MOUNTAIN PARENT – Spring 2022 by MOUNTAIN PEARL Magazine

MOUNTAINPARENT R O A R I N G

F O R K

VA L L E Y,

SPRING

C O L O R A D O

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Spring MOUNTAINPARENT HERE FOR THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE. SPRING 2022

ISSUE 25

50 MAKE PLANS MARCH APRIL MAY

41 MP’s

LAST-MINUTE SPRING BREAK

LAST-MINUTE PACKING

MP’s Mother’s Day tribute to RF Valley Mompreneurs. This year, our celebration brings us to Spring Café for tea time with motherdaughter duos who help

TRAILS & TRAVEL It’s okay if the adults in your child’s life need to work throughout school holidays. Here’s a map of nearby destinations for quick desert getaways.

GEAR UP

Maile Spung knows a thing or two about how to pack on the fly. Here’s a list of items you can find locally for equipping your trip to the desert.

ANNUAL SUMMER CAMP

PLANNER

MOMPRENEURS

looking back on the somewhat distant past as we look forward to 5POINTS FILMFEST,

of Mompreneurship. (5Points Filmfest)

Spring

COMMUNITY 9

IN SEASON

LOOKING BACK

WILL GRANDBOIS shares a few of his favorite childhood landmarks and seasonal occasions.

HELPING HANDS

ANDY ZANCA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM

Q&A with BETH WYSONG of AZYEP, giving radio broadcasting skills to local kids .

GOOD SPORTS

COMPETITIVE CLIMBING

Birds of

CRMS CLIMBING TEAM members MAKAI YLLANES and MAX SEITELHAYES give us a primer on the art and practice of sport climbing.

FEATHER

MAKE PLANS

CALENDAR EVENTS

Plus classes, spring break camp, free activities, school happenings, and new takes on old traditions.

MEET OUR PEOPLE

Homelife professionals, local retailers, wellness providers, and schools – with an update on upcoming spring enrollment dates and details.

UP NEXT

Summer s

SAY HELLO MOUNTAINPARENT.COM

“MOM & POPS”

PUBLISHER

KATHRYN CAMP Kathryn@MountainParent.com illustrations: EL ANA ROYER Lilybart

MOUNTAINPARENT.COM 44

SUCH AS IT IS …

The opinions and views expressed by contributors to MOUNTAIN PARENT are not necessarily those of the Publisher. Mountain Parent LLC is registered with the State of Colorado. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without permission is prohibited.

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Dear READERS, My youngest turns on the blinker, checking the rearview, side mirrors, my seat belt. He waits until a pedestrian one block away turns the corner – before maneuvering extremely slowly out of a parallel spot in front of our house. His learner’s permit sits on the center console. Colorado’s Graduated Driver’s License process is designed to slow down our teenagers’ race toward independence. Kids cannot walk into the DMV on their sixteenth birthday, simply take a written and operational test, then walk away in unleashed freedom with the keys to the road – as most parents of today once did. Nowadays, teen drivers must complete 30 hours of classroom instruction before holding their learner’s permit for one full calendar year. They must log 50 hours of supervised daytime driving plus 10 hours of parentally-gripped nighttime driving. You download an app on your child’s phone. It counts the minutes, tracks miles on a GPS, and reports excessive speeds. In other words, it does what parents have been attempting to do for time immemorial – it sees exactly where our teenagers are and how fast they’re moving.

COVER STORY

ELANA ROYER

of LILYBART, an Aspen greeting card and paper-art line created to raise awareness of Cystic Fibrosis.

Communication theorist Marshall McCluhan’s words whisper to me as we crawl (appropriately) through our neighborhood. “We look at the present through the rear-view mirror,” McCluhan wrote in 1964. At this moment in mid-February 2022, the drumbeat of war in Europe beats loudly. A global pandemic is old news, and the phenomenon of weaponized misinformation is changing how Americans relate to one another. How does one attempt to parent through such a time? I have no answers. This feels like the prologue to many a devices in our pockets, one of which is aware that my son has lurched to a stop. I resist the urge to Momsplain the rules of the four-way intersection. Instead, I consciously shift my thoughts to the white light, my mother-in-law Burr, and the morning when I strapped my eldest son into his car seat to ride in another mom’s car up this same road. They drove away and I crumbled, feeling gutted by this enormous yet mundane leap of faith.

contemplative, at one with the world. I looked at this tree as her escape from

on what you’re worried about, you might manifest that instead. Train your mind to see the best outcome. Your thoughts are the only thing you can control.” (Thank you, Burr.) Burr’s advice feels timely while this Ukrainian episode plays out on the world stage, while my baby prepares to turn left onto the highway. We both tense up through a teachable moment as a driver passes us on the right-hand shoulder, impatient with our caution. What would Burr do? I’ve been asking this a lot lately as I transition from my four-year tenure as MP’s editor into a new role as publisher. I ask this silently of all of my matriarchs these days – of my friend and MP’s previous publisher Lauren Suhrbier; of my mother Betty, my grandmothers Catherine and Ethel, and my mom’s Aunt Hazel. I’ve always asked this of my honored in this edition. What would Burr, Lauren, Betty, Catherine, Ethel, Hazel, and the great KT do? Now, inspired by our Mother’s Day feature, I can add more empowering women to my list. I wish I could have them all here with me as we cross the county line speed velocity ages me more quickly than any parental milestone thus far. “Am I a good driver?” he asks. “You’ve got this,” I tell him. “I’ve got you in the white light.”

Kathryn Camp Publisher

In this springtime season of rebirth, all of these images come together

“And a parenting magazine isn’t really in my... wheelhouse,” Will Grandbois said kindly before agreeing to help. We had a hunch that although Will is not your go-to guy on parenting topics, he would cinch this short-term gig. Will grew up here in the newspaper crowd of the nineties, the son of Rebecca Young, co-founder of the Valley Journal. So it’s little wonder that he has a journalist’s knack for pinpointing details and a native-born’s connection with this place. both nostalgic and practical. Since we invite student authors to contribute to most editions, this stint may have reminded Will of his days as Rampage editor at Roaring Fork High School. He brought in CRMS Climbing Team members Max Seitel-Hayes and Makai Yllanes to develop a co-authored piece about the Valley’s competitive climbing scene. He also did a Q&A with Beth Wysong of the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program, the Valley organization that gives kids a way to step into broadcast journalism. After RFHS, Will earned a BA in Anthropology from CU Boulder – while simultaneously running The Sopris Sun’s website. Then he came home to Carbondale, where he worked as a beat reporter at the GSPI until taking the entertainment desk there. Most recently, Will served for four years as the editor of The Sopris Sun. He transitioned to freelancing during the pandemic.

WILL GRANDBOIS GUES T EDITOR

Which led to this new résumé item, a side hustle at a parenting magazine. But then again, MP isn’t about how to parent. It’s about how to grow up here – something that Will knows a lot about. By the way, Jorie DeVilbiss deserves credit for styling Will’s baby Elvis look. (photo: Rebecca Young)

With GRATITUDE RYAN CAMP

MAKE PLANS EDITOR He calls it child labor. But at MP, we call it a family business. Before heading to college at CSU, Ryan delivered magazines, picked up lunch for photoshoots, and worked occasional hours researching events and editing videos for our social feed. When it became necessary to reimagine our website, Ryan researched, took tutorials, charted a plan, and got it done over his winter break. We launched MP’s new site this January and promptly offered him a real position with a real paycheck. It’s not child labor anymore. Because he’s proven that he’s not a child anymore either.

SARAH KUHN

MP PHOTOGRAPHER Sarah inspires us with her ideas, her artistic eye, and – as her work illustrates – her ability to capture an authentic face. Our annual Mother’s Day photoshoot has evolved over the years due to Sarah’s collaboration, and each time, we seem to enjoy the conversations with our honorees as if it’s a social gathering rather than a workday. Which is the gift of working with talented, engaging people. This year, while toasting the Mompreneur inside each of us, Sarah did something that is rare in photography. She captured the moment while also being integrally part of it.

MAX SEITEL-HAYES

Max Seitel is a sophomore at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale. He was born and raised in New York City, and moved to Glenwood Springs two years ago. Max soon fell in love with the outdoor spaces and took up many new sports. Now he is a competitive climber and mountain biker and can often be found exploring trails and boulders in the Roaring Fork Valley. He and Makai Yllanes collaborated to create an introduction to the Roaring Fork Valley’s climbing opportunities.

MAILE SPUNG gear review on planning a last-minute getaway with kids. She grew up in Aspen at the Ute Mountaineer, with her own personal guide (her dad Bob) who taught her to ski, climb, bike, hike, and love the mountains. After college, she worked as a mountain guide for RMI Expeditions in summers, while ski patrolling in Aspen every winter. She now stays busy running both the Ute and Neptune Mountaineering in Boulder, along with sitting on the ACES Board and the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance Board. When not at work, Maile and her husband Carson, (a Ski Patroller at Snowmass) enjoy “product testing” with their two children, Tanner (3) and Wade (1).

BETH WYSONG

Beth brings a passion for teaching to her role as Exec. Director for the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program. AZYEP is about empowering youth to express themselves, build leadership skills through community broadcasting. She also brings her experiences as an adjunct education professor at CMC, and as a Glenwood Springs Middle School Language Arts teacher. Her career journey has brought Beth from CSU to Santiago, Chili – but she counts as her greatest accomplishment her personal goal of walking 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago trail through France, Spain, and Portugal.

MAKAI YLLANES

Makai Yllanes is the co-author of our Good Sports column on competitive climbing. He is a junior at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale. He is an avid athlete and outdoorsman, running cross country and climbing competitively. In addition to his athletic pursuits, Makai is a talented musician. During the winter season, he is one of the hardest working and most persistent members of the CRMS climb team. He can often be found climbing throughout the Valley, especially at the Monkey House gym in Carbondale.

KEN PLETCHER

PROOFREADER

I N S E A SO N

Looking BACK

It’s not always the things you think your kids will remember and treasure. My favorite childhood places and occasions are perhaps less widely celebrated, but they still bring me a sense of wonder today. WILL GRANDBOIS

I’d be hard-pressed to pick a more idyllic setting for my childhood than the Roaring Fork Valley in the ‘90s. Some of the most unusual aspects of our area — the mom-and-pop businesses, the uncrowded outdoor opportunities, the sense of safety — were lost on me until I had something to compare them to. But there were also plenty of seemingly simple places that felt exciting and special. While Glenwood Springs no longer feels like the big city, nor the hike to Mushroom Rock like climbing a mountain, I can still remember how it felt to be small in a big world. Some standout spots, like Funland, Mark’s Toys and Pets, or Miser’s Mercantile, are now defunct. Others have changed almost beyond recognition. Still, a surprising percentage of the landmarks that dotted my childhood are still going strong. What follows is anything but a comprehensive list. For one thing, I grew up in Carbondale and could easily feature just about every business on Main Street. Instead, I have tried to pick places from around the Valley which conjure strong memories of wonder. I would even go so far as to say they shaped the person I am still becoming. Whether they’ll do the same for the kids of today… I guess you’ll have to let me know. PHOTO: Roaring Fork High School 2021 graduate Miles Heck, at age six, already accustomed to the ways of baby chicks, showing his method of soothing them by petting the foot of an Aruacana hen from the Roaring Fork Valley Co-Op. (Kathryn Camp)

ASPEN MOUNTAIN

ASPEN HIGHLANDS

SNOWMASS SKI AREA BUTTERMILK SKI AREA

2 82

SNOWMASS VILLAGE

ASPEN 82

82 82

BASALT

WOODY CREEK 10 1. WHEELER OPERA HOUSE 320 East Hyman Avenue, Aspen

2. CHALLENGE ASPEN Snowmass Ski Resort

3. EAGLE CREST NURSERY 400 Gillespie Drive, El Jebel

A great venue can really elevate a performance.

While I’m living proof that not every Valley native will take to skiing or snowboarding, my brother has spent quite a bit of time on the slopes — despite having autism and cerebral palsy.

It’s amazing how an errand for an adult can feel like an adventure for a kid. The folks at Eagle Crest seemed to understand that even before their big renovation, with ponds near the entrance and a sandbox tucked in back to be discovered.

been in the old auditorium at Glenwood imagination the way the Wheeler does. There aren’t a whole lot of places in the West that conjure images of Carnegie Hall, but to a kid, it was just as good. I never attended an actual opera there until I was an adult, but everything I did see, from Handel’s Messiah to Emmylou Harris to Ladysmith Black course, big names aren’t touring quite as much these days, but spokesperson Kami Gantt assures me family shows for all ages are still very much in the mix. “For these shows, the Wheeler offers child ticket prices, and has booster seats available for the theater,” she explained. “Usually we aim for family shows to be about an hour to an hour and a half, and aim for matinee or early evening show times, so families can have meals before or after the show.” During COVID, all patrons 12 years and older are required to show proof of vaccination or negative test taken the same day as performance. Masks are required for everyone over the age of two.

IN SEASON

That’s thanks to the efforts of an organization that, name aside, operates primarily out of Snowmass Village. They provide the support necessary to get folks with disabilities up on the slopes. I can only speculate as to the good it did for my brother, but just standing at the foot of the mountain and watching him and his support crew go by was a wonder. As an organization, Challenge Aspen aims to transcend the limits we think we have. The organization has also managed to push through the pandemic with business mostly as usual. According to Development and Marketing Manager Emily Zeis, they have approximately 12 adaptive ski, snowboard, and ski-bike private They run week-long retreats for veterans and have participants from the Locals Ski Racing Team participating in regional, state, and NASTAR National Special Olympic competitions in the next couple of months. “We are incredibly grateful that we have been able to resume full-scale programming,” Zeis said. PHOTOS: Challenge Aspen athlete Tanner Jadwin competing in the 2019 Special Olympics at Sunlight Ski Resort. (Deb Sullivan) Hayes Creek Falls (Julie Lang)

And it’s still working on the next generation, according to manager Diana Mundinger. “Kids seem to really enjoy coming to Eagle Crest,” she observed. “The sand-based play area still exists central to the sales yard where parents can keep an eye out while shopping. The koi in our garden food dispenser is placed there when it is appropriate to feed them.” Of course, a big part of the magic are the plants themselves. As nice as it is to take advantage of the natural beauty around us, it can be even cooler to take a piece of it home. I may have been particularly susceptible — I did go on to work for Planted Earth in the summers — but I’d like to think most kids can see the magic in a sprouting bean. Even if you don’t have much of a green thumb yourself, Eagle Crest offers programs like the annual “Plant a Pot for Mom” workshop on Mother’s Day weekend.

MOUNT SOPRIS SUNLIGHT MOUNTAIN RESORT

MARBLE REDSTONE

133

WILLITS EL JEBEL

CARBONDALE

I-70 4

4. ROARING FORK VALLEY CO-OP 0760 Hwy. 133, Carbondale While most homes can surely accommodate a garden or at least a couple of houseplants, not every parent is ready to take on raising chickens. While my family never had the bandwidth to take on animal husbandry, we did appreciate others’ coops and always made a point of stopping by the Co-Op when the chicks came in. It’s part of a connection to an agricultural heritage of our community. Around mid-March each year, stock tanks full of peeping baby birds pop up next to the registers. They’re not pets, and you’re not supposed to touch them if you’re not buying, but I could still watch them longer than my parents cared to stay in the store. “It’s not just a cute animal; you really need to take care of them,” explained Cynthia Ayala, who orders the chicks. The locallysourced birds they offer now are unusually hearty and tend to grow their feathers in six to eight weeks, but they’ll still need some infrastructure and care. Luckily, the Co-Op has just about everything you need, including knowledgeable staffers like Ayala who can They won’t sell you fewer than three at a time, though — another reminder that they’re not traditional pets.

5. HAYES CREEK FALLS 2 miles south of Redstone Here is an almost unmarked but hardly hidden gem. Located in White River National Forest just up State Highway 133 from Redstone, it lacks a formal recreation area or trailhead. Still, it’s easier access than you might think from the online descriptions of it as a “day hike.” Park on the large pullouts on either side of the road just downstream from the sign. Public Information “the area along the road can be congested so people need to be alert, especially if they have small children.” From there, follow the sound of the falls, which really roar during runoff. It’s a bit mellower in the winter, but the 40-foot plunge is encased in spectacular shimmering ice and the creek below it creates beautiful frozen formations as well. more postcards, there’s something special about the sheer accessibility of Hayes Creek. It’s an easy stop on any trip through the Crystal Valley, and the high rock walls create an insulated, remote feeling despite being just steps off the highway. Sometimes I still pull over on my way by for a little moment of zen.

GLENWOOD SPRINGS

6. GLENWOOD CAVERNS 51000 Two Rivers Plaza Road, GWS These days, you can take a speedy gondola up to the Old-West style village and associated Adventure Park while your friend with a fear of heights and tight spaces relaxes down at Iron Mountain Hot Springs. But before there were rides or a restaurant, the natural wonder of the caves themselves was enough to coax people into a nerve-wracking bus ride to the top of the mountain. Actually, the “Fairy Caves” upper section was an attraction way back in the 1890s — and one You’ll learn all about it if you choose to take the corresponding tour, with the added bonus of a stop at “Exclamation Point” — which features a stunning view into Glenwood Canyon. The lower section, meanwhile, boasts the biggest room and spectacular formations. Ponder the beauty of King’s Row in regular light, black light and complete darkness. If your kid is anything like me, they’ll be trying to replicate the complete lack of light for years to come and asking when they’ll be old enough to don a headlamp and crawl around underground on the wild tour. They might even grow up to be a caver, with the experience to safely and respectfully explore parts of the underground that aren’t on any tour. Or maybe they’ll just come away with a better understanding of the geological processes that shaped our mountain home and an appreciation for the beauty of fragile, ancient things.

MP SPRING 2022

You don’t have to settle to settle down. REDEFINING REAL ESTATE

MONICA VIALL

Monica.Viall@TheAgenc yRE.com 970.319.1119 RE A L ES TAT E WIT H T HE AGENCYRE.C OM

HELPING HANDS: A Z YEP

H E LPI N G H A N DS

Finding YOUR VOICE Q&A BETH W YSONG

AZYEP The Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program with

22 years,

engaging more than

WILL GRANDBOIS

3,500 kids.

Q. WILL GRANDBOIS:

HOW AND WHEN DID AZYEP GET GOING?

Collaborating with more than

A. BETH WYSONG

AZYEP was founded in 2000 by Annemarie Zanca, Licensed Professional Counselor, in honor of her brother Andy Zanca. Andy was a volunteer DJ on KDNK beginning at age nine until his death at the age of 21 in 1998; Andy died by suicide. A child and family therapist at the time, Annemarie recognized the power of radio to help develop self-esteem in young people. and listeners. She formed AZYEP to honor Andy and so that all kids have the opportunity to be on the radio at no cost.

Q. WHAT MAKES YOUTH RADIO IMPORTANT? A. Youth radio is important because it gives kids the opportunity for self-

expression, allowing them to participate in and connect with community conversations. It provides students social-emotional support, leadership opportunities, and technical training. AZYEP is a free program, available to anyone at no cost. We celebrate the diversity of our community and encourage any student to participate, especially those who are bilingual and can contribute to Spanish programming. We recognize that kids need a space to play music and speak freely about their thoughts, ideas, and opinions. AZYEP provides that space with the support of a trusted adult and mentor. In turn, the listening community gains insight into the everevolving youth culture.

Q. IS THIS A COMMON MODEL, OR SOMETHING UNIQUE TO KDNK? A. To our knowledge, AZYEP is unique to KDNK and is the only youth

radio program in the state of Colorado, and potentially the country, that provides prime time radio opportunities to kids. KDNK generously provides more than six hours of airtime each week. Our belief is that AZYEP is a successful model because we are a separate organization from KDNK – the focus on education and kids. AZYEP has attended national and regional conferences to present about youth radio, and often consults with other radio stations about how to implement youth-based programs.

45 teachers in 25 schools in

4 regional school districts.

321 hours of live programming in 2022. 30+ Djs. 5 student interns. 52 kid-focused shows. Kids from Aspen - Parachute, and now

Leadville. Ages 7-18.

Tune into kdnk. Wednesdays 2:oo – 4:oo PM Thursdays 7:oo – 9:oo PM Sundays 2:oo – 4:oo PM

PHOTOS: (Left) Glenwood Middle School student and AZYEP DJ, Zenobia, a.k.a. “DJ Z,”

Student A

LEARN MORE

azyep.org

ouncil and MP SPRING 2022

Aspen Chapel Gallery Upcoming shows

4 Rivers Biennial Juried Show

Art show of valley wide artists from Aspen to Rifle Feb 16 – April 2, 2022 Non-profit Partner: Harvest for Hunger

Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program Newest show:

Kids Corner

A family radio hour produced by elementary students with stories, poetry, and their favorite music.

First Sunday every month. 3:oo - 4:oo PM.

” Language as Art April 6 – May 25, 2022 Non-profit Partner: Aspen Words

Q. WHAT BRINGS KIDS TO YOUR PROGRAM? A. Many DJs get involved because of their interest in music, radio, and

broadcasting. Often, their parents listen to KDNK, or they hear about our apart from their peers or is different from sports or what is offered at school.

Images from our Natural World June 1 – July 9, 2022 Non-profit Partner: EcoFlight

Showing Art from the Roaring Fork Valley for over 36 years.

Aspen Chapel Gallery 77 Meadowood Drive Aspen, Colorado 81611 www.aspenchapelgallery.org 970-925-7184

Located in the Aspen Chapel at the roundabout, the gallery is open daily from 10–5. For more information phone 970-925-7184 or www.aspenchapelgallery.org. Like us on Facebook Follow us on instagram: @theaspenChapelGallery

HELPING HANDS: A Z YEP

Q. WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM KIDS AND PARENTS? A. Students always walk away empowered and say they have a positive

experience. Regardless of how long a DJ stays at AZYEP — one show, one report that being on the radio assists them to speak up more often in class and with their peers. They can also explain how radio helps them feel more connected and that they are positively contributing to the community. Not to mention, students say they have fun while playing music and talking on the radio. When we talk to parents they explain that they see growth in their kids and that they come home happy and excited about learning. Especially during these years of navigating the pandemic, students report that they have an outlet at the radio station; parents mention how being on the radio is a highlight for their children during isolated times.

Q. HOW HAS THE MODEL CHANGED OVER TIME (AND WITH COVID)? A. For the last 21 years, AZYEP has grown from a 30-minute music show

to hosting 6.5 hours per week of music and talk shows in both English and Spanish. In 2007 AZYEP began partnering with teachers to incorporate radio projects into the school experience for kids in grades 2-12. We have now collaborated with over 40 teachers in 25 schools and four school districts, with a goal of recording and broadcasting over 1, 000 kids each school year. In 2015, we implemented a peer mentor program where more experienced radio announcers work alongside younger, developing DJs to produce radio programs. In 2017, we developed a youth news team that meets once a week to produce kid focused public affairs programming. Though our programs slowed a bit when COVID hit, we quickly adapted our curriculum and did our radio shows by the phone with the kids. Truthfully, I feel like we did not miss a beat — we have technology on our side and recorded projects and talk shows by Zoom and the phone. Of course, we missed going into classrooms and being in the studio with our kids face to face, but we made it work and feel even stronger with the new curriculum that can be used to work with kids and interviewees who may not be close in proximity.

GOO D S P O R T S

The Reach ROCK CLIMBING

When climbing made its debut at the 2021 Summer Olympics, more and more people began discovering this exciting sport. Colorado’s climbing scene is especially lively, as it is home to many world-class climbing areas where some of the best climbers in the country found their start.

M A X S E I T E L - H AY E S MAKAI YLLANES Colorado Rocky Mountain School

Through inclusivity and teamwork. There are two competitive youth climbing leagues in Colorado. There is U.S.A. Climbing, a big organization that runs competitions nationwide and forms the U.S. Olympic Climbing Team. And then there is the American Scholastic Climbing League, or ASCL. The ASCL is Colorado’s own high school climbing league. According to Dave Meyer, a coach at CRMS and organizer within the ASCL, “[The ASCL] was a response to the increasing competitiveness of the U.S.A. Climbing format, which we felt was an atmosphere that was not serving students particularly well and emphasized the elite and competition over the best aspects of climbing, which are participation, authenticity, perseverance, trust, community, and connection.” Meyer and other coaches in Colorado chose to “provide an alternative to the very individualistic and hypercompetitive U.S.A. Climbing.” The ASCL is around 14 years old. Its mission: to connect climbers across the state and give them a sense of community and perseverance that goes beyond the competition itself. As the league has grown, it has become more professional and better organized, with competitions now taking place in large commercial gyms, as opposed to smaller school-run walls.

MP SPRING 2022

In the Roaring Fork Valley, the Colorado Rocky Mountain School and Basalt High School both have their own climbing teams that compete. Since 2020, the Basalt High School team has welcomed students from other schools across the Valley, since none of the other public high schools currently have teams. Other schools that compete as a part of the Western Slope region include Montrose, Telluride, Gunnison, Ridgeway, Coal Ridge, Battle Mountain, and Vail Mountain School. Competitions usually take place at commercial gyms, with intricate and thoughtful route settings. These competitions often include both bouldering and top-rope, while others stick to just one discipline. Bouldering is a form of climbing that is performed on a short, 10-20 foot wall without a rope or harness. It is a fun and simple discipline as it is climbing stripped down to its raw essentials. Climbers rely on problem solving and use static movements (slow and controlled), or dynamic movements (powerful and momentum based) to reach the top of the route. Top-rope is a type of climbing in which the climber is securely attached to a rope that passes through an anchor system at the top, and down to a belayer at the foot of the climb. Most top rope walls are between 20 and 40 feet, and require more endurance to complete than short boulders. 30-40 routes are set for the competitions, with problem number one being Each climber must have a witness watch them complete each route, and the a regional competition. The season culminates in the State competition, with over 200 students competing from all across Colorado. These 200 students, while in competition, are all working together to “beat the wall.”

GOOD SPORTS: CLIMBING

YMCA of the Rockies Camp Chief Ouray

Rock climbing is more than just a competition, and more than just a sport. It is a medium of exploration, both of yourself and the great outdoors. The way it is structured invites and encourages teamwork and community, as working together is possibly the most important part of climbing. The high school league is a community that focuses on perseverance, trust, and support. For kids, climbing can be a way to stretch their comfort zones while also giving them the opportunity to safely explore all of the exciting cliffs and walls that seemed otherwise inaccessible. And unlike sports such as baseball or football that for many athletes are exclusively childhood activities, a person can climb for their entire life. They just need a safe way to learn. A good place to start is at one of the many indoor climbing walls in the Valley. Carbondale Recreation Center has an intricate wall that includes offers classes for kids ages 5-13. Classes like these can be great for teaching these kids important lessons in safety and technique that will allow them to advance further. Another great wall in Carbondale is the Monkey House, a high-quality bouldering gym. The Monkey House has a hardworking staff who regularly reset the routes, keeping the gym fresh for returning climbers, and they also have a youth competitive climbing team that competes in the U.S.A. Climbing League. Along with their main wall, the Monkey House facility includes multiple MOON boards (a type of compact training wall for climbers), hangboards, and a weight room.

Where Nature Meets Nurture KIDS NEED TO ROAM Whether backpacking, climbing or hiking, Camp Chief Ouray campers build life-long relationships with friends and the great outdoors.

NATURE | NURTURE | ADVENTURE

campchiefouray.org M P1 2022-CCO-mt-parent-2.7x110.25.indd

SPRING 2022

2/1/22 4:23 PM

Colorado Mountain College has a great climbing gym at the Spring Valley Campus. The large, new gym facility includes both bouldering and roped affordable. As this gym doesn’t offer structured lessons, it’s more suited to kids who already have some experience under their belt. However, it is still a great local gym that offers exciting routes for kids and adults alike.

“

Climbing is vertical

problem solving. It teaches complex decision-making under pressure, establishing a mentality of trying different solutions to solve problems. Resilience and self belief are the two things climbing teaches you every time you leave the ground.”

FABRIZIO Z ANGRILLI The Monkey House, Carbondale

Aspen has two spots for climbing. The Aspen Recreation Center — also known as the ARC — has a 32-foot tower equipped with four autobelays. Climbing shoes, a climbing harness, and a watchful attendant are all included in the cost of daily admission at the ARC. All ages and abilities

The other Aspen climbing location is the Red Brick Recreation Center. The rope setups, and lead routes. The space also includes training equipment with pull-up bars, campus boards, hang boards, and weights. The Red Brick offers beginner youth classes and has cheap climbing shoe rentals. There are various pieces of equipment that are a must for any climber Climbing shoes are much tighter than street shoes. They have a hard and allow people to utilize foot holds that would otherwise be impossible to stand on. Chalk can be found both in solid and liquid forms and is useful for keeping the hands dry and avoiding the sliding that sweat can cause. Luckily for residents of the Roaring Fork Valley, there are multiple places to get these items. In Aspen, The Ute Mountaineer offers all sorts of climbing items, such as shoes, chalk, harnesses, and ropes. Bristlecone Mountain Sports in Willits offers an extensive climbing shoe section as well as harnesses and helmets. In Carbondale, Ragged Mountain Sports offers used gear. And in Glenwood Springs, Summit Canyon Mountaineering offers a whole range of climbing equipment as well. This gear is quite affordable, which can be great for buying low-risk items such as shoes. However, for equipment such as a harness, it is important to buy it new to ensure its safety. One of the best things about climbing is how simple and inexpensive it is. While these gyms do have fees, and safe equipment can be a bit pricey, climbing costs much less than other outdoor sports like skiing or mountain biking. And regardless of the price, the reward for climbing is invaluable. Fabrizio Zangrilli, an accomplished alpinist, climber, and owner of the local Monkey House says, “Climbing is vertical problem solving. It teaches complex decision making under pressure, establishing a mentality of trying different solutions to solve problems. Climbers only want to be stronger physically to solve more complex problems. Resilience and self belief are the two things Climbing teaches you every time you leave the ground.” Climbing teaches kids and adults to overcome their fears and strive to go higher. It allows us all to explore and appreciate the natural world, and it opens the door to one of the most warm and welcoming communities out there.

GOOD SPORTS: CLIMBING

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TRAILS & TRAVEL

Spring Break Family Road Trip

Last-Minute Plans K AT H RY N C A M P

“Spring Break sucks,” my son announced, swimming in the bathtub, too young for this yucky, sucky word, though he spoke it with authority. Like a lot of parents in the Valley, we usually work for most of the springtime school break. That year, we’d scotch-taped together a childcare trade with several other families. I tried talking it up as if this plan was way cooler than Cabo San Lucas. (Three choice words that entered his vocabulary right about the time he adopted sucks.) Our kids would remember this, how lame we were, I realized as I squirted more bubble-bath and whisked it into a froth, thinking. After bedtime stories, I started making phone calls. The parent network here is the glue that holds it all together. By midmorning the next day, I’d mapped out a two-day excursion to see sandhill cranes on their annual springtime migration up the Western Slope of the Rockies. I had such place, a perhaps-ancient landmark in the sandhill crane’s evolutionary journey. Way cooler than Cabo San Lucas. I booked one night at a roadside mom and pop. I sold the idea to my husband, touting how the room came equipped with a kitchenette. No need for a restaurant were going on vacation! Loops on display in a rack on a counter off of the lobby. They'd never imagined such a thing existed. They also found great delight jumping on the janky old mattresses, a game they don't get to do at home. We later walked past a drainage ditch behind the motel to a branches until Rich drove into town to buy them each a rod and a cup of worms. In the late afternoon, we drove up into the hills above Eckert, parked at a pull-off on North shared a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc poured into styrofoam cups from the motel's breakfast station. And we waited. We were the only birdwatchers around, apparently, and I wondered if I’d taken us all out to a cold patch of gravel and crabgrass for a let-down. c minutes, hundreds of exquisitely delicate cranes eased gracefully down. I’ll never forget the excitement in my children's voices as they passed a pair of binoculars back and forth. In all, the whole tableau lasted less than an hour, but those breathless minutes will stay with us forever. Truly. When my kids talk about this road trip, they don’t remember that their entire Spring Break consisted of leaving town for twenty-two hours, a round-trip journey of less than 200 miles. They witnessed something rare and beautiful, and it didn’t suck at all. Since then, we’ve made more last minute travel plans and have taken other extremely short when you get out on the wide-open road with your car loaded with kids, snacks, gear, maybe your dog, and very few expectations.

PHOTO: Farther north on the sandhill migratory path, the Yampa Valley above Hayden, CO hosts an annual Crane Festival every autumn. During the spring, however, they discourage visitors to the area in order to encourage bonded pairs to return to several established crane nests. (Jeff Larson)

I-15 PROVO + SALT LAKE

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I-70

I-70 6

TRAILS & TRAVEL

Spring Break Family Road Trip

Last-Minute Plans

I-15

5 6

LAS VEGAS, NV

8 8

Are we there yet? See if you can follow the path of the Colorado River as it crosses the map.

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LAST-MINUTE PLANS 1

SANDHILL CRANE MIGRATION

CITIES & TOWNS 1

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO

KEN'S LAKE CAMPGROUND

ECKERT, CO

CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

DELTA, CO

SCENIC BYWAY: HIGHWAY 12

MOAB, UT

GRAND STAIRCASE - ESCALANTE

BLANDING, UT

KODACHROME BASIN STATE PARK

HANKSVILLE, UT

BRYCE + ZION DRIVE THRU

BOULDER, UT

MONUMENT VALLEY

PAGE, AZ

ANTELOPE CANYON

CORTEZ, CO

FOUR-CORNERS + SAN JUANS

RIDGEWAY, CO

I-70

3 2

Celebrating

Years

Parent Child Toddlers Pre K Kindergarten Forest Kindergarten Grades st th

Fall ’ 5

Admissions Open

waldorfschoolrf com 13 9

ROADS & HIGHWAYS 1

HWY 82

HWY 163 through

HWY 133

HWY 160 W to Hwy 98

HWY 65

10 HWY 98

HWY 128

11 HWY 160

HWY 191

12 HWY 491 through Cortez to Hwy 145

HWY 95 Trail of the Ancients Scenic Bwy.

13 HWY 145 through the San Juans

HWY 12 Historic Scenic Byway 12

14 HWY 62 to Ridgeway

We ask questions Questions keep us curious creative to answer tomorrow’s unimaginable challenges

Big trips with little people?

Traveling Western byways with children is not for the weak in spirit. It takes nerves of steel to keep driving with a squealing monster kicking your seat. Given the right conditions, I’ve seen miraculous behavior from my kids while on the road, cheerful resilience in some surprisingly tough travel moments. And I’ve also seen them at their appalling worst. Terrible to each other, to us, and to sympathetic strangers at rest stops. It’s taken some time to learn this, so don’t good distance with children comes down to three things.

SNACKS, BOREDOM, AND MOVEMENT.

When we head out on the road, it usually involves a last-minute trip snacks. The more last-minute our plans, the more leeway I seem to have about letting them select items I don't pack in school lunches. As for boredom on the road, I’ve got dear friends who, when theirs were younger, routinely relied on a backseat DVD player for the drive to and from Glenwood Springs. That’s okay. No judgment. We all do what we must to get through the work week, you know? But vacation is different. You don’t want to miss a mile of it. So we play car-color-counting games, and cow-counting, and we try to see if we can spot license plates from every single state. We have discovered audiobooks that every family ought to hear at least once (listed on can now circumnavigate the planet with Siri’s help, there is something about seeing it on paper. The beauty of the topographic hills and illustrations. It gets you looking out the window. Watching for river starting to melt, we look for a place to get out and move. Artfully timed movement on a family road trip is like the Sun Tzu quote: “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without stop kicking your seat as you drive to your ultimate destination.

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PHOTO: The nighttime view from right outside Basin Campground at Kodachrome Basin State Park in Utah. Shakespeare Arch, shown here, crumbled in April of 2019, leaving a pile of red, sandstone rubble in the valley below, but make time for this short hike anyway. It takes off right from the camping area. (Prajit Ravindran)

ECKERT, COLORADO: SANDHILL CRANE MIGRATION

The Audubon Society estimates that a quarter of the world’s population of sandhill c Delta County every Spring. We did this trip before Siri, and we easily found it. Take a right turn onto North Road on your way up to Grand on the reservoir is not an option because it’s on private ranch land. Getting too close is also discouraged during sandhill season, as cars and crowds inhibit the birds from landing. Dates vary year-to-year, the numbers of cranes arriving and departing each day. In 2021, they

KEN’S LAKE CAMPGROUND

It is windblown, offers scant shade, and is less scenic than the more back-pocket destination for a last-minute trip. Online reservations are available through Recreation.gov, with some spots held out for a packed car hoping it all works out.) We’ve arrived on a Spring Break

eat, or explore any of the countless biking, hiking, or climbing routes. This can either make a fun two-to-three day escape, or it can serve as Day One for either of the two following driving routes.

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ROUTE

7 You’ve roughed it for several days camping in the desert. Here’s

HELL’S BACKBONE GRILL

ROADS LESS TRAVELED

James Beard-awarded restaurant where they harvest their meats,

GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT

where you can choose between heading to Las Vegas (another story for another time), or racing home at what will feel like mock speeds

Driving south-southwest, your right-hand view looks broadly down out over the northern boundary of Grand Staircase-Escalante. Next time, you’ll plan a trip back here to explore the miles of endless slickrock, prehistoric sites, and even abandoned Western movie sets.

"TRAIL OF THE ANCIENTS" HWY 95: BUTLER WASH RUINS 5

6 A good place to stretch your legs outside of Blanding after a few

in one of several small towns along this stretch, where during spring,

right off of Highway 95 and walk a half-mile, well-maintained trail to a fenced observation area. In spring, keep your eyes out for yellow and pink blooming cacti. Back on the road, travel along a route that takes

KODACHROME BASIN STATE PARK

Hanksville, stop for gas at a convenience store built into a hole in a mega-large red sandstone wall. Then, take a left-hand turn.

“A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME” SCENIC BYWAY 12 7

yard along your thoroughfare. 6

We discovered this desert oasis while looking for last-minute dogfriendly, trailer-friendly campground options near Bryce Canyon heaven after two-and-a-half hiking days in the desert. Three trails take off from the park, providing some long-distance bike rides with a few technically challenging sections, and a spectacular tour of colorful, monolithic stone spires.

roadways when it was built in 1914. It remains one of the great driving routes in the West. It winds through deep-orange-red desert canyons to (or through) state and national parks, each of which could easily be the star attraction of any weeklong stay in the area.

You will not be able to drive past this park, blithely promising the kids and yourself that you’ll do it next time. Stop. Get out and experience

CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

Canyon anywhere on the planet, and even after you have hiked down

Like any national park, a stay here at a supported campground needs to be planned in advance. But not likely as far out ahead as one must plan in order to camp at Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. You could spend a week here, choosing between more than 20 hikes to petroglyphs, arches, and chimneys. Book a trailer or tent site year-round at the p clearance vehicle and are up for winging it, you can try to snag one of check availability. If Capitol Reef is just a pit stop this time, you can play along a woodsy, Rock Nature Center, or a historic museum build around the wellpreserved remains of an original homestead.

BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

include four family-friendly one-mile-or-shorter trails, as well as steep and challenging full-day hikes.

THE ZION DRIVE-THRU

national park its due attention. However, the drive is well worth the short detour. before entering a long, narrow tunnel, where the darkness is broken by large windows where you can peep out at sheer, granite skyscraper rock walls. Then, it opens up to the lush, green Virgin River Valley. After lunch in the town of Hurricane, take I-15 to I-70, and you’ll be back in

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MOUNTAINPARENT

ROUTE MONUMENT VALLEY

Reef, head to Arizona. This route takes you through the territorial lands of the Navajo Nation, through one of the most photographed landscapes in the world. (See photo on page 25.) When you behold the majestic sandstone castles through your windshield, you might experience deja vu for 40-50 miles because you’ve seen this vista Forest Gump, the original Lone Ranger, and even animated in Cars.)

ANTELOPE CANYON

motorized water activities associated with it. Choose between a handful with camper sites, and multiple privately-owned campgrounds with full can only be visited through guided tours that are permitted by the Navajo Nation, as this park is located on tribal territory and is considered sacred land. Guide services bring you by boat or 4WD truck to two, narrow slot canyons where you disembark and hike through ancient rock formations. respect, an opportunity to experience reverence for the powerful forces of nature that are on glorious display in colorful sandstone.

FOUR CORNERS AND HOME THROUGH THE SAN JUANS 9

You can turn your Desert Southwest tour into a loop by taking an

and the sun as you head north through Ridgeway, passing Orvis Hot might be able to time it just right to catch part of the sandhill crane migration on its annual spring journey.

PHOTO: The number of people allowed into Antelope Canyon each day is limited, so reservations are often made months in advance. However, you should call the list of guide services provided by the Navajo Nation, because, especially during COVID times, large groups will cancel last minute.

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TRAILS & TRAVEL

Spring Break Family Road Trip

Last-Minute Packing Loading up for a getaway with the kids in 3 steps. Gather your essentials for driving, camping, eating, sleeping, and, of course, playing. Figure out what's broken, missing, and replaceable. Ask friends for tips on what has made their lives easier on adventures. Find what you need locally, most likely as a drive-by stop on your way out of town with the truck loaded. Yep, been there too. MAILE SPUNG

SUNDAY AFTERNOONS KIDS PLAY HAT We all want our kids to have the coolest, when that cute trucker hat just doesn’t provide any sun protection for their bald little heads and tender necks? With such intense sunrays at altitude, every mountain kid needs a protective hat. Sunday Afternoons has created the very best hats for kids in the sun. It has a wide brim that turns into a cape in the back for amazing sun coverage, while still taking into account that kids need to move, play, and even sit in strollers and car seats. The fun patterns and colors look super cute on our little ones and help keep this hat from falling into the "super-dweeb" trap of some widebrimmed options. It also has a chin strap for windy days that breaks away for safety and has kept our hats from blowing into the desert on many occasions.

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CAMELBAK MINI MULE all around, but sometimes carrying EVERYTHING gets old. The CamelBak kids to carry their own water. I don’t want to weigh them down and make the adventure too rugged, so this petite pack is perfect. The narrow yolk sits on little shoulders without slipping off, and safety. It can carry up to 1.5L of water (I kids hydrated in the desert is hard to accomplish, but having them access their own bite valve seems to entice them to drink more. Just make sure you have a few extra bite valves to switch out ...because they can get damaged after a day of constant gnawing.

DOMETIC COOLER check. Or so I thought...until I pulled out the dinner I had pre-made and then frozen for a quick bite on the road. Our meal ended up ruined, and made me rethink my hesitancy to invest in a good cooler. Dometic coolers are powered by your car battery (or any and work like a refrigerator to keep your food fresh and your drinks ice cold. The robust design and powerful insulation make it perfect for rugged excursions, balance between cooling and conserving power easy to hone. No more emergency Wendy's stops for this family.

MORRISON OUTDOORS BIG MO SLEEPING BAG There are so many items I use as a parent that make me say “man, bag with arms so your little one doesn't end up wiggling out of their bag and crying in the middle of the night from getting cold. There are 20 and 40 degree options so you can tailor the warmth to the trip you are doing. And, because it mimics the sleep-sacks they are used to, our little ones love getting zipped in and cozy. Who doesn’t love a well-rested and happy camper? (Elise Giordano)

HIGH SOCIETY NORTHSTAR SUP specializing in gear to help you explore the outdoors. Supporting a local business is easy to do when they prioritize customer service and support, and High Society does just that. They make a range of different inflatable help steer you to the right board for your needs. The Northstar HS is a great option for families because of its stability and versatility. The luxurious platform is perfect for having kids (or a furry-friend) on board, or even doing

PHOTO: On the banks of Lake Powell. While out in the desert, keep in mind that paddle boards need protection from the sun. Be you're not out on the water. Under your car will work in the absence of trees. Just be sure you don't forget about it and drive over it. Also, always take time dry off your board before storing it in the travel backpack. (Hunter Baar)

packing a picnic for a mid-float excursion a breeze. The best part is that they include a paddle, pump, repair kit, and even a backpack with your purchase. I guess all they are missing is the picnic lunch.

NEMO HELIO LX PRESSURE SHOWER Everyone has been on a camping trip with a sun shower, then found themselves with no place to hang it, especially in the desert. Shower. It is a dark water bag that will heat in the sun the same way a sun shower will, but it uses a foot pump to create pressure. When you need to hose off your kids after a place it on the ground, stomp on the pump a few times, and squeeze the handle. This simple pressure shower delivers “running needs… washing dishes, kids, dogs, and gear just got a lot easier.

NEMO AURORA HIGH RISE TENT Nemo has taken the best features of its Aurora series tents, and made them more family friendly. The tag line for which is accomplished by using unique angles and steep sides to make sure everyone's personal space has less tent wall encroaching on it. Add in the high rise feature of the four-and-six-person versions, and you have space for dressing, sleeping, playing, and even mom and dad standing upright while battling the nighttime shenanigans. With lower walls made of nylon to keep the sand out (yes, the desert can be windy, especially in the spring) and upper walls of mesh for breathability, this tent provides both protection and stargazing views.

NOCS PROVISIONS STANDARD ISSUE 8 X 25 BINOCULARS Bird-watching isn’t just for grandparents anymore. With the pandemic-fueled rise in ornithology, there is a new focus on adding fun and style to this mellow activity. Now you can gaze in style with waterproof and fog-proof binoculars that come in eight different colors. You can even buy woven and color to your individual kit. And you can score extra points while watching the sandhill crane migration when you bust allowing your kids to align a phone lens with the Nocs Binocular lens for photos and for videos. Because Tik Tok could always use more birding videos.

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SHOTGUN BIKE SEAT FROM KIDS RIDE SHOTGUN Some of my favorite BC (before children) trips have been on bikes, and I dream of using those adventures as a blueprint for making new memories with my kids along for the ride. But sometimes we overestimate our kids' abilities, and the riding is just too

As the queen of procrastination for vacation planning, I have come to appreciate that you don't have to get far away to make memories with your kids. The journey is what it's all about for the little ones, and the desert in our 'backyard' is the

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share your favorite (easy) trails with your kids. It is a front-mounted bike seat that consists of a saddle, foot straps, and a mini-handlebar. and getting the feel of steering while safely sitting on the frame of your bike. It obviously requires you to factor in your ability level and comfort with riding with your child in front of you, but even paved trails are more fun when you get to share the experience from your child’s point of view.

MAILE SPUNG

PHOTO: The Shotgun Pro seat attaches between the stem and seat post of your bike via two quick releases, meaning it's super fast to attach and remove - leaving more time for shredding and smiles, just like Marissa Dastrup and her little one here. Riders share that the position of the Shotgun seat creates an ideal center of gravity, good for both uphill and downhill. (Kaylor Dastrup)

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This past summer the Ascendigo camp continued to impress us with their ability to push kids to their full potential. Our daughter actually climbed a mountain! We would not have tried it with her in our wildest dreams. To find out the team believed so much in her to take her rock climbing made us so happy. Our daughter’s experiences at Ascendigo have made us see the untapped potential she has. We are grateful!” L Y N N E , Ascendigo Parent

“

ACES offers my child a place to actively learn about science and nature with other children in one of the most beautiful settings in Colorado. I love how happy my daughter is when I pick her up from camp, and she loves all the games they play while exploring together. Her time at ACES camp has increased her love for the outdoors. Thank you ACES!” E L I S A B E T H , Glenwood Springs

Studies Studies show show that that riding ridingyour yourbike bike makes makes you you sexier sexier than thanyou youare arenow. now.

Private Lessons

BMX Wednesday Race Night

Women’s Clinics

Strider Races

Strider Races crownmtn.org

crownmtn.org

SUMMER CAMP PLANNER

ASPEN RECREATION DEPARTMENT 4 WORDS: “PACKED FULL OF FUN” ASPEN CITY CAMP ASPEN AGES: 5-10 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST FULL DAY + EXTENDED HOURS (970) 920-4100

“

Aspen City Camp is an affordable summer camp for local families that keeps kids busy with all sorts of activities throughout Aspen and the Valley. My son loves the staff and can’t wait to go back this summer.” J E N , Aspen

ASPEN SCIENCE CENTER

ASPEN YOUTH CENTER

CARBONDALE ARTS KIDS SUMMER CAMPS

3 WORDS: “DISCOVERY, EXPLORATION, EDUCATION”

4 WORDS: “SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, FUN, FREE”

4 WORDS: “ARTS, MUSIC, & THE ENVIRONMENT”

VALLEYWIDE AGES: PRE-K – GRADE 12 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST FULL DAY + HALF DAY CAMPS (970) 236-2360

ASPEN GRADES 4-12 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST FULL DAY + DROP-IN (970) 544-4130

CARBONDALE AGES: 4-19 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST WEEKLY & MONTHLY SESSIONS HALF DAY & FULL DAY (970) 963-1680

“ “

If science was always this fun, I would become a scientist!” S T U D E N T , New Castle As an intern at the Aspen Science Center, I have had an absolutely fantastic time promoting any and all that have an interest in science. It is a very rewarding experience, and I continue to look forward to helping out however I can.” C O N N O R H O F F M A N , Intern

“

I started coming to AYC in 5th grade. We had just moved to Aspen and my mom told my sister and I there was a youth center. I was so nervous to go but when I walked in those doors it was my home away from home. That day, I met one of my best friends, and after she showed me around, we were inseparable. We would not have been friends if it weren’t for AYC.” A D R I A N A C I P P O N E R I , AHS senior

“

My eleven and nine-year-old daughters participated in the Art Camp hosted by Carbondale Arts last summer, and they thoroughly enjoyed the experiences of learning and creating textile art in an intimate and supportive environment. They loved the creating, sharing, and expressing aspects of the camp.” M I N T Z E W U , Carbondale

1050 Cemetery Lane, Aspen Single Family Lot | 0.5 Acres Great view lot on Cemetery Lane offering easy access to downtown Aspen and the Rio Grande Trail. Demolition permit pending to remove the existing brown house. Plans in the works for brand new modern 6,400 sq. ft. single family home plus 933 sq. ft. three car garage designed by Kim Raymond Architecture & Interiors. Listed for $5,950,000 MLS #173039

Lisa Turchiarelli

Broker Associate 970.379.5018 | lisa@aspenluxuryre.com aspenluxuryre.com

MP SPRING 2022

CARBONDALE CLAY CENTER

CARBONDALE PARKS & RECREATION

3 WORDS: COMMUNITY THROUGH CLAY

4 WORDS: “FUN, ENGAGING YOUTH RECREATION”

3 WORDS: “CREATIVITY, PLAY, FUN “

CARBONDALE AGES: 5+ JUNE WEEKLONG SESSIONS (970) 963-2529

CARBONDALE AGES: 4-14 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST DAILY, DROP-IN, MONTHLY & FULL DAY (970) 510-1290

SUMMER MERMAID CAMPS CARBONDALE AGES: 7-12 JUNE & JULY WEEKLY SESSIONS (970) 963-5546

“ “

My kids have truly loved their time participating in classes and camps at Carbondale Clay Center. They love the small class size, fabulous teachers, and always leave with lots of beautiful work!” C O L B Y F U L T O N , Carbondale

Our two boys have and continue to have amazing experiences with the Carbondale Rec Center activities. From swimming to baseball, they learn all about individual and team sports. We are blessed that they have amazing coaches that continue to inspire, support and teach them lifelong lessons. We love all the friendships and opportunities the Rec Center provides for our two active boys.” J A N , Carbondale

CREATIVE FLOW STUDIO

“

Zoe has been enjoying the camp so much, as a matter of fact she stated it’s been her absolute favorite camp ever!” M O N I C A , Carbondale

“

Josie had so much fun and we loved going through all of her art projects. And the was very proud! “ G I N A , Carbondale

Is your child struggling with anxiety, depression, or another mental illness? At Mind Springs Health, we offer therapy for children, teens, and parents to help work through difficult times and feelings in today’s world.

A

G+S

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday

0405 Castle Creek Road, Suite 207 970.920.5555

﹒MSH﹒ 44

SUMMER CAMP PLANNER

2802 S. Grand Avenue 970.945.2583

CROWN MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK

“

6 WORDS: “MOST DIVERSE BIKING PLAYGROUND IN COLORADO”

GARDEN BOOT CAMP

GARFIELD COUNTY LIBRARIES

7 WORDS: “HOW TO FEED YOUR DRAGON OR UNICORN”

3 WORDS: “AT YOUR LEISURE”

EL JEBEL AGES: 2-70 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST DAILY, DROP-IN, FULL-DAY, & WEEKLONG SESSIONS + FREE DAILY USE (970) 963-6030

CARBONDALE AGES: 5+ JUNE, JULY & AUGUST FULL DAY, WEEKLONG SESSIONS (970) 274-2472

My kids are addicted to Crown Mtn Bike Park. I meet up with friends and hang out while my kid’s bike into the night. This park is free for the community. But if you want training, you can try out for the bike park team, join BMX, or book a private lesson. It’s perfect.” H E A T H E R L E W I N , chauffeur/sherpa

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE CARBONDALE, GLENWOOD SPRINGS, NEW CASTLE, SILT, RIFLE & PARACHUTE ALL AGES JUNE & JULY (970) 625-4270

“ “

All three of my boys love the garden boot camp! The best part is all the new foods they try in the garden and decide they love.” A L L I S O N B E R G E R , parent

Are you up for a challenge? Join us and try to read 1,000 minutes this June and July and help with our collective challenge of reading 50,000 minutes as a community. Every time you read, you help us reach our goals. You can earn prizes by tracking your reading via app or with a bookmark from your library branch. L O C A L L I B R A R I A N , passionate reader

Heart Centered Music Education In-Person & Play-Based Grades 4 -12 Weekly 90-minute Sessions 13 Week Program A warm social environment with a positive and dynamic learning atmosphere.

Spring & Summer Camp Registration Happening NOW

No musical experience necessary.

(970) 379-9685

Instruments provided.

Chris “Harmony” Harrison

Scholarships available.

rockandrollroaringfork.com

MP SPRING 2022

KIDZ HIKE

MONKEY HOUSE

PITKIN COUNTY LIBRARY

3 WORDS: “CREATE LIFELONG HIKERS”

3 WORDS: “COMPETITION CLIMBING PREP”

4 WORDS: “AN OCEAN OF POSSIBILITIES”

ASPEN AGES: 3-7 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST DAILY, DROP-IN, OR WEEKLY SIGN UP (970) 718-2872

COMP CRUSH CAMP CARBONDALE AGES: 9-17 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST WEEKLONG & MONTHLY SESSIONS INTRO & ADVANCED LEVELS (970) 340-4988

SUMMER READING ASPEN AGES: BIRTH-18 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST ONGOING + WEEKLY ACTIVITIES (970) 429-1900

“

Taking my son hiking was almost impossible. He would complain and drag his feet the entire time. But after just one hike with Christie, he is now excited to go hiking with the family! Kidz Hike has totally changed his perspective. He is now the ‘leader’ of our hikes, and loves to share the things he has learned.” M O M , Aspen

“

We love the energy and excitement of competition climbing. Watching kids solve problems, concentrate, and apply all of their learned skills is amazing. With Monkey House’s proven record of taking kids to Regional and Divisional championships, we pour our hearts into this program.” FABRIZIO Z ANGRILLI Athlete Training Manager

“

Aspen Medical Care has pediatricians eager to care for your child in either our Aspen or Basalt office.

The Summer Reading Program at Pitkin County Library is such a joyful event. Every year there are fun activities that focus on art, science, and literacy. Kids love to show off all the books they are reading or have read. They are just so excited to share what they are learning or about the characters in their books. It’s absolutely wonderful.” M O N I Q U E , Aspen

your neighbor, your doctor Staff Charlene Guggenheim, MD Jenny Connery,MD Mary Harris, MD Bryan Gieszl, MD Haley Hoffman, DO Shari Kiehnbaum, PA-C Jade R. Golden, PA-C Tracie Walterscheid, PA-C

We offer both in person and video visits utilizing telehealth technology.

A S P E N M E D I C A L CA R E, P.C.

Progressive Medicine · Old-Fashioned Care Obermeyer Place, 101 Founders Pl, Suite 109, Aspen, 920-0104 204 Basalt Center Circle, Basalt, 927-3141 www.aspenmedicalcare.com

SUMMER CAMP PLANNER

T W N OW

All in person visits follow the strictest COVID-19 protocols to ensure the safety of everyone in the office — patients, staff and providers.

S A LT

Not currently accepting new Medicare patients.

ROCK & ROLL ACADEMY

RIVER VALLEY RANCH GOLF

“

ROCK STAR READERS

4 WORDS: “PRO GOLFERS TEACH FUNDEMENTALS”

4 WORDS: “HEART CENTERED MUSIC EDUCATION”

3 WORDS “HELPING STRUGGLING READERS”

DRIVE, CHIP & PUTT – AGES 7-15 FIRST TEE PROGRAM – UP TO AGE 10 PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE – AGES 10-16 CARBONDALE MAY, JUNE, JULY & AUGUST DAILY, WEEKLY & ONGOING (970) 963-3625

WILLITS GRADES 4-12 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST WEEKLY, 90-MINUTE SESSIONS (970) 379-9685

READING & RIDING CAMP MISSOURI HEIGHTS PRIVATE TUTORING: VALLEYWIDE HALF-DAY FOUR-DAY CAMP SESSIONS + ONGOING SUPPORT AGES: 7-11 JUNE - AUGUST FULL + HALF DAY (970) 379-1728

I love the energy and dedication to Junior Golf shown by the team at River Valley Ranch. Kids are welcomed by fun and engaging golf activities that foster a love of the game. The lessons that golf teaches kids: honesty, sportsmanship, integrity, and resilience – skills they can take with them into every part of their lives.” J E N , Glenwood Springs

“

When my son wanted to learn how to play guitar 8 months ago, we were referred to Chris Harrison. He was said to be the best. Not just the best guitar teacher, but the best for kids and young adults. After a few lessons at Rock & Roll Academy, my son joined a band and they was able to give to my child through his own love of music is something my son will value forever. He loves guitar because of proper introduction to music and the time and energy Chris invested in him.“ C O U R T N E Y T S C H A N Z , parent

“

Riding and Reading Camp with Rock Star Readers was a ton of fun!”

W Y A T T F L Y N N , age 11

MP SPRING 2022

“

SNOWMASS RECREATION DEPARTMENT

THEATRE ASPEN EDUCATION

WALDORF EARLY CHILDHOOD SUMMER CAMP

3 WORDS: “AFFORDABLE, SAFE, FUN”

4 WORDS: “PERFORM, CREATE, PLAY, IMAGINE”

3 WORDS: “RHYTHM, NATURE, CONNECTION”

KID’S SUMMER DAY CAMP SNOWMASS AGES: 5-10 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST FULL DAY. DAILY & DROP-IN (970) 922-2240

ASPEN GRADES: K-12 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST WEEKLY & MONTH-LONG SESSIONS (970) 925-9313

WALDORF SCHOOL ON THE ROARING FORK CARBONDALE AGES: 2.5 – 7 JUNE & JULY FULL DAY + WEEKLONG SESSIONS (970) 963-1960

The Snowmass Rec Summer Camp is amazing. My kids cannot wait for the days they get to attend and love telling everyone about camp when they return home. The variety of activities are exciting and the price and location can’t be beat. As a parent, I appreciate the communication each day from the staff and the peace of mind knowing my children are in good hands. “ K E L L Y, Snowmass Village

“

“ My twin daughters have participated in Theatre Aspen’s camps and productions from age 5 to 16. Their summers have been enriched by Theatre Aspen’s inspiring team of professionals. They have learned acting/singing/dancing as well as developing confidence, establishing lasting friendships, and having fun!” M A U R E E N , Aspen

The Early Childhood summer programs at the Waldorf School on the Roaring Fork bring so much joy, excitement and love into our family’s lives! Not only does my son come home nourished from his days, balanced, joyful days he experiences as he continues to radiate long after he comes home from exploring and playing on the beautiful WSRF campus.” M O R G A N , Carbondale

monthly membership

$99 or lower

NOW OPEN IN GLENWOOD SPRINGS! ENROLL NOW! (space is limited)

HEALTHCARE MADE

SIMPLE trailheadclinics.com 970.404.8700

Dr. Casey Aguirre

SUMMER CAMP PLANNER

Learn more about membership-based healthcare here!

WALDORF CIRCUS CAMP

WINDWALKERS EQUINE THERAPY CENTER

YMCA OF THE ROCKIES CAMP CHIEF OURAY

6 WORDS: “TUMBLING, AERIALS, JUGGLING, BALANCE, ACROBATICS, ARTS”

5 WORDS: “RIDING HORSES, ARTS, MUSIC, GAMES”

3 WORDS: “TRADITIONAL OVERNIGHT CAMP”

ALL INCLUSIVE/ ALL ABILITIES SUMMER CAMPS MISSOURI HEIGHTS AGES 4-15 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST HALF DAY, FULL DAY, MONTHLY & ONGOING (970) 963-2909

GRANBY, COLORADO AGES 7-17 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST WEEKLONG SESSIONS (970) 887-2648

WALDORF SCHOOL ON THE ROARING FORK CARBONDALE GRADE 3 – AGE 14 JUNE FULL DAY + WEEKLONG SESSIONS (970) 963-1960

“

My 8-year-old daughter absolutely loved WSRF Circus Camp. She is chomping at the bit to go again this summer. She said Circus Camp was her favorite week of the summer! She learned new tumbling tricks, how to soar on silks, and she loved performing on the last day. Excitement, imagination, creativity, all swirled together with giggles and smiles. It was the highlight of my daughter’s summer.” C A S E Y, Aspen

“

“ A magical place! Our kids’ happy place! No one leaves the ranch unchanged. WindWalkers staff is wonderful and caring, and their expertise makes it a perfect experience for every young camper. “ B E T H , Basalt

My kids talk about their camp experience all year long. Every year, they can’t wait to go back. Meanwhile, they moved on from being regular campers to participating in the leadership programs. Enjoying time outdoors in a safe and fun environment, making new friends, and learning new skills. (Zero screen-time, yay!) It’s a win-win for all. We love Camp Chief Ouray.” G A B Y, CCO Parent

MP SPRING 2022

ELEVATING THE SPECTRUM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM

ASCENDIGO AUTISM SERVICES

ADVENTURE CAMPS

ADULT LIFE ENRICHMENT CARBONDALE ARTS'

OUTREACH

Light the Night event returned this winter as a second-annual Valentines' weekend festival. The all-inclusive, all-ages gathering linked TRUE NATURE HEALING ARTS and CARBONDALE CLAY CENTER along the illuminated costumes, ice lanterns,

WE'RE HIRING! Ascendigo.org | 970-927-3143 50

MAKE PLANS

(right) lantern cast intriguing shadows and (far right) Magic glasses created a rose-colored light show

M A K E PL A N S

Golden MOMENTS

Whether "going for the Gold" in Bejing,

R YA N C A M P MAKE PLANS editor

Colorado’s Olympic athletes provide a kind of local-hero inspiration for kids who grow up here skiing the same slopes and terrain parks as Alex Ferreira, Hanna Faulhaber and Hailey Swirlbul did when they were learning how to ski and beginning their competitive careers. (left) Hanna Faulhaber, a graduate of Basalt High School, launched into the international Freeski ranks last spring when she took fourth place in the FIS Championship at Buttermilk before qualifying for the Olympic team. (Matt Power) When Ferreira chose to sit out for this year’s Winter X Games in order to rest up for the Olympics after neck surgery last summer, you can bet that most Valley fans noticed his absence on the Buttermilk stage. Only three weeks later, as the sports world turned its attention to the 2022 Winter Games in Bejing, it seems every local household watched when Ferreira won his Bronze in the Olympic Halfpipe Finals on Saturday, February 19.

While Aspen-Snowmass and Sunlight Mountain Resort youth skiers and snowboarders are well aware of the stats of the community’s elite racers, many may not realize that Ferreira, along with three other U.S. Olympic athletes from Colorado are students and/or graduates of COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE. Ferriera graduated from the Aspen campus in 2021. Mick Dierdorff, (inset) who competes on the U.S. Olympic Snowboard Cross team, graduated from CMC Steamboat Springs. “So many kids head straight for the state schools,” Dierdorff said. “CMC offered a better way for me to take classes as I could, mostly in the summers. It took a little longer, though it worked out well for me.” (courtesy of CMC) Katie Uhlander graduated from CMC’s Breckenridge competition. Zoe Kalapos is a current student at CMC’s Edwards campus and competes on the women’s Snowboarder Halfpipe team. SAVE THE DATE

APRIL

NASTAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS SNOWMASS SKI AREA MP SPRING 2022

Because You Don’t Have to Be Alone on Your Journey.

Creating Peace, Support, and Hope for Pregnancy and Early Infant Loss Monthly Support Gatherings in Glenwood Springs and Eagle Bereavement Care Packages Emotional and Physical Support for Any Birth in Any Trimester Bereavement Doula Services, Providing Labor and Delivery Support Annual Walk for Hope and Butterfly Release

www.one-moment.org

MAKE PLANS

PHOTOS: (above) SNOWMASS REC DEPARTMENT

ROSS MONTESSORI SCHOOL lower

mindfullness and resilience. (far left, bottom) RIVER VALLEY RANCH's cardboard

How to Feed Your Dragon... Or Unicorn A magical week of garden & art fun in the Garden of Yum at Carbondale Community School Ages 5+

(left) THE GRAND MESA CHALLENGE is touted as "the BASALT ELEMENTARY

• June 6-10 • June 13-17 (girls only!) • July 18-22 • August 8-12

SCHOOL

and garden-inspired art projects. Make a healthy garden snack every day. Visit the Carbondale Farmers Market. $275 (sibling discount + scholarships)

(970) 274-2472 Diana Alcantara dianagardengoddess@gmail.com

MP SPRING 2022

March, April, May SPRING 2022 – FEATURED HAPPENINGS

10-13

MARCH THEATRE ASPEN HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION: YOU ON THE MOORS NOW 7:00 PM – THURS; FRIDAY 2:00 PM – SAT; SUNDAY AHS BLACK BOX THEATRE

Four 19th century literary heroines set conventionalism ablaze when they turn down marriage proposals from their equally famous suitors. Everything you’ve learned about love from the pages of Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, and Little Women is turned upside down.

MAKE PLANS

MARCH TIEHACK FULL MOON SKI

APRIL GSHS GIRLS GOLF INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT

MAY WSRF MAYFAIRE

Looking for nighttime mountain fun? Skin or hike under the full moon up the Tiehack side of Buttermilk Mountain for dinner at the Cliffhouse Restaurant. Get there early to enjoy free hot chocolate around the Cowboy

Around 60 of the best female high school golfers in the State will compete locally in an invitational tournament hosted by GSHS and RVR Golf. Although typically, the only spectators are parents and coaches, here’s an opportunity to inspire younger players. Bike or walk over to the course to watch

Celebrate spring at this free, outdoors, all-ages festival.

5:00 - 10:00 PM BUTTERMILK MOUNTAIN

Enjoy dinner, snacks, and a cash bar before skiing or boarding downhill in the moonlight.

10:30 AM – FIRST TEE TIME RIVER VALLEY RANCH

putts on the tees and greens adjacent to the RVR clubhouse.

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM WALDORF SCHOOL ROARING FORK

seasonal crafts, games, and the crowning of the Mayfaire queen and king. Royalty will be selected by a hungry chicken, as shown above. Lunch, snacks, and beverages will be available for purchase.

INVITE OUR READERS & MAKE PLANS

mountainparent.com

PHOTOS: (far left) WALDORF

(left) THEATRE ASPEN winning Urinetown

(above) BASALT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL with ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL AND SCHOOL.

Aspen RECREATION DEPARTMENT

FITNESS CLASSES

When it’s cold outside, head classes at the Red Brick Recreation Center or Aspen Recreation Center. Classes include BodyPump, Yoga, and Spin. Reservations required.

ADULT PICKLEBALL IS BACK

EVERY SATURDAY 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM ASPEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GYM $10 DROP-IN

SWIMMING LESSONS

Get ready for summer with private or group lessons. All ages from tots to adult.

POOL AMENITIES

The Aquatic Center at the ARC is home to a 25-yard six-lane lap pool, a zero-entry leisure pool, and a two-story water slide (must be 48” tall to ride). Enjoy master swimming, water aerobics, lap swimming, and family swim.

PUBLIC SKATE

Glide around the ice rink at two different locations offering public skating almost daily. Lewis Ice Arena (at the ARC) and Aspen Ice Garden (233 W Hyman Ave.) Rentals available.

0861 MAROON CREEK ROAD, ASPEN (970) 544-4100 ASPENRECREATION.COM

YOUTH & ADULT SPRING ACTIVITIES

Get ready for Spring! Sign up for spring/summer activities including: basketball, summer camps, and softball.

PARKRUN

Join Aspen Rec for a free, fun, and friendly weekly 5K community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate. donated by Paradise Bakery. Register at parkrun.us/aspen

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

aspenrecreation.com

MP SPRING 2022

MARCH

8:00 - 11:00 AM HALLAM LAKE

5:00 – 10:00 PM HERE HOUSE, ASPEN

If you're inspired by MP's sandhill crane Trails & Travel piece (pages 20-21), here's an even more local way to get into birding. While it's not among the most strenuous of sports, ornithology is nonetheless challenging, especially in winter and early spring, when you are pushed to

Jazz Aspen Snowmass has resumed its popular Jazz Café, now with indoor, inperson venues. Here's an intimate setting and a chance to see a legend in the making – Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Raul Midón. If you haven't yet become acquainted with Midón's work, check out his performance online on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series (link at MP's online MAKE PLANS). His music offers a perfect outing for the whole family, an inspiring one-onone to encourage your band student, or a memorable date night out.

BIRDING WITH ACES

MARCH

JAZZ CAFÉ

skills. Join this ACES class to learn about non-breeding plumages, winter foraging strategies, and behaviors of migratory and resident birds. For birders of all experience levels. An awesome morning together with your naturalist 'tween or teen.

Snowmass RECREATION DEPARTMENT

SUMMER PROGRAM SIGN-UP

Registration opens for summer programs on Saturday, March 19. Programs include summer camp, group and private swim lessons, tennis lessons, and fencing camps. All registration can be done through the online catalog on the Snowmass Village Recreation website.

WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTION Swim Instructor. Sessions in March, April, and July. Fee discounted if individual is later hired by Snowmass Rec. $200

MAKE PLANS

9:00 AM –3:00 PM ASPEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

A full week of classes in drama, music, dance, and design for students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. Theater professionals will lead students in activites created to inspire week with fun, laughter, and connection with friends. All are welcome; no theatrical experience is necessary. PHOTO:

2835 BRUSH CREEK ROAD, SNOWMASS VILLAGE (970) 922-2240 SNOWMASSRECREATION.COM

APRIL AQUA EGG HUNT A Snowmass Rec Easter tradititon because THE Bunny loves taking a dip in the heated outdoor swimming pool. Prizes for all participants. Registration required – opens 8:00 AM March 19 – $5 (Free for Rec Center members.)

SNOWMASS REC IS HIRING

Looking for talented individuals to join the team for the summer. Positions include: • Summer Camp Counselor • Lifeguard • Water Safety Instructor • Soccer Referee • Recreation Assistant • Parks & Trails Specialist The Town offers competitive

MARCH SWIM LESSON PLACEMENT

HOST A PARTY

child for placement in group swim lessons. Sign up for 15-minute time slots. $10 (Free for Rec Center members.)

Snowmass Village Recreation Center. Rental and party options include the swimming pool, bounce houses, ice rink, and indoor climbing wall. Ask about packages, prices, and times.

Get priority access to swim lesson sign-up, and determine

52 58

APRIL

THEATRE ASPEN SPRING BREAK DRAMA CLUB

plenty of perks – including bus and paid holidays.

ONLINE REGISTRATION

snowmassrecreation.com

Friday

EVERY UNTIL APRIL UNTIL APRIL FRIDAYS

FRIDAY MORNING UPHILL BREAKFAST CLUB HOSTED BY SMARTWATER WITH LOCAL PARTNERS: ASPEN ALPINE GUIDES UTE MOUNTAINEER CITY OF ASPEN 8:45 – 10:00 AM

Drop the kids off at school then head to Buttermilk Mountain for an uphill climb followed by breakfast at the Cliffhouse. Fried rice with a farm-fresh local eggs or thick-cut French toast with bacon, or, of course, Buttermilk pancakes. An uphill pass and strap are required.

Carbondale RECREATION DEPARTMENT

BASEBALL & SOFTBALL

Players will learn the game and play other Valley teams. $90 COACH PITCH – AGES 7-8 SOFTBALL – AGES 8-10 BASEBALL – AGES 9-10 + 11-13 REGISTER – STARTING IN MARCH SEASON – MAY 23 - JULY 26

VOLUNTEER COACHES NEEDED

EMAIL – Will Tempest Programs Coordinator – wtempest@carbondaleco.net

ONLINE REGISTRATION

carbondalerec.com

CLIMBING CLASSES

CARBONDALE RECREATION & COMMUNITY CENTER A fun and safe environment where kids can learn the basics of bouldering and top-rope climbing while honing their skills on the climbing wall. $45 per session

LIFEGUARD TRAINING

American Red Cross training. Blended in-person and online. Must be age 15 by the last day of class, pass a swim test, and attend entire Course. COURSE ONE – MAY 13–15 COURSE TWO – JUNE 3-5

BEGINNERS – AGES 6-8 TUESDAYS, MARCH 1, 8, 15; APRIL 5, 12, 19; MAY 3, 10, 17 YOUTH – AGES 9-13 THURSDAYS, MARCH 3, 10, 17; APRIL 7, 14, 21; MAY 5, 12, 19

SATURDAY, MAY OPENING DAY – CARBONDALE’S JOHN M. FLEET POOL

567 COLORADO AVENUE, CARBONDALE (970) 510-1290 CARBONDALEREC.COM

EASTER SCAVENGER HUNT SATURDAY, APRIL

6TH ANNUAL “WHERE MY PEEPS AT?” SCAVENGER HUNT AGES 8+ 9:00 AM CHECK-IN

Teams with a mix of adults and kids work together to solve and seek clues around town utilizing non-motorized vehicles. LITTLE PEEPS – AGES 7 / UNDER

SWIM LESSONS

American Red Cross series of 8 classes on varying days and times. Registration opens Tuesday, May 3 after 5:00 PM. PRE-K – AGES 3-5 BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCED – AGES 6 +

Kids with adults hunt for treasures on the Rio Grande Trail behind the Rec Center 9:45 AM check-in

MP SPRING 2022

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s been a joyous annual event that the whole valley looks forward to seeing. We would like to extend a special thanks to photographer Mark Burrows for donating his skills to make this celebration of otherhood happen each year! From all of us at The Sopris Sun and Sol del Valle, happy Mother's Day and ¡feliz Día de las Madres!

Adriana Hernandez and Santiago Ezequiel Torre

Andrea and Walter Sommerfeld Korber

Britta and Maya Hadden

Brittany and Peter Webb

Brooke and Benjamin Coon

Caitlin and Lucy Schard

Cara and Karson Nieslanik

Casey Bowen and Marley Winter Anson

Catherine and Miles Christoff

Claire and Henry Orion Rather

APRIL

SOPRIS SUN MOTHER'S DAY PORTRAITS

5POINT ADVENTURE FILM FESTIVAL

TIMES AND LOCATION TBA CONTACT PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER MARK BURROWS TO SCHEDULE A SITTING CALL OR TEXT (970) 379-4581 Danielle and Dylan Dudley

Danielle and

Devika Gurung and

Francis Choate Madison Weaber Arya Padma Pevec TheGeorge Sopris Sun's annual Mother's Day edition features portraits of mothers together with

APRIL

FAMILY FILM DAY SATURDAY, APRIL 23 11:00 AM CARBONDALE REC CENTER Gaby and Sheccid Bello

newspaper. This tradition goes back to the Valley Journal, which means that today's Roaring Fork Valley parents are the secondgeneration to save copies of this special edition as a keepsake. Participation is free, open to any mother-child living in the Valley and surrounding area. The only criterion – babes must have been born since last Mother's Day.

Pitkin County

homegrown festival brings stories and voices that go beyond the typical extremevalues of commitment, balance, humility, respect, and purpose. So, parents need not worry that intense scenes or subjects will be covered in this special screening for all ages. Kids under age 12 attend for free but must be ticketed – and tickets go quickly. Stick around afterwards for an ice cream social. PHOTOS: (above; right) 5Point Film Festival

LIBRARY

SUMMER READING

STORY TIMES

SPANISH

LIBRARY LAB:

featuring music, science, art, and READING.

WEDNESDAYS TODDLERS – 10:00-10:30 AM PRE-K – 11:00 – 11:30 AM

Stories, songs, rhymes, and fun in Spanish. For infants, toddlers, and school-aged children.

Visit Pitkin County Library Lab and check out take-home kits. The Library has art, games, and robotic kits for all ages.

“AN OCEAN OF POSSIBILITIES”

WEEKLY; JUNE – AUGUST

ARE BACK

TEENS THURSDAYS – 3:00 PM

JUNE 4:00 PM SUMMER READING KICK OFF Sign up and log your hours of reading to win prizes. MAKE PLANS

STORY TIME

THURSDAYS 10:30-11:00 AM DUNAWAY COMMUNITY ROOM

CHILDREN TUESDAYS – 1:00 PM

54 56

120 NORTH MILL STREET, ASPEN (970) 429-1900 PITCOLIB.ORG

LEARN THROUGH PLAY

READ WIDER

Inspire empathy through your library and learn about others’ stories. March is Women’s History Month, so come on in and check out books, movies, and music celebrating women leaders throughout history. Stay tuned every month for more heritage and history highlights.

TODAS SON BIENVENIDAS

¡Únete a nosotros todos los jueves por la mañana para compartir historias, canciones, rimas y más, en español! Abierto a bebés, niños pequeños, y niños en edad escolar. En la Sala Comunitaria Dunaway.

LEARN MORE

pitcolib.org

EVERY

CMC GLENWOOD SPRINGS 10:00 - 11:00 AM AGES 3-5

ROCK BOTTOM RANCH 10:30 AM

MUSIC, MOVEMENT

MINDFULNESS

In this parent-child class, you and your child will be taught what is happening in the brain and how we can make choices about our emotions and behavior. The class will involve music, literacy, and movement activities that encourage each child’s awareness of his or her emotional state. All of the work is done in a fun, active way. Parents will be given tools and techniques to encourage their children in developing these skills, while also working on their own self-regulation skills.

FARM ANIMAL CONNECTIONS WINTER VEGETABLE TASTINGS There's something to do every Friday at Aspen Center for Environmental Studies' midvalley alternating weeks, you can visit the farm to experience one of two distinctly different programs in a new series starting this spring. At "Farm Animals Connections," you can meet newborn lambs and learn about the roles played by every animal on the ranch. At "Winter Vegetable Tastings," you can harvest and sample roots, greens, and other cold-season crops. Perhaps if kids who get to see how foods grow, they might taste – and enjoy – the vegetables on their dinner plates.

Garfield County

MEET OUR PEOPLE

LIBRARY

KIDS & FAMILIES

LIBRARY NEWS

STORYTIMES

CHECK OUT A NEW LAPTOP

TUESDAYS – 10:30 AM GLENWOOD SPRINGS, NEW CASTLE

Adults can now borrow a laptop, and hotspots are available at all

WEDNESDAYS – 10:30 AM SILT, PARACHUTE

can check out a laptop and take it

THURSDAYS 10:30 AM RIFLE, CARBONDALE

TODOS LOS VIERNES 10:30 AM – RIFLE 1:30 PM – NEW CASTLE

CARBONDALE, GLENWOOD SPRINGS, NEW CASTLE, SILT, RIFLE, AND PARACHUTE (970) 625-4270 GCPLD.ORG

ADULTS & TEENS

DIVERSE PROGRAMMING

CHECK OUT

COLORADO STATE PARKS

• • • Spring Dance Workshop • • Game Nights • •

BRANCH HOURS ARE EXPANDING EN ESPAÑOL

Friday

EVERY TUESDAY: APRIL

MAY FIRST DAY – ALL BRANCHES OPEN ON SUNDAY

MAY FREE COMIC BOOK DAY & LIBRARY-CON

encourage residents of all ages

MORE EVENTS

gcpld.org

HOMELIFE

LET'S

MAKE PLANS ALPINE BANK

LAN

(800) 551-6098

Get to know your neighbors. ENGEL & VOLKERS

Every advertiser receives a free MAKE PLANS place in every print edition where they can tell more of their story.

(970) 925-8400

Each edition features one or more special coverage areas. In spring, Kids' Activities providers are given extra room in our Summer Camp Planner. Schools are our second expanded coverage area this time because, ready or not, it's Spring Enrollment Season. On the following spread, you

JENNIFER BURR

COLDWELL BANKER MASON MORSE

At MOUNTAINPARENT.COM, readers can Easily search by service, activity, location, or age range. Find photo galleries, social feeds, accolades, coupons, and an unlimited number of event posts for everyone in the family.

MOUNTAIN PARENT.COM

(970) 704-6440

illustrations: EL ANA ROYER Lilybart

MAKE PLANS

CORNERSTONE HOME LENDING

LOOKING FOR KIDS ACTIVITIES?

LAZURE CUSTOM WALL DESIGNS (970) 309-5559

pages 41-49

MP's SUMMER CAMP PLANNER MONICA VIALL THE AGENCY

Something for everyone. YOUR WORKIN' MOM & DAD

RICHARD CAMP

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE (970) 948-7066

LISA TURCHIARELLI

COLDWELL BANKER MASON MORSE

ROARING FORK TRANSIT AUTHORITY (970) 925-8484

GABRIELLA SUTRO

COLDWELL BANKER MASON MORSE

1. ACES 2. Ascendigo 3. Aspen Recreation 4. Aspen Science Center 5. Aspen Youth Center 6. Carbondale Arts 7. Carbondale Clay Center 8. Carbondale Recreation Center 9. Creative Flow Studio 10. Garden Boot Camp 11. Kidz Hike 12. Rock Star Readers 13. Snowmass Recreation 14. Theatre Aspen 15. WindWalkers 16. WSRF Early Childhood Camp 17. WSRF Circus Camp 18. YMCA Camp Chief Ouray

YOUR ADVENTURER 1. Ascendigo 2. Aspen Youth Center 3. WSRF Circus Camp 4. YMCA Camp Chief Ouray

YOUR ARTIST

1. Carbondale Arts 2. Carbondale Clay Center 3. Creative Flow Studio 4. Rock & Roll Academy 5. Theatre Aspen

YOUR NATURALIST

1. ACES 2. Garden Boot Camp 3. Kidz Hike 4. WindWalkers 5. WSRF Early Childhood Camp

YOUR LEARNER

1. Aspen Science Center 2. 3. Pitkin County Libraries 4. Rock Star Readers

YOUR ATHLETE

1. Aspen Recreation 2. Carbondale Recreation 3. Monkey House 4. RVR Golf 5. Snowmass Recreation

MP SPRING 2022

SHOP LOCALLY Art & Pets

Car

RJ PADDYWACKS

ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL

ASPEN MEDICAL CARE

ASPEN CHAPEL GALLERY

(970) 920-0104

(970) 925-7184

illustrations: EL ANA ROYER Lilybart

SCHOOLS

MIN

(970) 279-4111

NOW – APRIL 2 Harvest for Hunger. APRIL 6 –MAY 25 Aspen Words

ASPEN SCHOOL DISTRICT

ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

RFS

(970) 925-1909

RFSD EARLY CHILDHOOD

ACDS: SENSE OF PLACE (970) 925-1909

OPEN IN APRIL.

ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL (970) 925-1909

de amicitia

MOUNTAINPARENT.COM

ROARING FORK SCHOOL DISTRICT

ELEM

YOUR YOUNGEST

WELLNESS Care for all ages. TRAILHEAD CLINICS

MINDSPRINGS HEALTH

(970) 404-8700

1. Aspen Recreation 2. Garden Boot Camp 3. Kidz Hike 4. Snowmass Recreation 5. WSRF Early Childhood Camp

YOUR TEENS 1. Aspen Recreation 2. Aspen Science Center 3. AYC 4. Carbondale Arts 5. Carbondale Clay Center 6. Monkey House 7. Rock & Roll Academy 8. Rock Star Readers 9. Snowmass Recreation 10. YMCA Camp Chief Ouray

ONE MOMENT

ARE

RFSD KINDERGARTEN

WSRF PARENT-CHILD PROGRAMS

ROSS MONTESSORI

starts

RFHS MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOLS

WSRF

RIL.

RFSD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

WALDORF SCHOOL ROARING FORK

EVERY SCHOOL

MP SPRING 2022

ASPEN VALLEY PRIMARY CARE ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL

We’ve got BIG news for the LITTLEST members of our COMMUNITY! Aspen Valley Primary Care is proud to welcome pediatrician Dr. Rahul Shah to our practice. Dr. Shah provides compassionate and friendly care for infants, children and adolescents in Aspen and Basalt. Your family’s wellbeing is at the heart of our comprehensive internal, family and pediatric medicine services. We focus on treating the whole child integrating behavioral health services, nutritional consults and more so that your child receives the right care at the right time. That’s something we can all celebrate!

Schedule your visit today, call 970.279.4111. Virtual visits are available. Se habla español.

More ways Aspen Valley Hospital cares for your whole family

ASPEN BIRTH CENTER

EAR, NOSE & THROAT CARE

REHABILITATION SERVICES

Offering in-person and virtual appointments.

Traumatic brain injury & concussion care; physical, occupational & speech therapy for adults & kids.

970.544.1460

970.544.1177

Dr. Heather Murphy & Where Families are Born Dr. Thomas Fissenden Schedule a pre-admission navigation or class today.

970.544.1130

aspenhospital.org |

AspenValleyHospital

AFTER-HOURS MEDICAL CARE Open evenings & weekends for urgent medical needs. Walk-ins welcome! Mon – Fri, 3 – 11 pm Sat & Sun, 8 am – 5 pm

970.544.1250