages. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 2pm. 970-221-6740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Animal Afternoon Enjoy good books and the opportunity to read to friendly animals. Grades K-5. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 3pm. 970-221-6740, www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Egyptomania!

The ageless allure of the Land of the Pharaohs will be explored by David Pepper, co-founder of the Denver-based Egyptian Study Society. All ages. $5/ person. Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures, 200 W. Mountain Ave., FC. 1-3pm. 970-221-4600 www.globalvillagemuseum.org.

MAY 8

Healthy Snack Fun The Weld County Food Bank will lead this program about eating healthy.

Make healthy snacks and eat them!

Grades K-5. Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., EV. 2pm. 888-861-7323 www.MyLibrary.us.

MAY 9

Quartermania A fun cross between an auction and a raffle, where you bid on items you want to win. Proceeds support Alexa’s Hugs, a 501c3 that provides seat belt and vehicle safety education. Christ United Methodist Church, 301 E. Drake Rd., FC. 6-9pm. www.facebook.com/ events/277983705961602/.

A Wandering Botanist visits Northern Colorado Learn about the native vegetation of Loveland, how settlement has changed it and prospects for the future. Teens and adults. Loveland Public Library, Gertrude Scott Room, 300 N. Adams Ave., LV. 12noon-1pm. 970-962-2665, www. lovelandpubliclibrary.org.

Bicycle Friendly Driver Discuss traffic laws from a driver’s perspective to avoid crashes with bicycles.

Ages 15+. City of Fort Collins Admin.

Building, 281 N. College Ave., FC. 5-6pm. 970-221-6987, www.fcgov.com/ bikespring.

Early Literacy Fair Fun, interactive learning activities based on Every Child Ready to Read practices.

Centennial Park Library, 2227 23rd Ave., GR. 10am. 888-861-7323, www.

MyLibrary.us.

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Anime Club Watch anime favorites, chat about manga, munch on yummy snacks!

Grades 6-12. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 4pm. 970-2216740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Film: Sergeant York (1941 Academy Award) The true story of Alvin York, torn between religious pacifism and patriotism, who went on to become the most acclaimed hero of World War I, capturing 132 German soldiers.

Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., LV. 6-8pm. 970-962-2665 www.lovelandpubliclibrary.org.

Family Bike Ride A casual 3-5-mile ride for all ages and abilities. Helmets encouraged. Free.

Westmore Park, 39th Ave., GR. 6:30pm. www.GreeleyBikes.com.

MAY 10

Bike to School Day Celebrate National Bike Month by riding to school. Check with your school for special, local activities. 970-416-2357, www.walkbiketoschool.org.

Get Advanced Directives Done Explore living wills and health directives. 18+. Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 10-11:30am. 970-2216644, www.fcgov.com/recreator.

MAY 11

Safe Kids FUNdraiser: Painting with A Twist Half of all proceeds go to Safe Kids Larimer County. 6-8pm. Painting With a Twist, 1112 Oakridge Dr., #107, FC. 970-658-5176, www.paintingwithatwist. com/fort-collins/calendar/.

MAY 12

Family Friday at the Firehouse A storybook movie for kids! Popcorn provided. Old Firehouse Books, 232 Walnut St., FC. 6pm. 970-484-7898, www.oldfirehousebooks.com.

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MAY 13

Card & Coffee: Coloring Fun Learn how to stamp, cut, emboss and water color gorgeous greeting cards.

Two cards created in each class. Ages 12+ (youth must attend with an adult).

Registration required seven days in advance. Email lynnlohman@gmail.com or call 630-901-6738. $5 (cash or money order payable to instructor). Loveland Public Library, Erion Room, 300 N. Adams Ave., LV. 10-11:30am. 970-9622665, www.lovelandpubliclibrary.org.

Teen Art Café Create wearable art and jewelry from scrap metal and found objects. Grades 6-12. Registration required. Harmony Library, FRCC Red Cloud Peak, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 11am. 970-221-6740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

How Sweet the Sound: Evolution of Gospel Music Through narrative, recording and live performances, audience members will journey through the founding and evolution of gospel music in America.

The Music District, 639 S. College Ave., FC. 6-7:30pm. 970-631-8190, www. themusicdistrict.org.

Skygazing Volunteers from the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society provide telescopes for your viewing pleasure and share their knowledge about stars, planets, galaxies, more. Dress warmly and bring a blanket or chair to sit on. Fossil Creek Reservoir, meet at the parking lot, 3340 Carpenter Rd., FC. 9-11pm. 970-416-2815, www. fcgov.com/naturalareas.

MAY 14

Animal Afternoon Enjoy good books and the opportunity to read to friendly animals. Grades K-5. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 3pm.

970-221-6740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

MAY 15

Old Firehouse Books Summer Reading Program Registration Opens Sign up for Old Firehouse Books’ 2017 Summer Reading Program for kids and adults. Old Firehouse Books, 232 Walnut St., FC. 970-484-7898, www. oldfirehousebooks.com.

MAY 16

Buggy for Bugs Learn about bugs with books, a craft and a live butterfly release (weather permitting). Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave., GR. 10am. 888-861-7323, www.MyLibrary.us.

Positive Brain Change Involve the mind in changing the brain to increase health and wellbeing. Ages 18+. Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 10-11:30am. 970-221-6644, www. fcgov.com/recreator.

Marijuana in Colorado A discussion about the effects of marijuana on the developing brain, the unintended consequences of legalizing marijuana and what parents can do to help youth make positive choices.

Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., EV. 6pm. 888-861-7323, www.MyLibrary.us.

Civics @ Your Library: American Government 101, Part 1:3 League of Women Voters presents a non-partisan overview of local, state and federal governments, and the rules that direct them. Teens, adults. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 6:30pm.

970-221-6740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

Another Day in Paradise: Back and Forth on the Colorado Trail David Fanning, author of “Voices of the Colorado Trail,” will share his and others’ experiences hiking or riding the trail. Loveland Public Library, Gertrude Scott Room, 300 N. Adams Ave., LV. 6:30-8pm. 970-962-2665, www. lovelandpubliclibrary.org.

MAY 17

CoderDojo Attendees will learn to code, get exposed to the possibilities of technology and hang out with like-minded people. Ages 8+. Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 3:15-4:15pm. 970-686-5603, www.clearviewlibrary.org.

Book Talk with Jo Virden Local author Jo Virden will be in the store discussing her book My Darling Dorothy. Old Firehouse Books, 232 Walnut St., FC. 6pm. 970-484-7898, www. oldfirehousebooks.com.

MAY 18

NoCo Parent Provider Group A group for parents/families of special needs children.

Guest speaker: Nathan Scott from Foothills Gateway.

Adults. Reservation required.

The Egg & I, 1205 Main St., WS. 9:30am. brcamp-be@ maxhealth.com, 970-4939300.

Interesting Reader Society (Teen IRS) Meet to talk about books, movies, music, more. Plan and participate in library programs. Grades 6-12.

Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 11am.

970-221-6740, www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Holistic Crystal: Align Your Chakras Learn about the metaphysical and physical healing properties of crystals. Teens.

Space limited. Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., EV. 2pm. 888-861-7323, www.

MyLibrary.us.

love

most!

MAY 21

MAY 19

McKee Classic Bike Tour This pedal-at-your-own pace community tour offers four scenic routes (10, 30, 37 and 62 miles) and family fun.

McKee Medical Center, 2000 N. Boise Ave., LV. www. mckeefoundationevents.com.

MAY 20

Genealogy: Understanding and Using Digital Books Presented by Diane Barbour, a certified genealogist. Adults.

Registration required; email karen.lcgs@gmail.com.

Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., LV. 1011:30am. 970-962-2665, www. lovelandpubliclibrary.org.

10th Annual Tour de Coop: Urban Chicken Spirit Revival A bike ride from coop to coop. All ages. $25/adults; $15/kids. Limit 50 riders.

Includes lunch. Around Fort Collins. 8:30am-1:30pm.

970-224-3247, https:// sustainablelivingassociation. org/event/tour-de-coop/.

Governor’s Art Show Plein Air Festival and Auction Free family friendly festival showcases 50 Colorado artists as they paint works of art open air and on location.

Paintings will be auctioned off at the Rialto Theater.

Several locations throughout Loveland. 10:15am-6pm. www.governorsartshow.org.

Kites In The Park Watch demos of giant kites, battling kites and kite ballet.

Decorate your own kite, visit food and merchandise vendors, bring your own kite to fly. Spring Canyon Community Park, 2626 W. Horsetooth Rd., FC. 10am3pm. www.fcgov.com/ recreation/kites.php.

Freaky Friday Take a trip back in time and play old video games. Enjoy snacks! Grades 6-12. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 3:30pm. 970-221-6740, www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

Excellent care for those you

Board-Certified

Pediatrician Locally and Independently owned Same-day sick visits Well-child care School & sports physicals

Urgent Care Hours: M-F, 8-9am and 4-5:30pm

Conveniently located to Loveland, Johnstown, Greeley, Windsor and Berthoud at the intersection of I-25 and Hwy 34.

970-619-8139 | 4880 Thompson Pkwy | Suite 116 Johnstown

www.trpeds.com

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MAY 23

Silver Spokes Ride Ride 8-10 miles on local recreational trails and low-stress routes. Bikes and helmets required and can be provided.

Ages 50+. Registration required. Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. 1011:30am. 970-221-6987, www.fcgov. com/bikespring.

Anime Club Watch anime favorites, chat about manga, munch on yummy snacks!

Grades 6-12. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave., FC. 4pm. 970-2216740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

MAY 24

Activity and Supportive Environments for People with Dementia Learn how individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia can remain active.

Hearts and Horses, 163 North CR 29, LV. 5:30-7pm. 970-663-4200, www. heartsandhorses.org.

Civics @ Your Library: Understanding the U.S. Constitution, Part 2:3 An overview of the U.S. Constitution, and how and why it was adopted. Teens, adults. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 6:30pm. 970-221-6740, www.

PoudreLibraries.org.

MAY 25

Wing Shack food truck. $10/adults; $8/ seniors; $5/kids 4-12; Free/kids under 3. Colorado Model Railroad Museum, 680 10th St., GR. 10am-4pm. Member may enter at 9am. 970-392-2934, www.

CMRM.org.

MAY 26

Summer Fun Kick off summer in a healthy way with the Evans Police Department. Play hopscotch, hula hoops, and freeze tag. Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., EV. 10:30am.

888-861-7323, www.MyLibrary.us.

Bird Watching Presentation Learn from local experts about bird watching in the Fort Collins area. Old Firehouse Books, 232 Walnut St., FC. 6pm.

970-484-7898, www.oldfirehousebooks.com.

CoderDojo Attendees will learn to code, get exposed to the possibilities of technology and hang out with like-minded people. Ages 8+. Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 3:15-4:15pm. 970-686-5603, www.clearviewlibrary.org.

FC Rides Slow, family friendly guided rides in various neighborhoods. See website for locations. 4:15-5:30pm. 970-416-2628, www.fcgov.com/bikespring.

MAY 27

Natural History of Pineridge Learn about native grasses, wildflowers and birds. Bring water, food, sun protection, appropriate footwear. 1-mile easy hike. Registration re-quired at www. fcgov.com/register. Pineridge Natural Area, meet at west parking lot, 2750 CR 42C, FC. (Do not park in Maxwell parking lot.) 9:30-11am. 970-416-2815, www.fcgov.com/naturalareas.

Colorado Model Railroad Museum 8th Anniversary Featuring a donation-based bake sale, the Goodtimes Car Club of Greeley,

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Welcome Home: Honoring Our Vietnam Veterans This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. Features the Traveling Vietnam Memorial wall, USO Show, food trucks, live music, more.

Spring Canyon Community Park, 2626 W. Horsetooth Rd., FC. 12noon-6pm. www.fcgov.com/recreation.

MAY 28

Animal Afternoon Enjoy good books and the opportunity to read to friendly animals. Grades K-5. Old Town Library, 201 Peterson St., FC. 3pm.

970-221-6740, www.PoudreLibraries.org.

MAY 31

Women on a Roll Connect with other women interested in cycling. Refreshments provided. Ages 16+. REI, 4025 S. College Ave., FC. 5:30-8:30pm.970-221-6987, www.fcgov. com/bikespring.

OFFERING CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-5.

CONTACT THE SCHOOL OR VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR APPLICATIONS AND SCHEDULES.

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3800 W. 20th Street • Greeley, CO 80634

970-339-3305

www.weeLOVEpreschool.org Find us on Facebook

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Fort Collins 1st Sunday Supper

Harvest Moon Salmon Bake

JUNE 11 FirstBank, Old Town

SEPTEMBER 10 Fossil Creek Farms

Heart of Summer

Bounty & Brews

JULY 30 Happy Heart Farm

3 Forks Progressive AUGUST 20 La Familia, Raisin’ Roots and The Growing Project at Hope Farms

OCTOBER 14 Bath Garden Center & Nursery

Mad Farmer Dinner NOVEMBER 4 Hope Farms

www.FortifiedCollaborations.com/tickets New for 2017: Season Tickets Available

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M N P CELEBRATING 40 YEARS, IN RED FEATHER LAKES, COLORADO

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time out The mom balancing act Bottom line: the kids come first

KATIE HARRIS

F

ew aspects of motherhood are as complicated as the career vs. kid balance. I’m convinced that every mother, regardless of age, income, marital status, or years as a mom struggles at some point with how much time should be spent at home with her children, and how much time should be spent contributing financially.

For the entirety of my parenting journey, now going on 10 years, I’ve considered myself a stay-at-home-mom. As I tell myself this I laugh, because the term “stay-at-home” is open to a great deal of interpretation, at least in my case. For me, stay-at-home has meant managing to avoid daycare costs by keeping the kids at home with me during the day. At one point that meant running out the door the moment my husband got home from work to my evening job waiting tables. At another time, it meant taking a full course load of online college classes, cramming in study sessions while the kids napped. And almost always, it has meant pursuing my writing career in the background, often barricaded in my office, more often than not writing about those very battles that seem to come along with motherhood.

Still, despite my husband’s assurances that I’m doing more than enough to provide for my family, just by being there for them, cleaning, folding laundry, cooking meals, and doing all those other stay-athome mom deeds, there’s always that nagging thought in the back of my head that I should, or at least could, be doing more.

In my experience, few conversations between moms of little ones don’t at some point roll around to finding a parttime job, and the difficulties that come with it—finding childcare that doesn’t cost more than what that potential job pays, and the guilt involved in sacrificing time with quickly growing children to pursue a career.

One friend of mine, who also

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considers herself a stay-at-home, found a part-time job at her kids’ school last year.

While she enjoys it, she often finds herself begging her husband for help with the kids on weekends while she plays catch up on grocery shopping, bill paying, and her role on the school’s PTA. Another friend began her own nonprofit last year, reasoning that despite her full-time job homeschooling her three children, she had more to give. I’ve seen her determination mix with her struggles in balancing these two high priorities in her life.

Recently the career opportunity I’ve waited for since I was 5 years old all but fell into my lap. My initial reaction was to scream “Yes, I’ll do it!” from the rooftops. I convinced myself that I could master the balancing act: homeschool my kids, keep the house in order, be a supportive wife, and take on a real career. For two days I refused to tell myself anything other than what I wanted to believe.

Then, on the third day, things started to slip. A doctor’s visit revealed a medical issue with one of my kids that needed my full attention, the grocery shopping didn’t get done, and before we knew it we were

a week behind on school. I begrudgingly admitted to myself that, no matter how badly I wanted everything at once, sometimes wanting something to work wasn’t enough. Timing is everything, and the timing just wasn’t right.

It took a long night lying awake to come to peace with my realization. I simply couldn’t take anything else on.

I’d made a commitment to myself long ago to put my children first, I’d made a commitment to them when I pulled them out of school to homeschool, and I couldn’t turn our lives upside down, not with so little of their childhoods left to get right. I had to choose selflessness for just a little bit longer.

I won’t say that I didn’t mourn my decision, but I have learned to accept it without regrets, as I’ve had to with so many other sacrifices I’ve made for my kids and our family over the years. Like those other missed opportunities of the past, I tell myself that this one won’t be the last. When the timing is right, and someday it will be, my career will have its chance. In the grand scheme of things we parents only have a short time with our babies. This mom is going to enjoy it while it lasts.

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