Dreamers, Doers and Daredevils The Youth of Crested Butte By Kendra walker
Crested Butte is not just an outdoor playground for adults, and the kids raised in this valley are a different breed of adventurers. The community provides a safe space for kids to explore and seek opportunities in all shapes and sizes, and the bold and fearless youth of this town have shown time and time again to be the next generation of movers and shakers. Tucker Brown recently moved to the valley with his family, and loves the small-town community that Crested Butte offers for his children. “I wanted to get to a small town with my kids and this is the place we wanted to be,” he says. “I love the mountain town community and the teachers and school system here are awesome. Crested Butte offers a lot of opportunities and easy access to the outdoors, and you have the freedom to let your kids get out and roam.” The Crested Butte Community School has earned its reputation as a high-level educational institution in recent years, ranking highly in the state and nation for test scores, graduation rates and college prep. The school has been steadily growing over the past several years and attracts high-achieving students in both academics and athletics. This year the Gunnison Watershed School District, in collaboration with Gunnison County Health and Human Services, led the way in establishing health and safety protocols and online learning procedures for operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts allowed students to safely go back to in-person learning and even received recognition from Colorado Governor Jared Polis for serving as a model for schools across the state. “It really is a testament to the hard work of our whole team - staff, teachers and families,” says district superintendent Dr. Leslie Nichols. “Our partnerships with the entire community continue to be essential in making all of this work. We’re keeping the safety of the kids at the forefront of every decision we’re making, and our mission remains to ensure that all students are successful.” Spend a day at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) and you’ll spot incredible talent in miniature form, as the youth athletes of this town can often rip harder than the adults. The elementary school’s Ski for PE program incorporates downhill skiing into the curriculum and takes the students to ski and ride at CBMR for weekly gym classes. Kids also have various opportunities to develop their ski and snowboard abilities through youth programs like the competitive Mountain Sports Team, Mountain Adventures and the Crested Butte Snowsports Foundation. 8 crestedbuttesothebysrealty.com
