Colorado Parent August 2021

August 2021

Growing Great Families Since 1986

Kick Start a Love of

Martial Arts 6 Kid-Friendly Zip Lines Say Bye-Bye to the Pacifier Let’s Go! Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch Share a Creamy Summer Pie 91 Ideas for Family Fun

PART OFOF THE PART THE

PUBLISHING FAMILY PUBLISHING FAMILY

ColoradoParent.com

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Celebrate summer with a trip full of possibility: Thrilling experiences at Arapahoe Springs Water Park, beautiful airy atriums, delicious dining, extraordinary special entertainment, and more at Gaylord Rockies Resort.

EXPERIENCE MORE AT GaylordRockies.com MORE ADVENTURE

COVID-19 CHANGED OUR LIVES. YOU MIGHT BE ...

Juggling work from home with remote school for your children.

Feeling anxious about the vaccine.

Trying to understand your children’s stress reactions.

Mourning the loss of someone.

Or you may be experiencing something else. WE’VE ALL BEEN AFFECTED.

GET FREE + ANONYMOUS SUPPORT TODAY! Our crisis counselors are here for you. The Colorado Spirit Crisis Counseling Program is a free and anonymous program with trained crisis counselors who are people from the community, just like you. Our counselors can connect you to community resources, help you develop coping strategies to manage and reduce your stress, and teach you how to recognize and support the reactions your children may be having.

To access support resources please visit COLORADOSPIRITCCP.COM

2020

2020

Feature: Tony Anderson/Getty Images. Calendar: Modern Image Photography.

2020

CONTENTS August 2021 features

advertising

28

32

An age-old practice continues to offer multiple benefits for kids (and parents).

Experts explain how to spot your kids’ needs and help support their academic and emotional health.

departments 6

ON THE WEB

8

FROM THE EDITORS

The latest tips and news on ColoradoParent.com

11

Lessons Learned

14

16

GOOD TO KNOW

Foraging for Wild Food in Colorado

LET’S GO

Visit Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch

READ TO ME

Books About Building Things

on the cover

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22

18

SOLUTIONS

19

GOOD STUFF

20

HEALTH & WELLNESS

24

LEARN & GROW

26

FAMILY FOOD

46

ROUNDUP

Time To Give Up the Pacifier?

Crush Your Fall Style

Let’s Talk About Menstruation

Preparing For a Normal-ish School Year

Creamsicle Summer Pie

37

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Our monthly roundup of local events, featuring virtual and in-person activities around town.

Zip, Zip, Hooray!

14 Let’s Go! Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch | 18 Say Bye-Bye to the Pacifier 26 Share a Creamy Summer Pie | 28 Kick-Start a Love of Martial Arts 37 91 Ideas for Family Fun | 46 6 Kid-Friendly Zip Lines

Colorado Parent | August 2021

Enrichment Showcase

CATCHING UP

ARE MARTIAL ARTS THE ULTIMATE AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITY?

Cover: Ruby photographed by Lucy Beaugard. lucybeaugard.com

Global VillaGe academy Learning Through Language and Culture

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Privet!

Our Students Learn in Another Language and So Can Yours!

K-8th Grade, Tuition-free, Public Charter Schools GVA Douglas County is K-5th grade.

Learn More About Our Schools Here! www.gvaschools.org/learnmore

Kindergarten & 1st Grade Spots Open for Fall 2021 Global Village Academy students become fluent and literate in English and a second world language, excel academically in core content subjects and develop 21st-century skills, including cross-cultural understanding.

Aurora • Northglenn • Parker • www.gvaschools.org

On the Web

Colorado Parent Online

Need some time away from the kids? Book a rejuvenating staycation at one of these hotels.

Unique Sandwich Recipes To Make With Your Kids Dive With Sharks...in Denver Kids age eight and up can get up close and personal with the Downtown Aquarium’s sharks, sawfish, giant barracudas, and sea turtles.

August is National Sandwich Month. Celebrate with one of these tasty creations.

Hotel: The Crawford Hotel. School: Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images. Sandwich: Weelicious. Shark: Downtown Aquarium, Denver.

6 Denver Metro Getaways for Couples

Back To School Guide 2021 Get your family schoolready with these tips, hints, and articles.

CONNECT WITH US

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@coloradoparent

Colorado Parent | August 2021

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Sign up for our E-NEWSLETTER at ColoradoParent.com

SAVE MONEY ON PRESCHOOL TUITION

FOR YOUR 4-YEAR-OLD THIS FALL.

Denver Preschool Program helps every Denver family access the power of preschool.

Resources to help you find a preschool that best meets your family’s needs Tuition support to lower your monthly costs at more than 250 quality programs

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August 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

7

From the Editors

What We Learned…

E

IT

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

LO V

Kids are resilient, but not as resilient as we think. For the little things, the everyday, the hurdles and challenges that come with growing up, they can rise to the occasion and bounce back. But the year we’ve all just experienced is more than that. Kids are struggling with academics, and mental and emotional health in the wake of a pandemic that adults are still struggling to navigate. Find practical insight and expert advice to help you help your kids on page 32.

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

Looking for a special end-ofsummer treat? Try the Creamsicle pie on page 26.

PRODUCTION Art Director Heather Gaumer

L VE EA

IT

TRENDING Hey gardening, make room, food foraging is growing in popularity. Read more on page 11.

Period poverty leaves youth without pads and tampons needed to get through their cycles. Read about the teens working to increase access in Colorado.

Page 20.

CAN’T WAIT

MARKETING Director of Marketing Piniel Simegn ADMINISTRATION Billing and Collections Manager Jessica McHeard DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION Audience Development Manager Caitlin Kittrell circulation@coloradoparent.com

It’s back-to-school time! Although school isn’t 100 percent back to normal, and will likely require flexibility, reintroducing kids' routines is top on our list. Find tips to prepare kids for school on page 24.

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

My kids have confidence that they can do hard things, not because someone told them they could but because they’ve experienced it.

—Krista Muddle, a mom to nine-year-old Sebastian and six-year-old Ariella, on the benefits of her children’s martial arts lessons. Page 28

Share your feedback and ideas! Email us at edit@coloradoparent.com.

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CREATIVE SERVICES Creative Services Director Carly Lambert Print Production Manager Megan Skolak Lead Graphic Designer Chelsea Conrad Digital Advertising Manager Shundra Jackson Graphic Designer Caitlin Brooks Production Coordinator D'mitrius Brewer Advertising and Marketing Coordinator Tamara Curry

Colorado Parent | August 2021

VICE PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Zach Wolfel Colorado Parent is published monthly by 5280 Publishing, Inc. Please note that the advertisements in this magazine are paid for by the advertisers, which allows this magazine to be free to the consumer. Limit of one free copy per reader. Additional copies can be purchased for $5.00 per issue. Call (303) 320-1000 to request additional copies. Unless specifically noted, no advertisers, products, or services are endorsed by the Publisher.

Editorial submissions are welcome.

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Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Section icons: Getty Images. Martial Arts: Lucy Beaugard.

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

Voted

BEST ANCHOR DENVER

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

Photo: Jamie Siebrase

Foraging for Wild Food Blooms in Colorado Foraging is experiencing a major renaissance, and it’s not too late to get in on the action this summer.

There’s an abundance of “wild food” growing throughout Colorado, and the age-old practice offers families an incentive to take notice of their surroundings. If your kids are hesitant to hike, sell the experience as a real-life treasure hunt.

The golden rule of foraging is never eat wild food unless you’re sure it’s edible. (Like, 150 percent sure!) If collecting food in nature is new to you, hire a trained guide. In addition to teaching you how to identify edible plants and fungi, guides can fill you in on Colorado’s premium foraging areas.

Newcomers should always start small and only search for easily identifiable produce, explains Orion Aon, founder of Forage Colorado, an educational company specializing in small, customizable, private foraging classes. During my family’s two-

hour outing, Aon showed my boys a slew of edible weeds, starting with dandelions. (The entire plant is edible, but the yellow flower is the sweetest part, we learned while tasting.) “Dandelions are many peoples’ ‘first forage,’” says Aon. “They’re not only common, but also easy to identify.”

We discovered mallow weed, which is used as a thickener in stews, as well as curly dock, prickly lettuce, and catnip, a type of wild mint. The excitement grew when Aon showed us whitetop, a mustard species with a spicy aftertaste. This plant looks a little like broccoli, but it’s actually a noxious weed, which means it’s harmful to the local environment and thus a great species to pull.

Mushrooms are a big-ticket item, and morels are one of the most coveted wild foods. In Colorado, yellow morel season usually starts by the end of April on the Front Range. Black morels begin growing in

the mountains in June. July and August are the best months to search for mushrooms in general.

When hunting fungi, Aon opts for mixed conifer or spruce and fir forests located at least 9,000 feet above sea level.

Foraging doesn’t have to be a daylong excursion to the mountains, though; families can forage anywhere plants grow. Just make sure to practice good etiquette: Don’t trespass on private property, use what you take (for further study or eating), and never deplete a patch of its produce (unless it’s invasive). Always do your best to leave no trace. In addition to good walking shoes, water, and snacks, you’ll need to carry a field guide, basket, digging fork, and pocket knife.

Remember, never eat anything you can’t identify.

—Jamie Siebrase

August 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

11

Good to Know

Tattered Cover opened it’s fifth bookstore on June 26, with a focus on Denver metro’s youngest community members. Tattered Cover Kids, located at Stanley Marketplace, features low shelving and titles for readers ages zero to 13, plus a selection of parenting books for moms and dads. Paintings of sea and air animals in flight, by muralist Patrick Maxcy, wrap around the tops of the walls, and a faux tree invites readers to sit in the “shade” and relax.

Whimsical aesthetics are not Tattered Cover’s only way of drawing in young readers and their families. TC Kids will host programming including storytimes, author talks, and birthday parties.

They’ve also sought community input from organizations and public education leaders in Aurora, paying attention to the city’s diverse population and their needs. “It’s not just enough to have a store and assume that that store is welcoming to everyone,” says CEO Kwame Spearman. The foreign language section next to the checkout stand is a result of the community feedback.

Spearman lauds the Stanley Marketplace team for creating a community that’s cognizant of its surroundings: the Central Park neighborhood and Aurora more broadly. TC Kids, in his mind, adds to the ecosystem in one key way.

“If your kids are loving going to a place like Stanley Marketplace, I think it’s incumbent upon us as a community to make sure that reading is at the forefront of that,” says Spearman. “If you can get someone who’s young to fall in love with reading, that’s going to disproportionately positively affect their life.

It’s just an incredibly lucky opportunity for us.”

Tattered Cover Kids is open Sunday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. tatteredcover.com —Anna Sutterer

Short Ribs: Modern Plate. Tattered Cover: Lucy Beaugard. Illustration: Getty Images.

Tattered Cover Kids Now Open

Colorado-based Modern Plate delivers freshly prepared family meals, like the herb braised short ribs (shown) to simplify family dinner.

Modern Plate Delivers Subscription-Free Meal Service The company where Samantha Glenn works, Peak Refreshments, lost 60 percent of its revenue when the pandemic hit. It provides premade meals and snacks to office break rooms; but suddenly, offices were empty. “We started asking: ‘How do we get our meals to people at home?’”

Peak Refreshments’ answer was to launch Modern Plate—a no-subscription, bake-athome, family meal delivery service. During six months of research and development, Glenn, now COO of Modern Plate, tried many subscription meal services. She discovered that for some, you still had to spend time assembling and cooking what was delivered. Other meals that arrived fully prepared weren’t large enough to feed a family.

“We wanted something affordable for families, and we saw a need for bringing families together with ease and simplicity, while offering restaurant

quality [food] at home,” says Glenn. Meals are freshly prepared in a commercial kitchen in Aurora, then frozen for local delivery, ready to pop in the oven.

Orders placed by 10 a.m. are delivered the same day, or parents can schedule in advance to have meals delivered on busy nights.

The herb braised boneless short ribs with smoky mashed potatoes is a best seller. For $34, you get four generous portions. The white lasagna and garlic bread—$20 for four—is another customer favorite. My family, including a teen and tween, tried the service. We loved the barbacoa street tacos, and my husband and I each had leftovers for lunch the next day.

Modern Plate partners with local nonprofits to donate meals to families transitioning from homelessness. They also offer meal-order fundraising for schools and organizations. modernplate.com —Lydia Rueger

Colorado Schools Offer Fully Remote Option for 2021-2022

A life-size tree installation adds a sense of wonder to the new Tattered Cover location.

12

Colorado Parent | August 2021

COVID-19 cases are down, but some school districts, including Jeffco Public Schools, the Boulder Valley School District, and Denver Public Schools, plan to offer a fully remote option for the 2021-2022 school year. “Many districts shared anecdotally that some families…found the fully remote option to be appealing and felt that it is a better fit for student learning needs,” says Jeremy Meyer, director of communications for the Colorado Department of Education (CDE).

The decision for schools to offer this option is made at the local level, either by district or by charter school, according to Meyer, and there is no

definitive data just yet to say how many students across Colorado are choosing it. Districts must ensure that for each fully remote class in which students are enrolled, they receive at least 20 percent synchronous instruction weekly with a licensed teacher.

Full CDE guidelines for remote learning can be found at cde.state.co.us.

—Lydia Rueger

COLORADO

RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

& Artisan’s Marketplace

www.coloradorenaissance.com

August 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

13

Good to Know | Let’s Go

Overlook: Heather Mundt. Sheep, petroglyph: Michael Mundt.

LET’S GO

Visit Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch A welcoming stay awaits families visiting southwest Colorado.

By Heather Mundt VIBE: Like staying with old friends.

DRIVE TIME: Located about 400 miles—7.5 hours—southwest of downtown Denver near Cortez.

TIP: The guest ranch is a unique home base for exploring Indigenous Ute and Pueblo historical sites, including Canyon of the Ancients National Monument (CANM).

Set in scenic McElmo Canyon about 28 miles west of Cortez, this 2,000-acre working ranch is an ideal jumping-off point for destinations like Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park, and CANM. THE PROPERTY Owners Garry and Ming Adams offer five guest houses, including three original, restored buildings: the Elden Stone house (1880s); the Cowboy Log Cabin; and the Pioneer House. The Ranch House is the largest and sleeps eight people.

The newest added in 2016, the Wagstaff Cabin, is an Appalachian-style structure featured on the DIY Network’s Barnwood Builders. See the most amazing view from the property’s Folsom Point Sanctuary, a place for meditation and contemplation.

While there is no on-site dining, all cabins include kitchens and grills, and visitors are welcomed with homegrown garden produce and eggs. You can also order ranch-raised lamb and beef. Families should stock up on groceries before arrival or be prepared to drive to Cortez for meals, about 30 minutes each way.

Canyon of the Ancients Gue st Ranch is surrounded by Indigenous hist oric sites.

pet Guests can meet Quasimodo the h. ranc who lives on the

sheep,

Owners Garry and Ming Adams’ photo book, Spirits of the Stone, documents the ancient art of the area.

THE ANIMALS Ranch dogs and cats greet guests.

The owners will leave cat food for folks who want feline visitors, as well as organic tortilla chips for the flock of pet Navajo-churro sheep. Watch for the one they call Quasimodo.

THE AREA The closest of the ancient sites, CANM, is just a seven-minute drive. It was conserved through the Bureau of Land Management and contains more than 6,000 recorded archaeological sites, the greatest concentration in the U.S. Garry and Ming are great resources for area highlights, often willing to take guests on tours to their favorite spots, including a village site right on the property that’s being excavated. canyonoftheancients.com

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Colorado Parent | August 2021

The stunning view from the ranch’s Folsom Point Sanctuary overlooks the Wagstaff cabin.

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Visit coloradoacademy.org to learn more about CA. Admission Parent Preview October 25 and November 3.

Visit coloradoacademy.org to learn more about CA. Admission Parent Preview October 25 and November 3.

August 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

15

Good to Know | Read to Me

by Kobi Yamada; illustrated by Elise Hurst (Compendium, 2020)

From the author of The New York Times Best Seller, What Do You Do with An Idea? comes a book for any person who has tried to build something that didn’t quite turn out the way they hoped. A boy watches a sculptor, doubts himself, then finally tries to sculpt, with many failures along the way. The sculptor tells him: [Failure] shows us how something can’t be done, which means we are a little closer to finding out how it can.

READ TO ME

Books About Building Things

Someone Builds the Dream

by Lisa Wheeler; illustrated by Loren Long (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2021)

Explore the many types of work needed to build things, from a bridge to a wind farm to an amusement park. A favorite of Tattered Cover Book Store and Boulder Public Library staff, the story pays tribute to those who come with the ideas and designs as well as those who do the physical labor.

By Lydia Rueger When my son was three, he would gasp at pretty much everything he’d see and ask, “How did they make that?” The answer was never easy, so we turned to books about building things to help us. These titles will inspire your kids, too, whether you have a STEAM-concept lover, a questioner, or one who gets impatient with building processes.

Building Our House

by Jonathan Bean (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013)

Follow the story of a modern-day family that moves from the city to the country to build a house for themselves. Mom, Dad, the kids, and their extended family all work together, and little by little, the house gets built. It’s the author’s retelling of his own family’s experience, including photos from his collection.

The Little Red Fort

by Brenda Maier; illustrated by Sonia Sánchez (Scholastic Press, 2018)

Ruby gets no help from her three brothers when she decides to build a fort (they don’t think she can build, anyway), so she learns how to build one all by herself. When she’s finished, the brothers want to play in the fort, so they get to work adding decorative touches to make it up to Ruby. “Hopefully all kids will be inspired to build their own fort, even if it’s just a blanket or a couple of chairs,” says Scholastic Book Fair Consultant Lici McCuistion, who recommends the book, along with Denver Public Library children’s librarians. Also check out the author and illustrator’s newly released companion book, The Little Blue Bridge.

Find more books about building at ColoradoParent.com

16

Colorado Parent | August 2021

If I Built a School

by Chris Van Dusen (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2019)

Through rhyming text, Jack describes to his teacher Miss Jane what school would be like if he built it: Right off the lobby, to get to your class, I’d set up a system of tubes made of glass. You hop in a pod, press the number, then ZOOM! In under ten seconds, you’re right at your room. Also available from the same author is If I Built a House.

Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention

by Pip Jones; illustrated by Sara Ogilvie (Peachtree Publishing, 2020)

Izzy Gizmo gets a special invitation to the invention convention. The challenge is to make a machine, and the winner gets to be a member of the Genius Guild. The process doesn’t go as planned and there is drama along the way, but in the end, Izzy’s Tool-FixRecycle-O-Matic is declared the winner.

Trying: Compendium Inc. Someone Builds the Dream, If I Built a School: Penguin Random House. Building Our House : Macmillan. Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention: Peachtree Publishing Company. The Little Red Fort: Scholastic.

Trying

ALL ROADS LEAD TO AUG 27~ SEPT 6 ColoradoStateFair.com Colorado State Fairgrounds | Pueblo, CO

All roads lead to the Colorado State Fair where you’ll find endless fun, FREE things to do and something for every member of the family! With over 2,500 exhibits, you never know what you might find! Come see our duck races, petting zoo and participate in the kid’s pet rock contest! And did you know that there are two special days just for kids? Check out all the family fun, FREE attractions and shows and grab your tickets early at coloradostatefair.com!

START EARLY. START STRONG.

The early years, from birth to age eight, lay a foundation for lifelong learning and health.

Colorado Shines is here to help parents like you find the best early childhood program to support your child’s learning. Visit ColoradoShines.com to learn more and to search for programs near you.

August 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

17

Good to Know | Solutions

How Do I Help My Child Give Up The Pacifier?

A pediatric dentist reveals why it is important, and two parents who have been there offer solutions that worked for them.

Edited by Courtney Drake-McDonough

THE MOM WHO MADE THE PACIFIER UNAPPEALING SAYS…

“My son used his pacifier until he was nearly two and a half for daytime soothing, naps, and nighttime. I grew concerned because his teeth curved top and bottom. The dentist confirmed it was time to let go of the pacifier, assuring me that his teeth would straighten out.

We cut down the amount of time he used the pacifier outside of sleep, talking about other ways he could feel comforted like extra hugs, cuddling with a stuffy, or playing games. Then, we made a plan to put his last pacifier into a stuffy at Build-A-Bear, which he named “Paci Bear.” He could carry the bear around and sleep with it when he needed to. He even put away Paci Bear within a few weeks, saying he didn’t need him anymore. “

“Just after our kids turned two, we cut about ¼ inch off the tip of their pacifiers with scissors, just enough to put a hole in the end. We gave them their pacifiers and they immediately removed them to inspect them. When they asked what happened, we simply said, “It’s broken.” Both kept trying them the rest of the day but quickly lost interest. The hole prevents the pacifier from forming a vacuum and feeling as good, or staying put in the mouth, as it used to. After two days, they were done. Both kids got progressively more attached to their pacifiers from 18 to 24 months, so try to take it away before 18 months. If that doesn’t work, snipping the tip is a great solution.“ —Jennifer B., mother of children ages five, three, and three months, Denver

—Raye Ann C., mother of a son, seven, and daughter, eleven, Camarillo, California

THE PEDIATRIC DENTIST SAYS… “Pacifiers can definitely impact a child’s developing mouth in a variety of ways including causing the palate (upper mouth) to become vaulted, creating tooth crowding, and impacting breathing as it pushes up into the nasal cavity. They can also move the front teeth too far forward which can impact speech, the ability to tear food, and chew and swallow properly. I don’t recommend using a pacifier at all, but if you do use one, stop doing so by 18 to 24 months for less impact. As long as it’s dropped by age two, we usually see these negative impacts self-resolve. If you’re having another child and plan to use a pacifier, break the habit with the older child at least a few months prior to help the distinction between babies with pacifiers and big kids without.”

—Bryan Savage, D.D.S., West Metro Pediatric Dentistry, Arvada and Centennial

18

Colorado Parent | August 2021

Highlighter, mother and child, child with pacifiier, bear: Getty Images.

THE MOM WHO FOUND A COMFORTING SOLUTION SAYS…

Good to Know | Good Stuff

Crush Your Fall Style Back-to-school must-haves for fashionable kids.

By Kara Thompson

This matching top and bottom Alice + Ames Bloom Set is made with a loose fit. The light pink plaid pattern is perfect for fall and it can be dressed up or down with different shoes and accessories. $48, aliceandames.com

Keep your cutie warm on crisp school mornings with this stylish Babyface Denim Jacket.

The letterman-style zip-up is made with 100 percent cotton for an ultra-soft wear, and it’s machine washable so you can easily remove any lunchtime stains. $59, maisonette.com

Background: MirageC/Getty Images.

Show some school spirit with the monogrammed Moonstitch Hair Bow. The handmade accessory comes in three colors and styles—choose from a pencil, apple, or ruler design before adding a monogram. $11, etsy.com

Closed-toe shoes are a playground must. These sporty, metallic Veja V-12 Sneakers will keep your busy kiddo’s feet comfortable and safe during the school day. Velcro straps make getting ready on rushed mornings just a little bit easier. $90, nordstrom.com

Your grade schooler will love this bright and shiny State Mini Kane Backpack. Although it’s made for kids, the backpack is large enough to fit an 11-inch laptop, an iPad, a snack bag, and other essentials. Personalize it with your child’s initials or a variety of fun symbols like a rocket ship or peace sign. $75 and up, statebags.com

August 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

19

Health & Wellness

Girl scouts: Cherry Creek Sc hools.

Let’s Talk About Menstruation

How students, teachers, and parents are combating period poverty and promoting menstrual literacy.

Lauren Campbell and Annaliese Austin present full pad dispensers and thousands extra to Liberty Middle School in Aurora.

By Anna Sutterer

O

ne in four teens nationally has missed class due to lack of access to menstrual supplies, according to a report by the Alliance for Period Supplies. For some Colorado students, a lack of access to hygiene products and sufficient menstruation education poses even more challenges.

“People need to know that this is happening here,” says Geoff Davis, whose organization, Period Kits Denver, provides period supply kits to local groups and people experiencing homelessness. He’s received emails from schools; one telling of a student from Brighton in the health aid office because she’d been changing tampons every other day in order to ration them.

Davis started Period Kits Denver because a friend told him they’ve had to choose between food and tampons before. Neither food stamps

20

Colorado Parent | August 2021

nor the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children cover tampons or pads.

“This is about dignity,” says Davis. He believes that if a school is buying toilet paper, it should be buying pads, “because both are bodily functions you have no control over.”

ACCESS AND SAFETY IN SCHOOLS The new Free Menstrual Hygiene Products to Students bill was signed by Governor Polis in July 2021. Beginning with the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the bill appropriates $100,000 to the department of education for grants. School districts and charter schools with 50 percent or more students on free or reduced lunch can apply for the grants in order to provide tampons or pads in their restrooms at no cost to students.

To Davis, the grant program is positive, but doesn’t solve the whole problem. Costs for a district to purchase dispensers and stock them can be high. For reference, Boulder Valley School District, which has 34 middle and high schools, recently spent $9,000 to purchase 240 dispensers and anticipates a $20,000 bill to keep as many restrooms stocked each year.

Lauren Campbell and Annaliese Austin, now sophomores at Grandview High School, recently earned the Girl Scouts Silver Award for bringing period products to every girls’ restroom at Liberty Middle School in Aurora.

They crowdfunded $1,200 to purchase six dispensers and got the support of Always brand feminine products which donated more than 75,000 pads.

“A lot of people who are impoverished don’t

Mother and chlld: Tassii/Getty Images.

Health & Wellness

Follow us for tips and tricks on all things parenting! @ColoradoParent have the money to buy period products, which is just not fair,” says Campbell, who learned of the term “period poverty” in middle school.

Campbell is now working with legislators on eliminating sales tax for period products across Colorado; Austin’s plan is to get the whole Cherry Creek Schools district to supply middle and high schools with sanitary products.

These efforts would not be complete, however, without understanding of the transmale and nonbinary experience, according to Anat “Nati” Geva, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist who works as a school-based counselor. “[Periods] being identified so strongly with a female body is very hard for them, so getting their periods is an especially anxiety-provoking time in the month,” says Geva.

Schools making period products accessible in bathrooms (not just in the nurse’s office) would make school more welcoming to all students… “knowing that there’s an easy quick fix, you don’t have to ask anyone for it and don’t have to explain anything,” says Geva.

A PARENT’S ROLE IN PERIOD PREPAREDNESS Both Campbell and Austin felt their health classes didn’t adequately equip them to deal with menstruation. “When I was on my first period, I didn’t tell my mom, or anyone else,” says Austin.

“I just stuffed toilet paper in my underwear. So that wasn’t great.”

“A lot of adolescents grow up with the sense that having a period is not something you talk about, it’s shameful, it’s dirty,” says Geva. “It’s a legitimate conversation, and it’s something maybe that we should teach both male and female teachers how to approach in a way that takes away the shame and stigma and gives the [student] options.”

Help educate and prepare your kids at home with these resources:

· Read the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guide to premenstrual syndrome. acog.org · Check out “How To Support Trans People During Their Periods” by Clue, an inclusive tracking and education app. helloclue.com · Order LOLA’s first period kit, which includes organic cotton tampons and BPA-free products, tracking stickers, and a digital guide with basic cycle information, plus answers to those “Is this normal?” questions. mylola.com · Host a period product drive using the Period Supply Drive Toolkit from The Alliance for Period Supplies. allianceforperiodsupplies.org START THE CONVERSATION EARLY Emily Jorgensen, Windsor mother of three and founder of Grace Upon Grace, a nonprofit organization that provides period products to underserved families, takes steps to normalize menstruation at her house—her children are age four and under. “I think if we can really get that whole body health understanding with a period, it would be really freeing for some individuals,” says Jorgensen.

For example, when someone at 15 is menstruating and they say they don’t feel well, a parent might go beyond saying, “It’s just PMS,” and instead ask questions about the different pains, aches, and emotions they’re experiencing.

Heather Williams, also of Grace Upon Grace, led her daughters through a celebration when they got their first periods, complete with clothes shopping, dinner, and a short blessing. “My goal with everything,” says Williams, “is for my daughters to trust themselves, pay attention to their bodies, be in tune with their intuition, and to respect and honor their bodies so that they expect others to do the same.”

August 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

21

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August 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

23

Learn & Grow

Children: Getty Images

Preparing For a Normal-ish School Year How to help kids transition back after unusual circumstances.

By Craig Knippenberg

A

s summer winds down, the time has come to help your children prepare for the school year ahead. This year offers a chance to get back to normalcy with students in school full-time and opportunities for friends and play; however, there are still many questions and unknowns as the pandemic wanes. Here are tips on how to prepare.

Start with normal back-to-school planning.

As in past years, it is time to push bedtimes back to an earlier hour and institute wake-up calls.

It is also time to trim back summer’s expanded gaming and social media use to make room for upcoming homework and after-school activities.

Have fun with your shopping for supplies and clothes. This is also a perfect time to introduce new responsibilities and freedoms. For example: “Now that you are in ______ grade, you will have a new chore, but you’ll also have a later bedtime/ increase in allowance/a smartphone.”

It is also important to discuss hopes and anxieties around a new school year. The usual

24

Colorado Parent | August 2021

questions include: What will my teacher be like?

Will the work be hard? What if I can’t keep up?

Will I be with my friends? Take some time to reinforce how all students will be in the same boat from last year’s academic losses, and how teachers might take this into consideration. Reassure younger ones that teachers often care about students across all areas of their lives. And while they might be in class with a friend, it is important to work on making new friends, too.

For older, high-achieving students, this will be a good time to discuss past academic and extracurricular pressure. Rather than diving into the deep end of the stress pool, perhaps they might want to reassess the activities in which they want to engage.

Discuss and plan for COVID-19 adjustments.

This part of your planning will be dependent on your local transmission rates and guidelines. For instance, some districts have said that they will end remote learning altogether while others are considering a hybrid model for COVID-related problems. You’ll also need to have a plan in place in

case students in a classroom are sent home due to a positive test, or your entire school needs to return to remote learning due to a case resurgence.

While K-12 schools are questioning requirements regarding student vaccinations, you will have less ambiguity in your own planning if your student is vaccinated. Given a positive case in a classroom, this might afford you the option of keeping your child at school. Make sure you are informed on the procedures your school has in place.

Several changes to discuss with your child who attended some in-person school last year include the likelihood of no masks, return to normal class size (vs. smaller cohorts), less restrictive social distancing for seating and walking in line, and a return to activities that involve some physical touch. Younger students may need extra reassurance that these new freedoms are safe. You should also discuss that good hygiene standards are still important, such as frequently washing hands and covering sneezes or coughs.

Spend some time processing emotions and

Learn & Grow

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thoughts from last year and what hopes your children have for the upcoming one. Then, talk about your family’s contingency plans, should these hopes not come to fruition. While summer gave students and parents time to decompress and grieve the losses from the pandemic, going back to school can trigger anxiety and feelings over what was lost.

Address special needs before school starts.

If your child has special considerations, such as a 504 Plan or an Individualized Education Plan, inquire ahead of time about what services will be available. You will also want to give extra support to younger students, or children struggling with conditions such as autism spectrum disorder or social/separation anxiety. Help these students visualize how school drop-offs and pick-ups will take place, and how remote learning will be implemented should that be necessary. Go over how to ask a friend or teacher for help when feeling overwhelmed.

Celebrate your kids’ resilience. In the past year and a half, your kids had to make exceedingly difficult lifestyle adjustments and deal with numerous losses. Working at a school myself, I witnessed countless examples of children finding unique, creative ways to play and learn. Should the virus continue to dissipate, you might also want to consider a special end-of-summer ritual to put COVID-19 in the past and begin with a clean slate. As one fifth grade student recently said to me: “I want to take my masks and burn them in my dad’s grill.” Here’s to the new school year!

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Craig A. Knippenberg serves as the mental health consultant for St. Anne’s Episcopal School. He has provided child and family counseling services for more than 35 years and is the author of Wired and Connected: Brain-Based Solutions To Ensure Your Child’s Social and Emotional Success.

August 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

25

Family Food

Creamsicle Ice Cream Pie

Nothing screams summer like vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet on a stick (also known as a Creamsicle). Try this frozen pie version, which pairs that refreshing citrus flavor with a crunchy graham cracker crust.

It’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Excerpted from Pie Academy by Ken Haedrich Makes 8 to 10 servings

YOU WILL NEED: · Graham cracker crust, homemade (see page 27) or store bought · 1 quart vanilla ice cream · 1 quart orange sherbet · 1 cup cold heavy cream · 1 tablespoon frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed · 1 teaspoon vanilla extract · ¹/₃ cup confectioners’ sugar · Canned mandarin orange segments, drained, for garnish (optional) · Sprigs of fresh mint (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Prepare the graham cracker crust. Refrigerate until needed.

2. If the ice cream and sherbet are quite hard, put them in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to soften slightly.

3. Using an ice cream spade, randomly spoon scoops of the ice cream and sherbet into the pie shell.

Use the back of the spade to pack them into the shell; try not to crack the crust. Smooth the top, mounding it slightly. Freeze until firm, at least 1 hour. At the same time, chill a medium bowl and a set of mixer beaters.

4. Using the chilled bowl and beaters, beat the cream with an electric mixer (handheld is fine) until it holds soft peaks. Blend in the orange juice concentrate and vanilla. Add the sugar and continue to beat until stiff but not grainy. Spread the whipped cream over the pie, smoothing it with a spoon. Freeze for at least 30 minutes before serving, garnishing each piece with one or two orange segments, if desired. *For a splash of color, put a sprig of fresh mint on top of each serving.

Pie: Emulsion Studio.

26

Colorado Parent | August 2021

Ingredients: Heather Gaumer

Family Food

W H E N Y O U W A N T T O PA R E N T

Smarter PA R E N T L I K E A P R O

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Graham Cracker Crust Packaged crusts might be convenient, but homemade pie crusts pack more flavor—and they’re surprisingly easy to make. Mix up a few batches and keep some spares in your freezer.

  

YOU WILL NEED: · One 9 to 9½-inch standard or deep-dish pie plate · 3 cups crumbled graham crackers or 2 cups packaged graham cracker crumbs · 3 tablespoons sugar · Scant ¼ teaspoon salt · ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon · 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted · 1 to 2 teaspoons milk (if needed)

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INSTRUCTIONS:

1. If you are using graham crackers, combine the crumbled crackers, sugar, salt, and cinnamon, in a food processor. Using long pulses, grind the ingredients thoroughly, until they have the texture of coarse whole grain flour or fine bread crumbs. Transfer to a large bowl. If you are using packaged crumbs, combine the crumbs, sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix by hand.

2. Add the butter to the dry mixture. Stir well with a large fork, then switch to your hands and rub the crumbs thoroughly to work in the butter.

When you can press the mixture together firmly in your palm and it doesn’t crumble apart, it’s ready. If the mixture still seems a bit crumbly, drizzle in 1 to 2 teaspoons of the milk and mix again.

3. Transfer the crumbs to the pie plate. Spread them around loosely in the plate and up the sides. When they’re evenly distributed, start pressing them into place. Drape a piece of plastic wrap over the crust for the final pressing. (This will help you do a cleaner job of getting the shell even.)

Refrigerate for about 10 minutes.

4. Preheat the oven to 350°F while the shell chills. Bake the pie shell on the center oven rack for 8 to 10 minutes. It should barely brown, if at all.

Transfer to a rack and cool thoroughly.

Excerpted from Pie Academy © by Ken Haedrich. Used with permission from Storey Publishing.

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August 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

27

Are Martial Arts the Ultimate After-School Activity?

By Hilary Masell Oswald

28

Colorado Parent | August 2021

Children: Lucy Beaugard

An age-old practice offers kids (and parents) emotional support and connection.

L

ast fall, Julius Shelton’s parents were worried about him. The springtime COVID-19induced lockdowns had been very hard on his social and emotional wellbeing. Then, in May, Julius was mauled by a dog, an event that “took away some of his innocence and taught him that the world isn’t always a safe place,” his mother, Jordan, says. When school started in August, the fourth-grader stood up to a bully on behalf of a friend; he took a fist to the chin as a result. “He was sad and sullen and didn’t have that spark we knew,” Jordan says.

So Julius’ parents devised a plan: Get their 10-year-old back into martial arts, specifically Muay Thai and jiu jitsu. Julius had studied jiu jitsu on and off since he was younger. His parents thought the practices might be the help he needed to regulate his emotions and regain his confidence. They enrolled him at Easton Training Center in Arvada for one-hour classes Monday through Thursday.

“The transformation has been incredible,” Jordan says. “He’s blossomed again; his light is back. [Martial arts] gave him the confidence of knowing he can handle a problem, whether it’s a bully or a dog or any other issue.” His instructors stress that practitioners should not go looking for a fight, Jordan adds, but they are capable of taking care of themselves if something comes up.

For millennia, martial arts have been a source of not only physical strengthening but also mental and emotional fortification. For these reasons, many parents today find martial arts—karate, judo, taekwondo—to be nearly ideal after-school activities. Kids are facing fresh challenges in the 21st century, including bullying driven by digital media, reduced playtime outside, and, of course, the social-emotional cost of a pandemic. “So much of what I teach at home, Julius also hears at Easton’s,” Jordan says. “They talk about self-control, accountability for yourself and your actions, and

In addition to physical strength, martial arts classes build a child's self-control, accountability, and respect.

how to treat others with respect. There are so many benefits [to martial arts].”

The Family Practice What’s more, martial arts provide opportunities for families to practice together and, in some cases, for parents and their children to take the same classes. (You only have to imagine trying to join a Little League practice or tiny tots ballet class to appreciate this option.)

Ross Kedl and his 11-year-old daughter, Nora, take taekwondo together at the United Martial Arts Center in Centennial. Nora started first—about a year before her dad, who joined when the center had a June promotion that allowed fathers to come for the month for free. A little more than a year later, the pair still takes classes together twice a week. They partner up on drills and prepare to-

gether for belt tests, at which they demonstrate their mastery of various skills in order to be promoted to the next level of practice.

Nora says classes make her feel “regulated and happy.” In addition, “there’s an athleticism to taekwondo that I appreciate and enjoy,” says Ross, who used to be a diver and gymnast. He points out that there are physical forms and poses in martial arts that are very dance-like, and he catches Nora wandering through the house sometimes breaking out into those forms. “I see her using those movements to calm herself, both at home and in class.”

Both Kedls heartily endorse martial arts as a family activity. “There are very few things you can do with your kids when you have a 40-year age difference,” Ross says. “It’s really wonderful to have an activity to do together.” Nora reports that she likes having her dad in class. “We’ll probably do

Easton Training Center: Jaclyn Stevens.

MEET THE MARTIAL ARTS There are hundreds of martial arts practiced throughout the world, so while this list is far from exhaustive; it’s a place to start when considering which practice might be best for your children. Ask your martial arts academy about the best age to start children, or what developmental milestones they need to achieve before enrolling. Look for complimentary trial classes before making a larger commitment of time and money.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ): Predominantly focused on ground combat, BJJ focuses on teaching practitioners “submissions,” or techniques on how to leverage the body and manipulate an opponent’s joints to subdue them. It can look similar to wrestling.

Judo: In 1964, Judo became an early modern martial art in the Olympics. Japanese in origin, its objective is to use an opponent’s force against them through quick movements and, again, leverage.

Taekwondo: With roots in Korean culture and history, taekwondo teaches physical fighting skills that rely heavily on dynamic, rapid footwork and kicks. With the practice comes a philosophy of peace-keeping among people and harmony of body and mind. Taekwondo became an official Olympic medal sport at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Karate: A Japanese martial art whose name translates to “empty hand,” karate is an art of self-defense that uses kicking, striking,

and defensive blocks. Its teaching also emphasizes the development of mental and moral strength.

Muay Thai: Also known as “Thai boxing,” this practice emphasizes close-combat fighting skills, both offensive and defensive, taught in conjunction with self-control. Muay Thai has become a foundational practice for many fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA).

Tai Chi: This Chinese practice teaches slow, choreographed movements and postures, accompanied by breathing techniques. Because it requires a lot of patience, it might be best for older children and teens, and it provides a fantastic “detox” from too much screen time.

August 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

29

Martial arts practice benefits all ages, making it a great family activity.

Hilary Masell Oswald is a Denver-based writer and editor-at-large for 5280 Home magazine.

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Colorado Parent | August 2021

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this for a long time,” she says. “We’re going to get to a black belt.”

Parents can also help in their children’s classes, as is the case for Krista Muddle. A program manager with the National Park Service and mom to nine-year-old Sebastian and six-year-old Ariella, Krista practices several martial arts with her children, including kung fu, bagua, tai chi, aikido, and kong soo do. “My kids have confidence that they can do hard things, not because someone told them they could but because they’ve experienced it,” she says. “They couldn’t do a cartwheel and then, one day, they could.” Plus, she says, because part of learning martial arts is learning to respect teachers and accept instruction, “doing this together makes my kids look up to me in a new way.”

Muddle says she is a clearer-minded, stronger person—she’s in better shape now than when she used to run marathons. But she’s most excited about martial arts because of what she sees happening in Sebastian and Ariella. “I know my kids are learning to be good, responsible, disciplined human beings,” Muddle says. “In a world of instant gratification, martial arts teach patience and discipline. I would have signed [my kids] up right away if I had known it would benefit them this much.”

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Catching Up Experts in psychology and tutoring explain how to spot your kids’ needs and help support their academic and emotional health.

By Hilary Masell Oswald

I

t’s practically a proverb: “Kids are resilient.” She stayed up too late? No problem. His best friend is moving to Idaho? He’ll be OK. She’s changing schools? His beloved pet died? Her favorite aunt is in the hospital? They’re going to be just fine.

The truth is that kids’ ability to bounce back from hardship even in normal times might not be as robust as adults think—but it’s especially weakened now. Nearly a year and a half after the initial COVID-19 lockdowns, children need a lot of support to regain their emotional wellbeing, build their mental health, and hit their academic strides. We asked experts for their best practical insight and advice to help children where they are right now.

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Colorado Parent | August 2021

Mental Health Help In late May, Children’s Hospital Colorado declared a pediatric mental health state of emergency, triggered by the significant uptick their healthcare providers have seen in children’s need for behavioral-health services. “The pandemic has introduced acute and chronic stressors into our kids’ lives,” says Jenna Glover, Ph.D., child psychologist at the hospital and an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Schools closed, and then many of them bounced between remote learning, hybrid models, and in-person instruction in ways that felt unpredictable to adults and downright mind boggling to children. “A lot of the other things kids use to keep their resiliency tanks full were denied to them,” Glover says. Sports were canceled, traditions put on hold, and holidays and celebrations watered down. The result? “During some extra busy days in Spring 2021, at least 50 percent of kids seen at the Children's Colorado emergency department were experiencing anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating and mood disorders, and/or suicidal ideation. That’s double pre-pandemic levels,” Glover says.

The good news is that you have a lot of power as a parent to help your child regain and build mental health. Here’s what you need to know: Your child might be grieving. Milestones that seem small to parents can be enormously important to children: Perhaps the annual fifth-grade field trip got canceled, or your child missed her shot at being captain of the soccer team because the season got called off. It’s easy for parents to overlook the significance of these losses, Glover says. “Parents have a ‘righting reflex’ that makes us eager to fix the problem, but it’s really important to first validate your child’s experience and stay there for a while.”

Say something like, “It’s really sad that you lost that opportunity” or “I understand why you feel disappointed.” Give kids permission to be sad and grieve.

Your child might be nervous about a return to school. “Kids might have a lot of anxiety about

connecting to peers who they maybe haven’t seen in over a year,” Glover says. They might also lack confidence in their academic abilities, especially if their grades slipped last year or they had a hard time with online learning. Don’t assume—or force—positive feelings.

Your child needs to talk—and you need to initiate. “Because of the cumulative nature of stress, some kids will not demonstrate any mental health problems until six to eight months from now,” Glover says. To keep your finger on your child’s emotional pulse, ask open-ended questions that go beyond, “How are you feeling?” Glover suggests probing both the hard parts of a situation and the exciting parts: What are your concerns?

What are you looking forward to? “[These types of questions] create more flexible thinking in kids and help them see that even in a hard situation, there are positives, too.”

Your child needs to get outside. “We know that time outside in nature is tremendously helpful for kids’ mental health,” Glover says. Kids and teens need time outdoors every single day, even if that’s

just a walk or bike ride around the neighborhood during the week. On weekends, take family hikes.

Your child needs sleep. “A majority of mental health problems would be mitigated by better sleep,” notes Glover. Implementing consistent bedtimes (even for your teens) and removing screens from bedrooms (no TVs, no phones!) will go a long way toward boosting your children’s wellbeing.

Your child needs traditions. And they don’t have to be fancy. Implement a Friday family movie night and serve popcorn. Make a list of all the parks in your area and visit one every Saturday until you’ve seen them all. Traditions provide that boost of feelgood vibes that kids need to get their brains, bodies, and emotions healthy.

Your child might need professional help. If you have any ongoing concerns about your child’s behavioral health, call your pediatrician. (Of course, take your child directly to the ER for any acute crisis.)

The doctor can refer you out to professionals based on your child’s age and needs. Getting your child help now can stave off a bigger problem later.

Opener, background, boy at desk: Getty Images.

Easy Resources IXL: An adaptive online platform with instruction and practice for pre-K-12 students in math, science, social studies, language arts, and Spanish. ixl.com

CHILDREN’S LITERACY CENTER: Free one-to-one tutoring for elementary students reading below grade level. childrensliteracycenter.org

LOGIC OF ENGLISH: This popular integrated reading, writing, and spelling curriculum offers an app that helps kids practice their phonograms—ideal for K-5 students. logicofenglish.com

TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS: This online marketplace of learning materials created and sold by teachers is a treasure trove of resources, most of which have been tried and tested in real classrooms. teacherspayteachers.com

FAMILY MEDIA PLAN: A tool provided by the American Association of Pediatrics to help kids and their parents plan together how kids should use their screen time. healthychildren.org YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY: Most library systems maintain book lists parsed by grade level; grab one and check out a few new titles for your child.

August 2021 | ColoradoParent.com

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Child and tutor: EMS Forestor/Getty Images.

If You Do Just One Thing To Support Your Child’s Learning…

Read. You knew that was coming, right?

Research shows that even up through middle school, children who read with parents at home (and watch their parents read) perform better academically. They report higher rates of curiosity, and have stronger standardized test scores than kids who report little to no family reading.

It is no surprise that “literacy is the foundational skill for all learning,” says Jenn Molen, reading specialist and first-grade lead teacher at Augustine Classical Academy in Lakewood. She points to a concept in neuroscience, which reveals that the key to learning is making connections to what we already know.

The stronger a child’s literacy, the more they’re likely to read, and the greater the number of connections they’re able to make, which exponentially increases learning capacity.

After a bumpy academic year for many students, Molen has hopeful news: You can help your child make up for some lost learning with book-based activities that are easy to implement.

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Colorado Parent | August 2021

For K-2 students: “Listening to your child read aloud is the single most important academic activity you can do,” Molen says. As they read, you provide guidance and feedback. If a passage is particularly tough, read it aloud, and then invite them to read it again to you.

For K-5 students: As your child reads to you—and vice versa—stop every so often to ask questions: What does that word mean? What does that idiomatic phrase mean? Why do you think that character did that?

Molen especially emphasizes the value of helping children make inferences. For young readers, you might ask what season it is if a picture shows leaves on the ground. For older readers, ask why a character is behaving a certain way.

“We infer things all the time in real life,” she says.

“It’s an important skill across academic subjects and in social situations, in relationships, in work.”

Plus, the practice deepens our ability to remember stories and the information we read, which makes the act of reading more fruitful and more fun.

And because we learn by making connections, Molen helps her students draw a clear mental line from what they’re reading to what they know.

“What did this story remind you of?” is a good question to ask. “Be sure you ask them ‘why’ because it develops deeper thinking about a book.”

(For young learners, you might model how to

answer these questions by giving your own answers first and then inviting them to do the same.)

For all kids: Read to them! “Your child needs to hear what it sounds like when someone reads fluently with correct speed and expression,” Molen says. “Even older children can listen to stories they aren’t yet able to read on their own, which builds background knowledge—important for those learning connections—and vocabulary. And that will help kids develop a love of learning.”

Suspect Learning Differences?

Molen, who is trained in the OrtonGillingham approach to teaching reading, has a special bit of advice for parents of kindergarteners through second graders: If you suspect your child has a learning difference, now’s the time to get extra support: “As a reading specialist, I’m passionate about these primary grades because with the right intervention—even without a diagnosis—we can get students on their way to reading [with research-based strategies].” The past academic year’s reduced time with teachers might mean your child slipped through the cracks. Talk to your child’s teacher or school reading specialist and ask about benchmarking your child’s skills and identifying gaps.

Child with tutor outdoors, books, child with parent: Getty Images.

Time For A Tutor?

Stephanie Rosalky runs Wash Park Tutoring, which sends tutors—all professional educators—to clients’ homes for one-on-one academic coaching. She wants parents to know one thing right off the bat: “Hiring a tutor doesn’t mean someone is failing,” she says. “It means that you’re getting your child some support the same way you take your child to swimming lessons. That doesn’t mean your child is failing at swimming. It means a parent chooses to look to an expert for help.”

Rosalky says her business, which works predominantly with students in kindergarten through eighth grade, has been booming in the last year—but not because all of her young clients are failing to master concepts. “The biggest thing we hear from parents is that kids are struggling with academic anxiety and [lacking] confidence,” she says. “Because they have had a very disruptive and challenging year, students’ confidence has taken a tumble.” In response, her team of educators often works on reinforcing skills, giving kids a chance to practice and build proficiency and morale.

But of course, they also work with students to help them fill in actual gaps in learning. If your child needs extra support, now might be the time to look for targeted help. If you do, Rosalky shares this advice: Decide who to hire: If you’re looking to your neighbor’s high school daughter who is a math whiz, ask why she likes working with kids and how she plans to help your fourth grader multiply fractions.

She might be a great personality fit; just be sure you

know how she plans to teach your kiddo. How will she know when your child has mastered a skill and is ready to move on? How will she manage your child’s emotions? How will she motivate your child?

If you opt for a professional firm like Wash Park Tutoring, ask about the company. What are the criteria for hiring? What resources are tutors using?

Will the firm put you in touch with current clients to talk about their experiences?

Customize teaching time: Rosalky’s team tailors a program for each child with input from their classroom teacher. If a tutor-teacher connection isn’t possible, ask the teacher for specific areas where your student needs help. Instead of “writing,” perhaps your student should focus on persuasive writing. Instead of “math facts,” maybe the real issue is quick recall of division facts. The more info you can give the tutor, and the better they are able to measure progress or areas of weakness, the more effective tutoring time will be for your child.

Be consistent: Rosalky recommends at least 10 sessions to give your child a chance to get comfortable with the tutor and make real academic progress. “It’s important to choose a schedule and a budget you can commit to,” she says. Her firm charges $70 per hour; fees for tutors can range from $15 per hour (for a high school student, for example) to $100 for professionals.

Hilary Masell Oswald is a Denver-based writer and editor-at-large for 5280 Home magazine.

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C

Kids do amazing things, and Colorado Parent would like to tell their stories.

Do you know a Colorado child, tween, or teen who deserves recognition for making a difference in their school, neighborhood, community, or the world? Let us know about them!

We’ll select a few of these amazing kids and feature their story in our November issue.

Submission are due August 27, 2021.

Visit coloradoparent.com/makingadifference to submit a story.

Calendar AUGUST

Our Picks For Little Ones

CHILDREN’S CONCERT WITH JEANIE B AUGUST 14 See page 39

Opener: Modern Image Photography. For Teens: Altered Reality Entertainment.

For Kiddos

VENDARO’S CIRCUS THROUGH AUG. 22 See page 39

For Tweens

DENVER DAY OF ROCK AUGUST 28 See page 40

AUG.

27

Round up the kids and hit the fairgrounds for an end-of-summer celebration at the State Fair.

For Teens

Colorado State Fair

Through Sept. 6. Enjoy rodeos, a horse show, concerts, food vendors, and more. All ages. Find a full schedule and tickets online. $12 adult, $6 ages 5-12, free age 4 and under. Colorado State Fairgrounds, Pueblo.

COLORADO SPRINGS COMIC CON AUGUST 27-29 See page 42

August 2021 | Colorado Parent

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Calendar | August

this conversation about how to harness music and dance for personal growth and healing, and enjoy a dance performance.

Presented as part of the SOMOS: On Domestic Violence, Resilience and Healing exhibit. All ages. RSVP online. Museo de las Americas, Denver. museo.org

Calendar What’s Inside

7 SATURDAY

ON STAGE

Senac Scientists: Paint, Plants, and Pollinators 9:30-11am. Frolic

39

in a field and look for insects and native plants. Use them as inspiration to paint a masterpiece with brushes made of plant materials. Ages 6-10. Register online. $2. Senac Creek Nature Center, Aurora. auroragov.org

SPECIAL FAMILIES

40 WHERE THE KIDS ARE

41

FESTIVALS & FAIRS

42

ONGOING EVENTS

42

HEADS UP! All events were correct as of press time, however, please phone ahead to confirm event details.

Celebrate Colorado's statehood birthday with a variety of attractions at History Colorado, Aug. 1.

1 SUNDAY

Colorado Day at History Colorado Center 10am-5pm.

Celebrate the many histories, art forms, and communities that make up Colorado. More than 20 attractions will surround the HCC in Denver, including animals, chalk art, live music, snacks, and more. Enjoy free access to the center's four floors of exhibits. The Makerspace will be open all day, as will face painting stations. New monthly Heritage Produce Baskets, filled with fresh local produce and historic recipes, will also kick off on this day. All ages. Find entry tickets online. History Colorado Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

2 MONDAY Get listed!

Items to be considered for the monthly printed calendar must be received at least six weeks before the month of publication.

Email event information to calendar@coloradoparent.com.

Information cannot be accepted by phone. See our calendar online at ColoradoParent.com

Rainbow Alley Summer Academy Aug. 2-6. 9:30am-5:30pm.

Explore visual and performing arts and create with other LGBTQ artists. Visit the Denver Center for Performing Arts, attend a workshop with a tattoo artist, see the current exhibit by Museo de las Americas, and more. Ages 12-21. Proof of vaccination required. Register online. The Center on Colfax, Denver. lgbtqcolorado.org

5-12. Register online. arapahoelibraries. bibliocommons.com

4 WEDNESDAY

Rainbow Alley Summer Academy See Aug. 2.

5 THURSDAY

Rainbow Alley Summer Academy See Aug. 2.

6 FRIDAY

Summer Engineering Classes 3-5pm. Learn about the engineering method through sessions focused on different fields: civil, aerospace, electrical, chemical/biomedical, and environmental.

Enjoy hands-on activities and playtime in the museum. Grades 1-3. Each class limited to 15 children. $30 per class. WOW! Children’s Museum. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Pop-Up Museum in the Park 11am-4pm. Discover clicking cicadas, scurrying squirrels, and burrowing beetles in your own backyard. Join CU Museum at the park to explore the natural world in Boulder. No reservations necessary. All ages. Howard Heuston Park, Boulder. colorado.edu

Family Fest 11am-5pm. Visit the National Western Complex for kids’ activities, creative stations, entertainment, stage presentations, and prizes. All ages. $10 adult (online), $15 adult (at the door), free for children. National Western Complex, Denver. theexpopros.com

Afrik Impact Cultural Celebration Noon-10pm. Celebrate the impact African immigrants have in the state of Colorado, with the help of African Leadership Group (ALG), a local nonprofit created to serve and improve the quality of life of the African immigrant community.

The month’s calendar of speakers and

3 TUESDAY

Rainbow Alley Summer Academy See Aug. 2.

VIRTUAL Didgeridoo: Down Under 1-2pm. This Australia-themed

show includes elements of science, character building, environmentalism, and audience participation. Learn about Aussie culture and hear a didgeridoo, one of the world’s oldest musical instruments. Ages

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Colorado Parent | August 2021

Go wild at Denver's Family Fest, which fills the National Western Complex with playful attractions, Aug. 7.

Butterfly and children: CU Museum. Family Fest: Trent Thornton

Community Cultural Conversations: Healing through Dance and Music 5-6:30pm. Enjoy

Calendar | August

On Stage

Circus: Sara Ernst. Jeanie B: Jeanie B! Music.

14 SATURDAY

VIRTUAL Children’s

Concert with Jeanie B

10-10:30am. Wiggle and giggle along with guitarist and vocalist Jeanie B. The music teacher and seasoned entertainer will have the whole family rocking and singing along.

Age 12 and under. Register online. arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com

Denver Zoo 125th Celebration:

Children's music performer Jeanie B graces the Arapahoe Libraries virtual stage on Aug. 14. educational opportunities kicks off with a community gathering including live music, food, artisan vendors, and storytelling. Find a full schedule online.

Levitt Pavilion, Denver. usalg.org

Pitch, Play, and Stay—Family Camp Out in the Park Aug. 7,

11 WEDNESDAY

Marine Biologist for a Day See Aug. 10.

12 THURSDAY

VIRTUAL Legacy Planning for New Parents 6-7:30pm. Learn

4:30pm to Aug. 8, 9:30am. Camp out with your family without getting caught in the mountain traffic. Cost includes one tent space per family, games, s’mores, crafts, and a light breakfast. Camping equipment and dinner not included.

Age 5 and up. Space is limited; register online. $35 nonresident, $30 resident.

Majestic View Nature Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

about estate planning while you are expecting a child. Sarah Morris, of Sarah Morris Law, will cover what happens if you don't have a plan and give an explanation of estate taxes. Couples are encouraged to attend together. $18. jccdenver.org

10 TUESDAY

10am-4pm. Travel back to 1859 for free.

Enjoy historic demonstrations, tour the Four Mile House Museum, and meet farm animals. House Museum tours can accommodate up to 10 guests and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Four Mile Historic Park. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

13 FRIDAY

Four Mile Free Day

Marine Biologist for a Day Aug. 10, 9am-2pm (grades 9-12); Aug. 11, 9am-2pm (grades 5-8). See if you have what it takes to be a marine biologist.

Help prepare food, feed some exhibits, and learn how the aquarium’s biologists take care of the animals. Preregistration is required at least two weeks in advance. $65 per child. Downtown Aquarium. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

HOT TIP Left-handers raise them up! It’s your day on August 13, International Left Handers Day. Challenge your right-handed friends and family to a day full of ambidextrous fun. Try writing, eating, reaching—everything with only your left hand.

Backyard Concert Series: Bison Bone 6:30-8:30pm. Return to concerts on the lawn with Anythink Library. Enjoy food and drink from local vendors. All proceeds support The Anythink Box, a subscription service that provides kids ages 5-12 with books at their doorstep. Dogs welcome.

All ages. Free admission, donations suggested, vendor prices vary. Anythink Library Wright Farms, Thornton. anythinklibraries.org

Stratus Chamber Orchestra 10-11am. Go on a musical journey and introduce your little ones to classical music through the Stratus Chamber Orchestra's family-friendly concert: “Splash, Slither, Stomp & Soar into Arts.”

All ages. Free with admission. Denver Zoo. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Monarch Warrior Workshop 10am-noon. Celebrate and learn about pollinators; become a Monarch Warrior to help with butterfly conservation. Tour pollinator & milkweed gardens, and participate in family activities. Register online. All ages.

Majestic View Nature Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Where Did We Sit on the Bus? Aug. 12-22, 8pm.

Enjoy this one-person show filled with Latin rhythms and spoken word. A third grade student who is learning about Civil Rights asks, “Where did we sit on the bus?” The production examines what it means to be Latinx through the eyes of a child, turned teenager, turned adult.

Bring a blanket or folding chair to the outdoor performance. $25. FAC Outdoor Stage, Colorado Springs. fac.coloradocollege.edu Vendaro’s Circus July 28Aug. 8 (Outworld Brewing, Longmont), Aug. 11-22 (FH Beerworks, Colorado Springs); Wed-Fri, 7pm; Sat, 1pm, 4pm and 6pm; Sun, 1pm and 4pm. Head to the striped big top where a Broadway-style, animal-free circus delights guests with acrobatic feats and theatric treats. All ages.

Longmont and Colorado Springs. venardoscircus.com

VIRTUAL Dancing with the Denver Stars 7-8:30pm. Denver’s

stars from all industries and disciplines take to the stage set by community arts leader Cleo Parker Robinson. In-person tickets are sold out, but event can be streamed online. $50 virtual ticket. cleoparkerdance.org

15 FRIDAY

Denver Zoo 125th Celebration: Colorado Dragon Boat Festival 9-11am. Zoo guests can try out a paddle apparatus and get a sense for the ancient Chinese sport of dragon boat racing, while also enjoying live performances from the Dragon Boat Festival team. Free with admission. Denver Zoo. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

This striped big top comes to Front Range towns this summer. Stop by and be amazed at Vendaro’s animal-free circus. a limited number of shoppers will be allowed at one time to promote social distancing. Free tickets online, $2 at the door. Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, Aurora. aurora.jbfsale.com

20 FRIDAY

19 THURSDAY

Just Between Friends Aurora Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sale See Aug. 19.

Just Between Friends Aurora Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sale Aug. 19, 9am-7pm; Aug. 20, 9am-5pm; Aug. 21, 9am-4pm; Aug. 22, 9am-3pm. Find many of the supplies you’ll need for your kids at this large consignment sale. Reserve free tickets online. Walk-ins are welcome, but

Denver Zoo 125th Celebration: Colorado Ballet 6-8pm. Take in two original contemporary works choreographed

by Colorado Ballet artists, in the

August 2021 | Colorado Parent

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Calendar | August

29, 10am-5pm. Browse handmade wares from more than 100 local indie artisans. Grab a drink from an outdoor bar and discover home goods, jewelry and accessories, adult and children’s fashion, skincare, ceramics, art, artisanal food, paper goods, and pet goods. Free entry, vendor prices vary. Historic South Gaylord St., Denver. fireflyhandmade.com

Nature at Night: Legends of the Stars 8-9pm. Spend the evening under the night sky. While on the trails, learn the traditional star patterns identified by different cultures, use your imagination to find new shapes, and let your mind wander. Age 2 and up. Register online. $2. Morrison Nature Center, Aurora. auroragov.org

21 SATURDAY

Just Between Friends Aurora Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sale See Aug. 19.

Junior Naturalists: Wetland Creepy Crawlers 9-11am. Find insects and arachnids along Star K Ranch trails. Learn about the fascinating creatures and complete a few creepy crawly activities. Ages 6-8. Register online. $2. Morrison Nature Center, Aurora. auroragov.org

Schweiger Ranch Open Day 1-5pm. Visit the historic property and explore the ranch with a self-guided tour. Face masks are required and the house is closed to the public. Schweiger Ranch, Lone Tree. schweigerranch.org

Special Families

Dozens of exhibitors offer families support during the Autism Resource Fair, Aug. 1.

Autism Resource Fair Aug. 1, 11am-3pm. Don’t miss the largest Autism resource fair in the state. Come together with families and individuals on the spectrum and gather resources

40

Denver Day of Rock

Meander through stalls featuring the makings of local artisans, at the Firefly Handmade Summer Market on Gaylord Street, Aug. 28-29.

22 SUNDAY

Just Between Friends Aurora Children’s and Maternity Consignment Sale See Aug. 19.

and a farmer’s market. Free admission.

Mile High Flea Market, Henderson. milehighfleamarket.com

23 MONDAY

28 SATURDAY

Protect Our Planet 5:30-6:30pm.

Pull 10am-3pm. Flex your tug-of-war

Join an adventure from the birth of the universe, to the age of the dinosaurs, to today’s modern world.

Listen to the pulsing sounds of the didgeridoo. Ages 5-12. Register online. arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com

Mile High Flea Market Free Days 7am-5pm. Enter this large

strength at the airport where teams will pull a 140,000 lb Gulfstream-IV jet 12 feet across the tarmac competing for the fastest time. Each team will have a fundraising minimum of $1,000 with proceeds benefitting Special Olympics Colorado. Spectators can enjoy activities, food, drinks, vendors, and games. Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Broomfield. specialolympicsco.org

collection of vendors selling thousands of items. Enjoy a day of open-air shopping and entertainment, food, rides,

Firefly Handmade Summer Market Aug. 28, 10am-6pm; Aug.

VIRTUAL Didgeridoo:

27 FRIDAY

while connecting with providers. Enjoy offerings from 80 exhibitors all in one place, plus burgers and kid activities.

Autism Community Store, Aurora. autismcommunitystore.com Sibling Clubhouse Through Oct. 2. First Sat, 4-5pm. Hang out with other kids who have siblings with autism and understand the dynamic. Participants should be old enough to have a meaningful conversation about being a sibling of someone with autism. Email connect@autismcommunitystore.com to get on the sibling clubhouse email list, or see the Autism Community Store Facebook page to find the event link. Autism Community Store, Aurora. autismcommunitystore.com

Colorado Parent | August 2021

2021 Broomfield Plane

VIRTUAL Spectrum Parent Adventures Aug. 14, 6-8pm. Join Autism Community Store’s parent support group where you’ll share challenges and triumphs of being a caregiver of someone on the autism spectrum. Laugh, cry, and spend time with people who just get it. Join the live event on Zoom. autismcommunitystore.com

Summer Low Sensory Mornings Aug. 21; 8am and 8:30am opening times. Experience the Denver Botanic Gardens without the crowds. York Street gardens will open earlier for those who wish to connect with plants in a safe, restful location. Explore on your own and learn more about other sensory-based

5-9:30pm. Visit all five stages lined up along Denver’s pedestrian mall and rock out to music from The Band Perry, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, Austin Young Band, and more. Kid-friendly vendors include balloon artists, face painters, and a silent disco. The event benefits Amp the Cause, which supports nonprofits in the community. Free, donations accepted. 16th Street Mall, Denver. denverdayofrock.com

29 SUNDAY

Firefly Handmade Summer Market See Aug. 28.

31 TUESDAY

VIRTUAL The New Nature Movement 7-8:30pm Learn how

to connect young children to the natural world and welcome Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. The program will conclude with a Q&A session. For parents and caregivers of children age 8 and under. arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com

programming the Gardens offers like Sensory Processing and Autism Resource Kits. Register online. Included with admission. Denver Botanic Gardens York Street. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

VIRTUAL Youth Support Group Ongoing. Second Sat, segundo sábados; 11am-noon. Learn, meet, and have fun with like minded people ages 13-27. By Grupo Vida, an organization for families with special needs. Register online. Reuniones amenas de una hora con jóvenes de tu edad. Aprende, descubre y disfruta. Por Grupo Vida, una organización para familias con necesidades especiales. Registro en línea. elgrupovida.org

Firefly Market: Urban Life Wash Park. Resource Fair: Autism Community Store.

exciting setting of the Denver Zoo. Enjoy Sean Omandam’s thoughtprovoking work "Yeah, It’s About That" and Sara Thomas’ upbeat piece "Embrace It or Erase It." Free with admission. Denver Zoo. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Aquarium: Colleen Shipley/Downtown Aquarium.

Calendar | August

Where the Kids Are

The following locations are referred to frequently in the calendar. Discounted annual passes are available at many venues. Note: Check websites for the latest health and safety information.

Aurora History Museum Tue-Fri, 9am-4pm; Sat, 11am-4pm. No more than 50 visitors will be allowed inside the museum at any one time. Reserve tickets for a one-hour visit. 15051 E. Alameda Pkwy., Aurora. 303-739-6660. auroragov.org/ things_to_do/aurora_history_museum Butterfly Pavilion Daily, 9am-6pm. $13 adult, $11 seniors, $9 ages 2-12, free under age 2 and members. Timed entry; online reservations are optional. Face coverings are encouraged but not mandatory for vaccinated people age 12 and up.

6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 303-469-5441. butterflies.org Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus Wed-Sun, 8:30am-4pm. Two, 3½-hour play sessions each day. $15 ages 2-59, $13 ages 1 and 60+, $1 Explorer Pass, free under age 1 and members. The majority of the Museum's exhibits are open for play. Reservations required.

2121 Children's Museum Dr., Denver. 303-433-7444. mychildsmuseum.org Denver Art Museum Daily, 10am-5pm; $10-$13 adult, $8-$10 seniors, military, and college student, free age 18 and under. Timed tickets reserved online are required along with face coverings, social distancing, and hand washing.

100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Denver. 720-913-0130. denverartmuseum.org Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms Daily, 9am-4pm. $10 adults; $7 seniors, military, students, and ages 3-12; free age 2 and under and members. Unvaccinated visitors are strongly encouraged to wear masks. 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Rd., Littleton. 720-865-3500. botanicgardens.org Denver Botanic Gardens York Street Thu-Sun, Tue; 9am-8pm; Mon, Wed; 9am-3pm. $15 adult, $11.50 seniors and military, $11 ages 3-15 and student, free age 2 and under. Reserve tickets online. Limited access to buildings. Unvaccinated visitors are strongly encouraged to wear masks.

Mordecai Children’s Garden is reopened. 1007 York St., Denver. 720-865-3500. botanicgardens.org Denver Firefighters Museum TueSat, 10am-4pm. $9 adult; $8 seniors, military, firefighters, and students; $7 ages 3-12; free age 2 and under and members. Masks are required for unvaccinated guests. Hands-on activities are being slowly reintroduced. 1326 Tremont Pl., Denver.

303-892-1436. denverfirefightersmuseum.org Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys Fri-Sat, 10am-4:30pm; Sun, 1-4pm. $5 adult, $4 child (4-16) and seniors, free age 3 and under and members. Purchase advance tickets to walk

the gallery; wear a mask and follow social distance guidelines. 830 Kipling St., Lakewood. 303-322-1053. dmmdt.org Denver Museum of Nature & Science Daily, 9am-5pm, open until 9 p.m. on Fridays. $18.95-$19.95 adult, $15.95-$16.95 seniors, $13.95-$14.95 ages 3-18, free age 2 and under and members. Purchase timed tickets online. Face coverings are encouraged for unvaccinated people over age 10. The TRex Cafe will operate at limited capacity. Bring water bottles as the fountains are turned off for safety. 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver. 303-370-6000. dmns.org Denver Zoo Daily; 8:30am open for members, 10am open to the public; closing hours vary by day. $20 adult, seniors; $14 child ages 3-11; free age 2 and under and members. Wind through habitats of more than 3,000 animals from around the world. Check out the new on-site Animal Hospital Visitor Center. Reserve timed tickets online. 2300 Steele St., Denver. 720-3371400. denverzoo.org Downtown Aquarium Sun-Thurs, 10am-8pm; Fri-Sat, 10am-9pm. $23.50 ages 12-64, $22.50 seniors, $17.50 ages 3-11, free age 2 and under. Featuring aquatic exhibits, a full-service restaurant, a 4D theater, and more. 700 Water St., Denver. 303-561-4450. downtownaquarium.com Four Mile Historic Park Wed-Sun, 10am-4pm. $5 adult; $4 seniors, military; $3 ages 7-17, free age 6 and under and members. This 12-acre park is home to Denver’s oldest standing structure, the Four Mile House, which is open for self-guided tours. Find timed tickets online. 715 S. Forest St. Denver. 720-865-0800. fourmilepark.org History Colorado Center Daily, 10am-5pm; Thu, 10am-8pm. $14 adult, $12 seniors, $10 ages 16-22 with student ID, $8 ages 5-15, free age 4 and under and members. Timed tickets available online and in person. 1200 Broadway, Denver. 303-447-8679. historycolorado.org/history-colorado-center Littleton Museum Tues-Sat, 9am-5pm.

Walkways will be open and the farm’s livestock will be available for viewing, but the historic buildings will not be open and no interpretive programming will be presented. Museum building is open with limited capacity. 6028 S. Gallup St., Littleton. 303-795-3950. littletongov.org/museum Longmont Museum Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm; Thu, 9am-9pm; Sun, 1-5pm. $8 adults; $5 students, seniors; free age 3 and under and members. Timedentry tickets are required. Peruse the impressionist art exhibit and play at the Longs Peak Room treehouse. 400 Quail Rd., Longmont. 303-651-8374. longmontcolorado.gov/departments/departments-e-m/ museum

Lookout Mountain Preserve and Nature Center (closed) Majestic View Nature Center Tue-Sat, 10am-3pm. Walk-in visitors are welcome. Find tickets online for limited in-person programs and more virtual programs. 7030 Garrison St., Arvada. 720-8987405. majesticviewnaturecenter.arvada.org Museum of Boulder Sun-Mon, Thu-Sat, 9am-5pm; Wed, 9am-8pm. $10 adult; $8 seniors, youth, students; free children under 5 and members. Masks required, and water fountains are turned off. Ongoing children’s exhibits include the Playzeum and Google Garage. Find admission tickets online. 2205 Broadway, Boulder. 303-449-3464. museumofboulder.org Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Grounds open daily sunrisesunset. The Visitor Center is open Wed-Sun, 9am-4pm. Try the new walk-up archery range, open daily. 6550 Gateway Rd., Commerce City. 303-289-0930. fws.gov/refuge/rocky_mountain_arsenal University of Colorado Museum of Natural History (closed) Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum Mon-Sat, 10am-5pm; Sun, noon-5pm. $16.95 ages 17-64; $12.95 seniors, military; $9.95 ages 4-16, free age 3 and under and members. Face coverings required. The Kid Zone and simulators are reopened. 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver.

303-360-5360. wingsmuseum.org WOW! Children’s Museum Tue-Sat, 9am-4:30pm. $5 adult, $10 child (age 1-11), free under age 1 and members. Reserve a timed ticket online, admission is capped at 60 total. Individual WOW! packs of toys are available if desired. Bring a water bottle, and leave food and snacks in the car or at home. 110 N. Harrison Ave., Lafayette. 303-604-2424. wowchildrensmuseum.org

The Downtown Aquarium offers close looks at 500 species of animals. Kids age eight and up can dive in with the sharks and other creatures.

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Calendar | August

Festivals and Fairs

Ongoing Events SEASONAL OFFERINGS

Backcountry Outdoor Movies Through Sept. 4. Fri-Sat, 8:30pm. Spread out under the night sky and in front of a giant screen; enjoy family-friendly films including Up, The Princess Bride, Moana, The Goonies, and more. Grab some grub from rotating food trucks dishing out grilled cheese, burgers, cheesesteaks, and farm fresh fare. Find tickets online.

Proceeds benefit the Backcountry Conservation and Education Fund. $25 per vehicle, $35 per person adult-only movies (includes ticket, dinner, and two beers). Backcountry Base Camp, Highlands Ranch. hrcaonline.org

Kids are welcome to enter a cosplay contest at the Colorado Springs Comic Con. City Park Jazz Through Aug. 8. Sun, 6-8pm. Celebrate a community staple that began in 1986. Local musicians bring their talents to City Park, and thousands of neighbors gather to watch, dance, eat, and socialize. This year will include a handful of vendors and food trucks, plus safety protocols for good measure. Enjoy a lineup of artists including Brass Band Extravaganza, the El Chapultepec All Stars, and Cast Iron Queens. City Park Pavilion, Denver. cityparkjazz.org Colorado Renaissance Festival Through Aug. 22. Sat-Sun, 10am-6pm.

Walk through pathways filled with artisans of ancient crafts and enjoy humorous and awe-inspiring shows.

Try roast turkey legs, fresh baked goods, and other food and drink items. Check online for special themed weekends. $25 adult, $11 youth ages 5-12; free age 4 and under.

Discounted tickets available at all King Soopers locations. Colorado Renaissance Festival, Larkspur. coloradorenaissance.com

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Crested Butte Music Festival July 23-Oct. 1. Event dates and times vary. Join the Festival in its 25th year of presenting world class music in settings throughout the Gunnison Valley. This season features a new singer songwriter camp, music and movie events, educational camps, and lectures for all ages. Fans of classical, bluegrass, gypsy and New Orleans jazz, and indie rock will enjoy performances of their favorite music style. Free for many programs; $25-$40 concerts, youth ages 7-17 go free to concerts with purchase of an adult ticket; $125$200 special events. Locations across the Gunnison Valley, Crested Butte. crestedbuttemusicfestival.org Palisade Peach Festival Aug. 19-22. Event times vary, see online for a detailed schedule. Come hungry for all things peachy. Sign kids up for peach eating contests.

Enjoy an ice cream social and dance, orchard tours, fun run, parade, and market. $25 Family Pass (two adults and four children age 12 and under), $10 adult Fri-Sat pass, $7 adult Sat. pass; $5 youth age 6-12 Fri-Sat pass, $3 child Sat. pass; free age 5 and under. Downtown Palisade. palisadecoc.com

Colorado Parent | August 2021

City Park Farmers Market Through Oct. 30. Sat, 8am-1pm. Enjoy the city’s great outdoors and connect with a line-up of 60+ Colorado-based food startups, established brands, and artisans. Support long-standing local producers as well as startups that just launched in the past year. Check out a schedule of entertainment, including yoga and music, online. Dogs welcome.

Free entry, vendor prices vary. City Park Denver. cityparkfarmersmarket.com

Civic Center EATS Through Sept. 30. Tue-Thu, 11am-7pm. Enjoy local food truck treats at Denver’s Civic Center for lunch or dinner three days a week. Truck schedules and menus, as well as an option to preorder, are online. Vendor prices vary. Civic Center Park, Denver. cceatsmenu.com

Concerts in Clement Park Through Aug. 12. Thu, 7pm.

Lay a blanket or set some lawn chairs down, gather with family and friends to enjoy a series of outdoor concerts.

Glass containers prohibited; dogs are welcome on leashes. All ages. See the website for full details. Free. Grant Family Amphitheater at Clement Park, Littleton. ifoothills.org

Oct. 23. Sat, 9am-2pm. Find what’s fresh at the local farmers market; make a reservation or walk-up to the event throughout the summer.

Some amenities such as live music, market bucks, and pet allowances are suspended until further notice. Free entry. Denver Union Station, Denver. bcfm.org

Family-friendly Matinee Shows: The Secrets of Gravity Through Aug. 28. Sat, 1pm and 3pm screenings. Find out why things fall to the ground. Twelve-yearold Luke sneaks into the Albert Einstein Museum where he meets ALBYX3, a small robot who knows all about Einstein’s theories. ALBY takes Luke on a journey through space and time during which they uncover the secrets of gravity and learn about friendship and imagination. $10 adult, $7 youth, student, seniors, military. Fiske Planetarium, Boulder. colorado.edu

Family-friendly Matinee Shows: Kaluoka’hina, The Enchanted Reef Through Aug. 28. Sat, 1pm and 3pm screenings. Dive into the vastness of Earth’s oceans. This enchanted reef’s magic protects it from being discovered by humans. When a volcano erupts, the spell is broken.

It’s up to the young sawfish Jake and his pal Shorty to restore the magic and save the reef. Age 4 and up. Find tickets online. $10 adult, $7 youth, student, seniors, military. Fiske Planetarium, Boulder. colorado.edu

Stanley Farm & Flea Through Aug. 27. Fri, 9am-1pm. Enjoy the offerings of 20-plus vendors from around the area and 50-plus Stanley tenants, fresh produce and libations, live entertainment, and more. Pack up the kids, grab a friend or two, and get shopping. Free entry, vendor prices vary. Stanley Marketplace, Denver. stanleyfarmandflea.com NATURE PROGRAMS AND CLASSES

Drop-in Discoveries Ongoing. Third Tue, 10-11am.

Experience nature’s surprises with

Colorado Day: History Colorado Center.

Colorado Springs Comic Con Aug. 27, 2-9pm; Aug. 28, 9am-7pm; Aug. 29, 9am-5pm. Get ready for the biggest pop culture convention in the Springs. Featuring celebrities from all genres of TV, movies, cartoons, and comic art; bring a camera and autograph notebook. Find toys, comics, and collectibles among the

rows of vendors. $75 adult (weekend), $25-$35 adult (single day), $30 youth ages 6-12 (weekend), $10-15 youth ages 6-12(single day) Chapel Hills Mall, Colorado Springs. cscomiccon.com

Bands on the Bricks Through Aug. 11. Wed, 6-9pm. Enjoy a variety of musical performances from local artists while dancing under the stars. All ages. No reservations required. See online for details. 1300 Block of the Pearl Street Mall, Boulder. boulderdowntown.com

Denver Union Station Farmers Market Through

Calendar | August

hands-on programming featuring a range of nature topics. All ages.

Majestic View Nature Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Evenings al Fresco Through Aug 30. Select Mon and Wed, 4:30-8:30pm. Stroll through the beauty of the Gardens, your experience enhanced by small, socially distanced performances from ensembles or individual musicians. Reserve tickets online. Free with admission: $15 adult, $11.50 seniors and military, $11 ages 3-15 and student, free age 2 and under. Denver Botanic Gardens York Street. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Farm Animals of the Prairie Aug. 4-29. Wed and Fri, 5-6:30pm; Sun, 9-10:30am. Take a journey back through time and explore the essential role of farm animals to early pioneers on the prairie. Enjoy a wagon ride to the sod village, and an opportunity to feed and interact with animals. All ages. Register online. $10, includes feeding farm animals, interactive program, and prairie wagon ride, free children age 1 and under.

Plains Conservation Center, Aurora. botanicgardens.org

LandMark Through Oct. 18.

Follow the work of 10 accomplished Colorado artists through site-specific installations in parks throughout Lakewood. Each piece addresses environmental issues, highlighting, for example, how the land has changed or a previously overlooked aspect of the location. Find a detailed schedule online. Various locations around Lakewood. lakewood.org

scavenger hunts, field equipment rentals, games, and activities for both kids and adults. Later end-times, fire pits, and s'mores are available during select weeks. Visit the Center’s Facebook page for updates. Bluff Lake Nature Center, Denver. blufflake.org

Enjoy a live storytime experience from the comfort of your home. Sing songs, bounce to rhymes, and spend time with other young families. For babies and toddlers ages 0-2 and their caregivers. Register online. arapahoelibraries.bibliocommons.com

CLASSES, CLUBS, AND PROGRAMS

VIRTUAL Denver Children’s Choir Fall 2021 Open Auditions By request throughout

Adventures in the Rainforest Art Club Through Oct 6. Wed, 4:30-5:30pm. Take a journey through tropical rain forests to see the animals that live in them (macaws, monkeys, and tigers). Get creative with drawing, sculpting, and painting. Bring your after school snack. Beginners are welcome. Ages 6-14. Register online. $90 for 10 weeks. Majestic View Nature Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

VIRTUAL Baby & Fourth Trimester Cafe Through Aug. 25.

Wed, 10-11:30am. Discuss topics including adjusting to parenthood, nutrition, baby wearing, sleep and routines, formula and breastfeeding, returning to work, and childcare.

Breastfeeding pillows provided (when in-person). While Baby Café is online, HIPPA-compliant video calls with a lactation specialist will be conducted. jccdenver.org VIRTUAL Baby Storytime at Home Ongoing. Sat, 10-10:30am.

Aug. Share your gift for singing with the Denver Children’s Choir. The choral ensemble includes kids with many ability levels. The audition process starts with an online form and then a phone or online meeting.

A DCC conductor will use casual vocal exercises and conversation to assess the ensemble fit. DCC does not turn children away from their programs. Rehearsals take place at Denver’s First Mennonite Church and Park Hill United Methodist Church. Ages 6-18. Free audition; $600-$1,220 per semester (sliding scale and financial aid available). denverchildrenschoir.org VIRTUAL First Friday

Youth Phoenix Rising Workshop Ongoing. Fri, 6-6:30pm.

Hear from youth poets who are part of the Art from Ashes programs.

Participants ages 12-24 can sign up and get paid to perform on

the organization’s Instagram Live (@afaphoenix). artfromashes.org

Front Range Fables Through Aug. 7. Sat, 10am. Enjoy a series of plays for young audiences written by local playwrights and based on historical events from the Pikes Peak region. Titles include The Tale of the Bloomer Girl, To Slay the Dragon, and The Stone Garden.

Hands-on art activities will be available. See website for dates and locations of each performance.

Locations across Colorado Springs. fac.coloradocollege.edu

Kids Art Nite Aug. 6 and 21 (grades 1-5), 6-8pm; Aug. 14 and 28 (grades pre-K-K), 4-6pm. Leave your kiddos at the studio for an art experience while you enjoy a relaxing evening out. Reservation required. $35. artSPARK Creative Studio, Littleton. artsparkcreative.com

Music Together Demo Class Ongoing by appointment.

Plant the seeds for musical growth through singing, movement, and instrument play. Mixed age classes; sibling welcome. For infants-age 8.

Reservations required. Free for first class. Boulder and Northern Colorado. mountainsongmusic.com

Prarie: Fendi Despres.

Star K Kids Aug. 5-26. Thu; 9:30-10:30am, 11am-noon. Discover Aurora's true nature through puppets, interactive activities, and discovery time on the trail. This program will be done in person and is limited to 15 people (adults and children). Age 5 and under. Register online. Morrison Nature Center, Aurora. auroragov.org Weekend Welcome Booth & Family Adventure Days Through Aug. 28. Sat, 9:30am-3pm. Drop-in to the Bluff Lake Nature Center and find free giveaways,

Learn how animals helped pioneers on the prairie and get a taste for farm life with hands-on activities at the Plains Conservation Center.

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Calendar | August

FEMPower: Youth On Record.

Ongoing Events Music for Sanity’s Sake Ongoing. Thu, 4-5pm. Connect with other creatives in a safe space where you can talk about music that helps you make sense of the world, try out free tools to build your artistry, and practice stress management. Ages 14-20.

Register online. Youth on Record, Denver. youthonrecord.org

Open Studio Through Aug. 7. First two Fri, 12:30-2pm and 2:30-4pm; second and fourth Sat, first and third Sun, 10-11:30am. Experiment, play, tinker, invent, and create with or without the kids at artSPARK studio.

All ages. Reservation required. $18. artSPARK Creative Studio, Littleton. artsparkcreative.com

Pee Wee Art Ongoing. Wed, 4:30-5:30pm. Parents, introduce your preschooler(s) to the arts and assist with their creative process. At each program, your little artist will be introduced to a new art medium and technique: drawing, painting, sculpture, and more. They’ll come home with their own works of art. $25. Curtis Center for the Arts, Greenwood Village. greenwoodvillage.com VIRTUAL Queer and Trans

Femme musical artists in training enjoy community and skill building at Youth On Record's FEMpowered group. and whole body learning through the pages of a storybook. Grades K-1. Register online. $20 per class. denvercenter.org

Young Voices of Colorado New Singer Auditions Through Aug. 31.

Drop in to a social support group for LGBTQ youth ages 12-18. Contact Jenna, Out Boulder’s Youth Program Manager, at jhowerton@outboulder.org. bocoyouthevents.org

See online for open audition dates throughout the summer. Children who love to sing are encouraged to audition for the children’s choir. Ages 7-14. No audition needed for ages 5-6. Sign up online. Young Voices of Colorado, Englewood. youngvoices.org

Rocky Mountain Goat Yoga at Four Mile Park Through Aug

Youth On Record FEMpowered Ongoing. Wed,

29. Dates and times vary, see online for details. Combine a beautiful and historical setting with healthy movement and laughter. Rocky Mountain Goat Yoga and Four Mile Historic Park have teamed up to bring visitors a unique experience. Find tickets and a schedule of yoga sessions for various ages online. $25-$30. Four Mile Historic Park. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

4-5pm. Shape and pursue your own artistic vision alongside encouraging peers and music industry professionals. Join weekly virtual gatherings for creative femme-identifying folks. Enjoy periodic networking opportunities and workshops. Ages 14-20. Register online. Youth on Record, Denver. youthonrecord.org

Youth Group Ongoing. Thu, 4:30pm.

VIRTUAL Summer Story Time

Youth On Record Open Lab Ongoing. Fri, 3:30-5:30pm;

Through Aug. 5. Tue, 10-11am. Young actors, join in virtual pretend play that activates the imagination and emerging literacy skills. Engage in story, craft,

Sat, 11:30am-2:30pm. Interested in creating music, learning about the business/marketing side, hearing from guest speakers, and being

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Colorado Parent | August 2021

part of a community of like-minded individuals? Participate in music seminars and workshops for youth, led by local professionals. Ages 14-20.

Register online. Youth on Record, Denver. youthonrecord.org VIRTUAL Writing for Happiness and Stress Relief

Ongoing. Sessions for youth ages 12-14 and 15-18 alternate most Sundays; 3:30pm. Get to know your inner creative writer and discover how the practice can reduce anxiety and increase happiness and resilience.

Make gratitude lists, take mindfulness journaling walks, share challenges and success stories, set goals, and more.

Register online. lighthousewriters.org MUSEUM MEANDERINGS

Birdly Virtual Reality Experience Ongoing. Daily, 9am-5pm; Fri, 9am-9pm. Hop on the Birdly simulation flyer with head-mounted VR display to get a pterodactyl's-eye view of a prehistoric landscape. Riders will experience multi-sensory elements such as headwind simulation, 3D audio, and visual impact. Guests must have a 48-inch wingspan to fly, face coverings must be worn, and guests using wheelchairs must transfer to ride. Denver Museum of Nature

and Science. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Borderlands of Southern Colorado Ongoing. History Colorado’s exhibit centers Chicano, Indigenous, and Mestizo perspectives on the shifting geopolitical history of southern Colorado. It’s rich in oral histories and first-person accounts, and will be a core, ongoing exhibition.

History Colorado Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Colorado in the Present Tense Through Aug. 22. Tue-Fri, noon-7pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-5pm.

Artists of Colorado are absorbing, responding to, and reimagining an upended world with the pressing issues of COVID-19, Black Lives Matter, climate change, and more. This exhibition presents commissioned work and reframes existing projects from four Colorado-based artists Narkita Gold, Rick Griffith, Nathan Hall, and Maia Ruth Lee. $10 adult, $7 college student/senior/teacher/ military, free age 13 and under and members. Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver. mcadenver.org

Drawing Parallels: Community Art & Artifacts from 2020 Through Sept. 17.

Calendar | August

Explore the relationships between simultaneous events—from world wars, to movements for civil rights, to pandemics—in Boulder’s past and present. The exhibit includes art gathered from the community that encapsulates and evokes the events of 2020. Museum of Boulder. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Each/Other Through Aug. 22.

10am-5pm. Marie Watt (Seneca, Scottish, and German) and Cannupa Hanska Luger (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Lakota, and European), two leading Indigenous contemporary artists, explore the collective process of creation in this exhibition featuring 26 mixed media sculptures, wall hangings, and large-scale installation works. Denver Art Museum. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Five Points Plus: Neighborhood Memory Project Through Nov. 1. Daily,

Makerspace: Build! Ongoing.

People of all ages can explore historybased questions through creative, hands-on opportunities in the History Colorado Center’s makerspace.

Develop a better understanding of Denver’s built environment through designing and creating your own cardboard building and add it to an imagined, communal city. History Colorado Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Memorial Cranes Through Sept. 17. Sun-Mon, Thu-Sat, 9am-5pm; Wed, 9am-8pm. The Memorial Crane Project began as a self-care ritual during the pandemic and resulted in a beautiful and sobering art installation honoring lives lost to the COVID-19 virus. See 10,000 of the paper birds hanging at the Museum of Boulder and scan a QR code to hear precious memories of lost loved ones. Museum of Boulder. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Memory Mirror Ongoing.

first conceptualized in Latin America, magical realism infuses reality with elements of the fantastical. Ndzube’s pieces include vibrant paintings and sculptures, some of which transform from two dimensional to three dimensional works of art. Denver Art Museum. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Step into this immersive installation and explore your relationship with memory through animation, dioramas, and interactive storytelling.

Designed to evoke the memory of a relative’s living room, Memory Mirror will transform the museum’s Precourt Family Discovery Hall into a surreal domestic den. Denver Art Museum. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

SOMOS Through Aug. 21. Tue-Fri,

Numbers in Nature: A Mirror Maze Through Sept. 19.

Daily, 9am-5pm. Guests can create, manipulate, and experience patterns as they explore the ways nature organizes itself and inspires human designs such as the Parthenon in Greece and Denver’s iconic "Big Blue Bear." Identify patterns in music, art, architecture, and even your own body.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Oracles of the Pink Universe Through Sept. 12. Daily, 10am-5pm.

Explore the interplay between magical realism and history through the works of South African contemporary artist Simphiwe Ndzube. A genre

Memory Mirror: DenverArt Museum

10am-5pm. Take in the collective memory of an important Denver neighborhood: Five Points. Enjoy a mural by artist Adri Norris, artifacts from Five Points eras, a sound

installation featuring community storytellers, photos, and a soundtrack

by KUVO radio. History Colorado Center. See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

noon-6pm; Sat, noon-5pm. Museo de las Americas joins forces with the Latina Safehouse and Art + Color to bring a full exhibition about domestic violence, resilience and healing. $8; $5 students, artists, veterans, seniors; free age 13 and under and members.

Museo de las Americas, Denver. museo.org

Stonehenge Through Sept. 6.

Daily, 9am-5pm; Fri, 9am-9pm.

Explore Stonehenge’s story, its change and evolution, through hundreds of artifacts and modern science.

Learn where, when, why, and how Stonehenge was built 4,500-5,000 years ago. Admission plus special ticket cost (see website for details).

Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

See Where the Kids Are, page 41.

Van Gogh Alive Through Sept. 26. Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu; 10am-8pm; Fri-Sat, 10am-9pm.

Surround yourself with Van Gogh’s masterpieces through lights, sounds, and smells accompanying oversized artworks. $35 and up. The Hangar at Stanley Marketplace, Denver. denvercenter.org

Viral Influence: Art in the Time of Coronavirus Through Aug. 22. Mon-Fri, 11am-7pm; Sat, 10am-4pm; Sun, noon-4pm. View what local artists created during the pandemic, some in direct response to changing imagery of society, and others responding to loss of studio space and supplies. The artworks from this time capture the impact of the pandemic on individuals and communities. Reserve a time to walk through the gallery online. Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada. arvadacenter.org

The new Memory Mirror installation at the Denver Art Museum mimics a groovy living room in which visitors reminisce.

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Roundup

Zip line: Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus.

Zip, Zip, Hooray!

Little thrill seekers can test their courage on the zip line in the Children's Museum of Denver Joy Park.

Zip line opportunities for all ages of adventurous kids.

By Lydia Rueger

T

here’s just something magical about your feet dangling in the air as you zip down a cable, whether high above the treetops or in an indoor play space. Check out these options for zip lining in Colorado, for tentative toddlers to thrill-seeking teens.

visitors can add the trekking course, ninja course, climbing wall, and rappelling stations. $89. Castle Rock. theedgezip.com

MY GYM CHILDREN’S FITNESS CENTER Kids ages six months to 10 years can try out indoor zip lining for the first time alongside trained staff. It’s offered on a rotating basis as part of members’ gymnastics classes, open play times, and birthday parties. $79 to $119 per month membership depending on location; ask about discounted trial offers. Arvada, Highlands Ranch, and Castle Rock. mygym.com

DENVER ADVENTURES Kids age five and up will get a full zip line experience on lines ranging from 850 to 1,900 feet and reaching speeds up to 60 mph. Younger kids zip in tandem with another child, a professional guide, or a parent, as long as their combined weight doesn’t exceed 210 lbs. (For safety reasons, tandem combinations will be decided on the day of your tour, based on weather and other conditions.) The 6-Line Zip line Adventure Tour (two and a half hours) is the most popular; consider the 4-Line tour (less than two hours) for younger kids. $79.99 to $99.99. Conifer. denveradventures.com

AVA COLORADO ZIPLINE The Cliffside Zipline tour for age six and up allows kids to choose from six different courses, built into the

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side of a cliff. The half-day adventure features suspended bridges, Surf Zip (riding along a cable standing on a secure wooden base), and Dual Race Line, during which kids can challenge a friend. The weight requirement is 40 pounds. $89 to $119. Idaho Springs. coloradozipline.net THE EDGE The Edge offers a two-and-a-half to three hour zip line adventure for anyone 70 to 250 pounds. After a moderate hike to a platform, try out 10 different zip lines reaching speeds up to 50 miles per hour, 110 feet in the air over the Colorado countryside. For additional fees,

Colorado Parent | August 2021

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF DENVER AT MARSICO CAMPUS Dueling zip lines are a feature of the Children's Museum outdoor Joy Park space, included with admission.

There’s no age limit for these two tame lines located parallel to one another. They are designed so that kids can race again and again. $12 to $14, free under age one and members.

Denver. mychildsmuseum.org URBAN AIR ADVENTURE PARK Kids 48 inches and taller can strap into Urban Air’s Sky Rider and zigzag along an indoor course, no physical skills required. Combine Sky Rider fun with a day of play including trampolines, a climbing wall, warrior obstacle course, laser tag, and more. $20 to $33, prices vary by location. Westminster, Denver, Littleton, Aurora, and Fort Collins. urbanairtrampolinepark.com

IN-DEPTH REPORTING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES

We help kids get back to being kids.

For children with asthma, allergies, respiratory and pulmonary illness, and those suffering from persistent symptoms of COVID-19, hope is right here in Denver.

At National Jewish Health, the nation’s leading respiratory hospital, our pediatric specialists incorporate the latest research and treatments to help kids of any age get back to being kids.

We breathe science, so you can breathe life.

To book an appointment for your child, njhealth.org. call 800.621.0505 or visit njhealth.org