RmParent May 2016

MAY 2016 • RMPARENT.COM

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MAY 2016

Departments

Special Sections

PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Touching the world—connecting with nature and our family Honor yourself—make Mother’s Day all about you!

FAMILY ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . 10

A day at the park—water fun, sports, interpretive hikes, skate parks, fishing and more…

Let’s ride—bike about for fun and independence

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

GROWING SEASON 2016

BOUNTY

LOCAL FOOD AND FARM GUIDE

LOCAL FOOD AND FARM GUIDE

COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . . 14 Cleaning green and health—try homemade and chemical-free products

JESSUP FARM ARTISAN VILLAGE AT ONE YEAR

SOURCING

Connecting Cuisine Crops toSOURCING LOCAL

LOCAL MEAT

RESTAURANTS

HEALTHY LIVING . . . . . . . . . 16 Cleaning green and healthy—try homemade and chemical-free products

CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4

Events and activities for parents, kids and families

TIME OUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4

Flip that chicken—the 4-H project challenge

School District News

MAY 2016 • RMPARENT. COM

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

AS WE GROW . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

LEARN AND LIVE . . . . . . . . . . 12

Summertime

SUMMERTIME

The Heritage of

HAPPY HEART FARM

ALSO INSIDE:

& MARKET DIRECTORY * FARMS & EVENTS * SPRING & SUMMER WORKSHOPS

Discover the bounty that awaits you in our area in this extensive local resource guide.

Features 18 FRUGAL FAMILIES From the moment kids appear on the scene,

parents go into hyper mode to make sure their basic needs are met. When your family budget is small or finances get squeezed, providing for your children can prove challenging. Find strategies to maximize your resources to help keep your family well-fed, styling and having fun.

Greeley-Evans District 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 District 6 students named Daniels Scholars, enrolling now for Colorado Preschool Program, District 6 seeks sponsors for school kickoff event, office manager named Employee of the Year

Poudre School District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 PSD calendar of events, eight-person bike thrills adaptive gym class at Lesher, Beattie and Shepardson win Healthy School Champions awards, PSD welcomes new Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools

Thompson School District. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

News safety and security manager, logo chosen for High Plains school, middle school student receives award at science fair, student wins French award

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

20 ADVENTURES THAT BOND

How often do you reach the end of summer break and feel like you didn’t fit it all in? You wanted to camp more, travel more, play more and relax more as a family? This year, vow to do it differently. Block out time on your calendar for weekend camping trips and days off here and there throughout the summer. After all, we only have 18 summers with our kids.

ABOUT THE COVER: Zora, 3, likes playing hide-andseek, riding horses and drawing. Photo by Cheri Schonfeld, courtesy of Sky's Open Design.

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perspective Touching the world

Connecting with nature and our family

I

used to think that the virtual world was an escape from the physical world. People would go there when they wanted to get away from life’s challenges or when they felt that hard-to-explain unease. Now I’m beginning to wonder how blurry the line is and how hard it might be sometimes to tell what is real and what is virtual.

Is an iPad real? It must be. I can hold it up and throw it down. Let’s say I go to the mountains or the beach or a cabin deck with my iPad. I spend the afternoon on Facebook, surfing the web, checking email and laughing at the funny little videos. And then I come home.

Did I just spend a day in the mountains or at the beach? Kind of, right?

How might my day have been different if I had left the iPad at home? Would I have been more engaged with my day outdoors?

What if I had to choose between leaving my gadgets behind and just staying home?

Well, I’m not really trying to rail on about the evils of the virtual world here or say we shouldn’t use technology. I love my digital, portable lifestyle as much as the next person. What I really mean to write about is how great the natural world is and how great it is to be outside soaking in the amazing, full-sensory experience that it is…especially this time of year when spring is doing its thing.

I think the problem is that we forget to notice how crazy cool every little thing is as we rush from place to place and engagement to engagement. Making some time to get outdoors with the family seems like a great way to connect…both with the natural world and with each other.

I’m a compulsive email checker. I’m just certain that I’m going to have something that can’t wait crop up wherever I am. When I notice that I’ve forgotten my phone, my first reaction is minor panic followed by relief…that I don’t have to worry about it for a while. I think the next step is to intentionally leave my phone behind…don’t know if I’m there yet.

This issue is packed with great ideas of things you can do outdoors! Go for a bike ride. Play in a park. Run through some water fountains. Or plan a big ol’ trip to some outdoor destination. The choice is yours. Soak it up.

And hey, maybe it’s all virtual, anyway…

Happy trails, Scott

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MAY 2016 • Volume 20, Issue 12 PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com CALENDAR EDITOR Kim Sharpe calendar@rockymountainpub.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION Wendee Brungardt, Sharon Klahn Kyle Moyer, Andy Titterington COVER PHOTO Cheri Shonfeld, schonfeldphotography.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Katie Harris, Kim Sharpe, Lea Hanson, Lynn U. Nichols

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

RMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. ©2016 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited.

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women’s health

Honor yourself

Make Mother’s Day all about you!

LY NN U. NICHOLS

T

his Mother’s Day, I encourage all moms to do what we don’t do well: Be selfish. All day. Don’t settle for just flowers or breakfast in bed, insist that your family spend the whole day doing just what you want.

Mother’s Day was created to honor you, so let it do just that!

Think about the things you love to do with your family and jam in as many of these activities as you can. How about staying in your pajamas and playing Monopoly all morning? Or having someone else make breakfast (and more importantly, clean up) then heading out the door for a family hike? Maybe it’s a double feature at the movie theatre (your pick) with an extra-large popcorn and you plopped right in the middle.

Or maybe you are feeling quite the opposite and would rather have some alone time. Go for it! It’s your day.

Schedule a facial or massage and return to your family refreshed. This can be the best gift of all, especially when your kids are young.

Remind your kids that this is your special day, so they will need to get their own drink of water or make their own snack. Tell them that relaxing and playing

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is all that’s allowed on Mother’s Day, and if you work you are breaking the rules.

Contemplate what it means to be a mother and fathom all the mothers who came before you—all the sacrifice, love, care and joy that has been created by generations and generations of mothers.

Think about your own mom and the good life lessons she specifically taught you (and ask your son to go fetch you your cell phone so you can call and tell her how you feel). At the same time, really open to the words your spouse and kids say to you on this day—soak up all their hugs and words of appreciation for you.

Mother’s Day originated in the U.S. from a daughter’s wish to honor her mother. Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia held a memorial service to honor her mother after she died on May 12, 1907. She decorated the church and had lots of white carnations on hand, her mother’s favorite flower. Her mother, by the same name, had a history of

organizing women’s groups to promote peace and friendship. The spirit of these groups served as the origins of Mother’s Day. By 1914, the second Sunday in May was deemed a national holiday by President Woodrow Wilson. While it can feel overly commercial today, don’t let all the hype lessen the true meaning of Mother’s Day—a child’s heartfelt appreciation for her mother, and a wish to honor who her mother was and the beautiful job she did.

Lastly, think about what makes you a great mother. Consider your ability to provide unconditional love at the hardest of times—during bouts of stomach flu, per say, or after snotty words from a teenager who is trying to break away.

Pat yourself on the back for always being there for your kids, day in and day out. Let the words, “I am a good mother” sink in to the bottom of your toes.

Because you are. You are amazing.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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family activities

A day at the park

Water fun, sports, interpretive hikes, skate parks, fishing and more…

KATIE HARRIS

W

hat better way to spend a day than at the park? Gone are the days of our childhoods when a parent’s options consisted of a smattering of street corner lots equipped with play structures fit for preschoolers. Today’s trip to the park might include a trunk full of bikes, skateboards, basketballs, tennis rackets, and lots of sunscreen—the recipe for a long and perfect day, filled with activities to entertain every age.

Located along the foothills on the west side of Fort Collins, Spring Canyon Park has everything you need for an action-packed day. The park opened in 2007 with the first universally accessible playground in Colorado. “Inspiration Playground” features wheelchair accessible ramps throughout, and a separate sandy play area for small children. The park’s water feature is open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Spring Canyon Park is surrounded by the Spring Creek trail, a 2-acre dog park with a pond, a large bike course, sports fields and courts for basketball, baseball, volleyball and tennis, a horseshoe pit, skate park and hockey rink. The park also offers shelters for picnicking and parties. Located at 2626 W. Horsetooth Road, the 100-acre Spring Canyon Park is easy to find at its location just west of Taft Hill Rd. More information can be found at www.fcgov. com/parks/pdf/springcanyoninfo.pdf.

The city of Loveland opened a brand new multiple-amenity park last year, Mehaffey Park. The 64-acre park sits just west of Wilson Avenue with entrances off 22nd Avenue and 29th Street. Despite its share of obstacles, including the flood in 2013 during the construction phase, the city was able to complete all phases of the park within budget, and hosted a grand opening last August. The park abuts the Loveland 10

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Recreation Trail, and is surrounded by several half-mile walking loops. One unique feature of Mehaffey Park is the arboretum, featuring 14 interpretive stations and local trees and plants. The park also features a large skate park, tennis courts and basketball courts, restrooms and picnic shelters. Future plans for the park include a 9-hole disc golf course. More information can be found at www.ci.loveland.co.us/index. aspx?page=1624.

Eastman Park in Windsor has become well known to residents, but many aren’t aware of just how many activities are available at the park.

Located at 7025 Eastman Park Drive, Eastman Park not only features a large playground, shelter and restrooms, but

also has a pond for fishing, an adjacent trail for hiking and biking, a skatepark, dog park, and disc golf course. More information on this and other Windsor parks can be found at www.windsorgov. com/256/Parks-Amenities.

In Greeley, spend a day at Bittersweet Park. Start your day off by making the 1.2-mile paved loop around the lake. Enjoy a picnic in the shelter, followed by a game of basketball on the nearby court. The large play structure will keep the kids entertained while parents fish or just enjoy the serene lake view. This park has plenty of room to spread out and is easily accessible at its location at 3500 16th Street. For more information visit www.greeleygov.com/ activities/parks.

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learn and live Get Rolling

EVENTS Through August Bike Spring and Bike Summer The City of Fort Collins FC Bikes program is hosting a variety of events to get people rolling. www.fcgov.com/bicycling.

May through September Family Bike Rides On the second Tuesday of every month, the City of Greeley will host a ride starting from various locations. www.GreeleyBikes.com.

Let’s ride

Bike about for fun and independence KIM SHARPE

W

hat color was yours? Did you pretend it was a horse or a motorcycle? Did it have gears or was it a single speed? You know what I’m talking about. Everyone who’s ever owned a bike remembers their first one; perhaps because riding a bike was one of the first ways we experienced freedom and independence.

Besides a great way to get around, bicycling is a fun family activity.

“Cycling together as a family is a wonderful way to explore your neighborhood, other parts of the community, or even neighboring cities and states,” says Nancy Nichols, City of Fort Collins Safe Routes to School coordinator. “It all depends on how big your sense of adventure is.”

HOW OLD TILL YOU ROLL? The age at which a child can learn to ride a bike varies based on individual development and some people don’t learn until they’re adults. Nichols says, “Our Safe Routes to School instructors expect that kids will know how to ride by the time they are in first or second grade, but we’ll teach them how to ride at any age!”

A BALANCING ACT For decades, training wheels were considered the way to help someone achieve 12

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a sense of balance on a bike, but no more!

Balance bikes—bikes without pedals— have replaced those archaic coaches.

“The balance bike is the number one way to teach your kid to ride,” says Sarah Boyd, mom to an 8-year-old bare-footed adventuress, City of Greeley park planner and a League of American Bicyclists certified cycling instructor. “These ‘starter’ bikes come without pedals and cranks, so kids get to learn how to balance and steer the bike without the complication of a pedaling motion.”

PREPARE AND PRACTICE Many people think they know how to ride a bike when they can pedal, stop and not fall over, but there’s more to it than that.

Nichols says, “You definitely need to be familiar with the rules of the road, focusing particularly on riding on the right, signaling your movements and using great caution at intersections, particularly if coming off a sidewalk into a crosswalk, which often takes motorists by surprise. It’s a good idea for kids to sign up for bike clubs or camps to get lots of practice following the rules for trail and road riding.”

SAFE AND SOUND Once you have your balance, know how

Sunday, May 22 McKee Classic Bike Tour Four scenic routes (10, 30, 37 and 62 miles). Begins and ends at McKee Medical Center, 3600 N. Boise Ave., LV. www.mckeefoundationevents.com.

Saturday, June 11 (tentative) Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day This Overland Mountain Bike Club event is open to kids of all ages, with a limit of 50 participants. Free. Maxwell Natural Area, FC. 9am. www.overlandmtb.org.

Friday, August 5 Movie Night at Pheasant Run Park Hosted by Greeley Bikes. Includes a bike rodeo where kids can test their skills and learn the rules of the road. www.Greeley Bikes.com.

CLASSES Smart Cycling, Everyday Cycling, Adult Learn to Ride a Bicycle, Women on a Roll, more!

Generally for people 10+ years. www.bicycleambassadorprogram.org.

to start and stop a bike, and are familiar with the rules, there are a few more ways to ensure bicycling is as safe as possible.

First and foremost, all cyclists—kids and adults—should wear well-fitting helmets. “I know most of us grew up without helmets, but kids learn by example and you need to wear yours too if you want them to take it seriously,” Boyd reminds parents.

Also make sure your bike is mechanically sound.

As the weather continues to warm up, get on a roll and give bicycling a try!

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community news

Northern Colorado shines

Fundraising, bike-friendly school, food help, a new home KIM SHARPE

T

he U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2010 report says a healthy community is one that continuously creates and improves both its physical and social environments, helping people to support one another in aspects of daily life and to develop to their fullest potential. Given that definition, northern Colorado is very healthy.

Proof of that is the way healthy options are woven into its culture. The news below highlights some of those options.

28TH ANNUAL MCKEE CLASSIC BIKE TOUR SET FOR MAY 22 The 28th Annual McKee Classic Bike Tour (MCBT) is scheduled for Sunday, May 22. This non-competitive, multi-distance bicycle tour travels through the beautiful foothills of Larimer County in Loveland and Fort Collins, and is a great training ride preparing cyclists for the summer bicycling season.

The MCBT offers four distances: 62 miles, 37 miles, 30 miles or 10 miles.

The rides begin and end at McKee Medical Center, 2000 Boise Ave., Loveland, starting at 6:30am. Cyclists participating in the 62-mile ride will enjoy the sites of the Big Thompson River, Lon Hagler Reservoir, Carter Lake, Green Ridge Glade Reservoir, Masonville, Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins, Boyd Lake and the City of Loveland.

The 37- and 30-mile rides will include a loop around Carter Lake and then continue back into Loveland. The 10-mile family/fun ride will enjoy a leisurely ride from McKee Medical Center to Boyd Lake and back.

Entry fees through May 13 are $60 for adults, $35 for teens between the ages of 13-17, and $10 for children 12 and under. The fee for all 10-mile riders is $10. A late-fee registration 14

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applies from May 14 through May 22.

One hundred percent of all registration fees and sponsorship contributions will benefit the McKee Medical Center Foundation programs, all of which strive to improve the health and wellness of the Loveland community. The Foundation still needs volunteers to assist with the ride. Volunteers receive a T-shirt and full breakfast. Registration for the ride and volunteering is open at www.McKeeFoundationEvents.com.

FORT COLLINS HIGH SCHOOL EARNS BIKE-FRIENDLY DESIGNATION Fort Collins High School (FCHS) recently became the first public high school in America to earn a Silver Bicycle Friendly Business from the American League of Bicyclists.

The designation recognizes that FCHS encourages bicycling and provides amenities like showers and a bike repair station that make pedaling a feasible transportation option. It’s a big win for the school’s burgeoning bike club, which teaches students about the

benefits of cycling and supports students, faculty and staff who regularly ride their bikes to school.

“Our goal is to increase bicycle participation and education,” bike club co-sponsor Cathy Hettleman says. One day, she hopes to offer a class in bike safety and repair for students, and have a lab space for students to practice hands-on skills. In the meantime, the club incentivizes riding by offering free helmets, repairs and a supportive community.

“My favorite part is just being able to bike around with my friends,” freshman Connor Mikesolo says. Mikesolo is one of the bike club members who staffs a club information booth during lunch, offering free helmet fittings and swag to other students.

Adding a layer of legitimacy—or, in high school words—a “cool factor” is also crucial in increasing the popularity of biking within the student population.

“Our club numbers are small, but we have a large influence on the school when kids see other kids commut-

ing,” bike club co-sponsor, English teacher and year-round bicycle commuter Mitch Schneider explains. “Biking is a really good way to get around the town we’re in. I want to model for kids that not everyone has to get in a car to get to where you want to go, especially in Fort Collins.”

The long-range goal of the club is to make getting a bike and learning how to maintain it the same type of milestone that getting a driver’s license is—a symbol of adulthood and independence.

“The nature of a bike is that you’re self-reliant, you can get yourself places,” Schneider says. “There’s an important metaphor there—in a way, we’re learning the skills we need to keep our lives together and keep moving forward.”

NOCO NONPROFIT RECEIVES KAISER FUNDING TO COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY Each day, one in seven Coloradans face hunger. It’s a serious issue that forces many to choose between putting food on the table and handling day-to-day expenses like paying the bills or purchasing necessary medication. Kaiser Permanente Colorado is reaffirming its commitment to diminishing the rates of hunger by providing 13 local nonprofits across the state with a portion of a $1 million grant that aims to increase access to food for all Coloradans. The Northern Colorado Food Cluster is one of the 13.

“We are thrilled to receive the Kaiser grant,” says Sandra Greenway, Northern Colorado food Cluster executive director. “It’s provides the perfect opportunity for the food cluster to honor its diverse constituency, to address food insecurity and increase the sales of local food. It’s a real win for our community.”

In partnership with the Larimer County Department of Human Services and Vida Sana, the food cluster plans to increase enrollment in the Supplemental Food Assistance Program (SNAP). Additionally, the food cluster is establishing a community-wide education program that explains how SNAP benefits can be used to acquire fresh, local food; where those benefits are matched at regional farm-

er’s markets; and how and where benefits can be used to purchase produce from CSAs and farm stands.

Last fall, Kaiser Permanente Colorado invited nonprofit organizations to apply for a portion of the $1 million food insecurity grant. Qualifying nonprofits had to demonstrate how they would effectively use a portion of the available grant to increase access to food and nutrition for Coloradans through SNAP or the Summer Food Service programs. The food cluster’s plans won the approval of the granting committee.

“Hunger is a far-reaching issue that affects hundreds of thousands of people in this state regardless of race, gender or ZIP code. We know first-hand how access to nutritious food is important to leading a healthy lifestyle,” says Nancy Wollen, Kaiser Permanente Colorado interim president. “We’re proud to work with these various local nonprofits to increase access to nutritional food for Coloradans in need.”

RIVER SONG WALDORF PLANS MOVE TO NEW HOME River Song Waldorf School in Fort Collins is getting a new home as its outgrown its current one.

The new building is a heart-felt gift from its previous and current owners.

The donation, along with funds from a capital campaign, which is under way, will help bring alternative, play-based

Waldorf education to more children in the Fort Collins community.

River Song’s new location will be 900 East Stuart St. location, just west of its current location. The 2,500 squarefoot single-family home will be renovated to capture the features of the Waldorf curriculum—open space, beautiful classrooms with kitchens, gardens and a parent meeting area. The new facility will add a third classroom to serve more families in the community. Carefully chosen landscaping will nurture outdoor activities and include a safe and accessible area for drop-off, pick-up, and event parking.

The capital campaign goal will cover the entire renovation and expansion of the building and grounds. Renovations to the house will begin in September 2016. River Song plans to occupy the finished facility by May 2017, and the new school is scheduled to be ready for classes starting on September 1, 2017.

“We are thrilled to officially announce our capital campaign and to recognize this generous gift,” says Becky Praamsma, River Song Waldorf director.

“River Song has long been part of the Fort Collins community, and this new phase of our school’s life will ensure that we can continue to serve children and families in the neighborhood we have grown to love.”

Donations can be made at www.river songwaldorf.org/growing-roots-campaign.

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healthy living

Cleaning green and healthy Try homemade and chemical-free products LEA HANSON

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now tells us.. that washing with antibacterial soaps isn’t any better than regular soaps, and the American Medical Association (AMA) says that the frequent use of antibacterial ingredients can promote bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

HEALTHY CLEANING, HEALTHY LIVING Chemical cleaning products only disinfect and sanitize if used according to instructions, and if not used properly will not kill germs and bacteria. Additionally, studies have repeatedly shown that reducing the amount of chemicals present in homes has a beneficial effect upon the immune system, resulting in fewer illnesses.

A

s our lives become busier, over-scheduled, and more stressful, it’s easy to gravitate towards the latest products that promise to make annoying chores easier. Many of us value performance and speed when cleaning our homes; we want a product that works and works quickly. Unfortunately, while modern-day cleaning products and techniques are increasingly meeting those needs, they often come at the expense of environmental values.

Kacey Campbell, manager of Green Clean Colorado says, “Green cleaning techniques are better on the environment and eco-friendly and those are important to most Coloradans.”

How can adopting a chemical-free cleaning process help your family?

BREATHE EASIER IN YOUR HOME Chemical cleaning products, particularly those that come in spray form, 16

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can have a detrimental effect on the indoor air quality of your home.

Campbell says, “After making a shift to eco-friendly products, we’ve had a lot of customers say their allergies aren’t bothering them as much anymore—specifically asthma.” Asthma is common among adults and is the most common chronic disease among school-aged children. But breathing difficulty affects pets as well as humans, Campbell says, “It’s funny how many people tell us their pets don’t sneeze anymore.”

LOWER CHILDREN’S EXPOSURE AND RESISTANCE TO TOXINS Household chemical cleaning substances are the second most common reason for children’s exposure to poison. “The chemicals that are in the everyday things we use to clean our homes and workplaces are really scary to me,” Campbell says. And, the

SAFER MEALS The chemicals that you use to clean your kitchen can linger on your countertops, cutting boards, and your other cooking utensils as well as in your sink. When you prepare foods, you may unknowingly contaminate them with trace amounts of these chemicals.

SAVE MONEY While chemical-free cleaning supplies are more expensive when purchased at the store, many underestimate the benefits from making their own—which is a moneysaving technique. Why go out and buy products when you can use things you already have in your pantry? For home cleaning, vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, etc. can do the trick for pennies on the dollar, compared to buying conventional cleaning products. Using water and a reusable, washable eco-friendly cleaning cloth is far more economical that purchasing chemical cleaning products on a regular basis.

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FRUGAL FAMILIES Eat well, dress fashionably and have fun on a budget KIM SHARPE

F

rom the moment little humans appear on the scene, parents go into hyper mode to make sure their basic needs are met. Those needs plus much more come easier when you have a lot of cash flow. When your family budget is small or finances get squeezed, providing for your children can prove challenging.

Many strategies, however, can maximize your resources to help keep your family well-fed, styling and having fun.

SHOESTRING SUSTENANCE Food is a bonding element. It’s very often the center of celebrations, traditions and family gatherings. And each one of us can name a food item or two that we equate with comfort. Beyond that, serving good food is one of the primary ways parents nurture their loved ones. If your budget is tight, providing nutritious 18

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meals doesn’t have to go by the wayside.

Shelley Seavy, NoCo mom of two, says when her family has a tight month, she gets serious about planning meals and cautions that while bulk shopping may seem economical, “Do the math.

Will you use three huge bottles of mustard before they expire? And a huge expense each month is cereal. There are many times when we just eat oatmeal or oatmeal breakfast bars because oatmeal is a great deal and filling. My best advice is plan ahead and stick to your guns.”

Seavy says she also cuts back on meat and uses more beans and makes her own bread. If she does buy meat or poultry, she uses it for more than one meal. She says, “A roaster chicken is great for several meals. The first meal can just be the chicken, and then with leftovers, I can make chicken salad or

chicken and rice casserole, and cook the carcass for chicken broth that I’ll use to make a hearty chicken soup. That’s at least three meals from one chicken!”

“Food on a tight budget is easy in the summer,” says Melina Bernhardt, another NoCo mom. “I have my own garden and every year I plant for more diversity on the plate. For the winter it is harder, but I would say one key is to eat less and eat well even if a little more expensive since healthy foods tend to be pricier. I believe a lot of people eat too much. More is not better.”

FRUGAL FASHION Once kids get to a certain age, they become aware of fashion and want to fit in with their peers by wearing stylish clothes.

But keeping up with the trendy young Jones doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.

Berhardt says she’s lucked out in this arena. “We got second-hand clothes for our daughter up until now from a French family. How is that for cheap and fashionable? Our daughter also wears a lot of the same clothes. We never feel like she needs 10 or more of each item of clothing. I’ve also made her dresses with upcycled materials, so no cost but my time. Maybe the fact that my husband and I don’t emphasize the importance of looks (because we don’t believe in it even though we have fun with dressing up) helps us stay moderate and reasonable.”

Seavy also takes advantage of handme-down clothes, “so I don’t spend much on kids clothes at all except for undies, socks and seasonal attire, like new outfits for Easter and Christmas.”

She also recommends only shopping the sales racks and at thrift stores.

For herself, Seavy says when her kids were babies and even now, she tries not to spend more than five dollars per item. “As a stay-at-home mom, you never know when you’re going to get pooped on, peed on, thrown up on or spilled on, so I didn’t want to be sad about having to throw away something that cost a lot because it was ruined.”

ECONOMICAL ENTERTAINMENT When Stacey Clark wants to have fun with her two girls, she says, “The obvious way for us is wandering in the woods—off trail—at kids’ pace, with lots

of imaginative play directed by them.

For me and my girls, it has often manifested as us being a family of otters by a river, and creating our food stores and sleeping areas.”

Seavy agrees that her children love being outside, getting together with other kids and playing in the park and having a picnic. When her kids were younger, she took advantage of free days at places like the zoo and museums. As her kids started to develop their own interests, she would buy an annual membership to places that matched those interests. “Once you purchase a membership to a museum or other cultural place, we have found the next year they offer you a discount to renew. And most places offer reciprocity to other locations of the same type in other cities. This is a nice perk.”

Rather than buying toys, Bernhardt says, “I collect all kinds of things, like toilet paper rolls, boxes, empty shampoo and dish soap bottles and other containers so she can play pharmacy or grocery shopping like I did when I was a kid.

We also have no cable TV. All this is very cheap, environmentally friendly and better for kids.”

“The most memorable, heartopening times we’ve had as a family have cost very little money,” says Clark.

“Taking the time to plan and being intentional adds up to less money spent with returns that are priceless.”

Extra support with the basics…

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we still might need help providing food, shelter and clothing for our family. Here are some resources you may find helpful.

General Assistance

Crossroads Ministry of Estes Park www.crossroadsep.org or 970-577-0610 Also provides vouchers for and assistance with rent, utilities, medical, dental, vision, mental health, prescription medication, gasoline, clothing, household goods.

United Way 2-1-1 Information and referral source for all basic needs Larimer County, www.uwaylc.org or call 2-1-1 Weld County, www.unitedway-weld.org or call 2-1-1

Food

Food Bank for Larimer County www.foodbanklarimer.org or 970-493-4477 Weld Food Bank www.weldfoodbank.org or 970-356-2199

Housing

CARE Housing (FC) www.carehousing.org or 970-282-7522 Neighbor to Neighbor www.n2n.org or 970-494-9705 (FC) 970-663-4163 (LV) Estes Park Housing Authority www.esteshousing.org or 970-577-3730 Fort Collins Housing Authority www.fchousing.com or 970-416-2910 Greeley/Weld Housing Authority www.greeley-weldha.org or 970-353-7437 Loveland Housing Authority www.lovelandhousing.org or 970-667-3232

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Adventures that bond Schedule your summer getaways now!

Lynn U. Nichols

H

ow often do you reach the end of summer break and feel like you didn’t fit it all in? You wanted to camp more, travel more, play more and relax more as a family? If your family is like mine you try to cram it all in those last precious weeks in August.

This year, vow to do it differently. Block out time on your calendar for weekend camping trips and days off here and there throughout the summer. After all, we only have 18 summers with our kids.

Eighteen summers to create memories that really stick—times we see new places, take long road trips and get goofy or talk for hours, nights we lie in the sand in the dark, counting shooting stars. These are the moments we remember most, the adventures that help define us as a family.

PLAY TOGETHER, STAY TOGETHER Just as you and your spouse need a

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date night now and then to fortify your marriage, your family needs time alone to strengthen its bonds. Creating a strong family base for your kids gives them a solid launching pad for life. Imagine that each time you spend quality hours together you are hammering another nail to strengthen that base.

“Kids who have secure bonds with their families are able to venture out in the world and take the risks they need to take to become independent, well-adjusted individuals. Our families are touchstones for our own identity,” says Dr. Kathy Sigda, Child and Adolescent Psychologist with UCHealth’s Mountain Crest Behavioral Healthcare Center in Fort Collins.

Nothing creates bonds like doing an activity together—laughing and sharing successes or screw-ups. These

special times happen easiest when we step out of the everyday. A Disney Time Survey of 1000 people found that quality family time increases while on vacation. Not only did family members say they were more likely to learn something new about each other, they also said they were more apt to feel excited, calm, affectionate, and sillier than if they were home.

“It doesn’t even have to be a vacation. It can be a midweek picnic at the park or a bike ride scheduled right after work. Or maybe it’s a set summer night to play yard games together,” Sigda says.

If you think of summer as a vacation all in itself—a time to put play before chores or plan more fun events—you can create mini getaways every day. Maybe your kids are older and would rather spend time with their friends. That’s

natural. Yet it’s still important to make time for family, even if you have to succumb to forced family outings. Your kids might resist at first, but once you get them on that mountain bike or to the lake, they will likely change their tune.

“Sometimes kids will make the outing unpleasant to let you know how much they didn’t want to go, but it’s still worth doing. You are sending the message that you value being with them, that you value the family,” Sigda states.

The key to making it work , she adds, is keeping it low key and relatively short— and doing it just once in a while.

TAKE A RISK, FOR CONFIDENCE SAKE If you’ve got young ones, you may feel a strong urge to corral them constantly.

After all, they could get hurt. Here’s why you should stretch your own comfort zone a little, and allow your kids to sometimes run ahead on the trail or climb on boulders.

“Taking risks within reason helps kids learn to navigate the world without fear but with a level of caution,” Sigda says.

She recommends giving guidelines, like staying where you can see me or hear me, riding your bike just to the end of the block, asking before you try something scary, and more.

“Kids need to learn to step away from their parents. Even getting a little hurt is a life lesson that they will be okay, that they will heal, that they can get up and keep going,” she adds.

As a family, take a risk this summer. Climb a 14er or tackle the biggest ride at the amusement park. Just make sure you define the risk for yourselves.

When we set a goal and achieve it, we feel success—and success builds personal confidence. Doing an activity that’s somewhat unique also helps define you as a family, which creates family pride.

“It’s very personal for each child and family what constitutes an adventure. For some, it’s backpacking for 12 days in the wilderness. For others it’s a two-hour hike. It’s all about stepping out of your comfort zone together and doing something that’s not a part of your everyday,” Sigda says.

BE A KID AGAIN, TAKE A VACATION Getting away feeds our wells. It makes us feel free. We release the strings that attach us to all the chores and obligations in our lives. Getting away lets us think bigger and live larger. Sitting on a rock overlooking a vast canyon makes you contemplate the speck of your life, giving you a wide-angled view.

There is great satisfaction in experiencing new places and seeing new things as a family. All that new stimulus helps unlock creativity, and lets us adults feel childlike wonder and curiosity again.

“The key to successful family vacations is to really unplug. To leave attachments at work and to live at home as much as possible so you can really focus on each other,” Sigda says.

She recommends that every family member get a say in how to spend your time together. Of course mom or dad will create the structure for the trip, but letting kids choose what to do on a given day, or whether or not to leave the pool or stay for another hour helps everyone feel heard and respected. Vacations are also a great chance

for siblings to get closer.

“Relaxing certain rules while on vacation helps siblings connect. They feel like they are getting away with something together,” she adds, sharing about a friend who didn’t like junk food, but allowed her kids to get what they wanted at the gas station before starting a road trip.

Listening to audio stories, singing songs, playing road games and even stopping at cheesy wayside attractions also add to the fun and create memories.

Remember, your adventure or vacation may not turn out exactly as planned, but that’s okay. As parents, it’s helpful to point out the little successes along the way.

“Parents can help interpret the outing so that it feels like something was accomplished no matter what.

Maybe you set out to do an 8-mile hike but only made it three. That’s okay. It’s useful to learn that we can alter a goal and still find success,” Sigda concludes.

What are you waiting for? Get your calendar out and schedule that getaway today.

Great Weekend Getaways from NOCO

So you’re running low on vacation time. Don’t let that stop you from planning a family getaway. If you can tack a day or two onto your weekend you’ve got some great driving options close to home. Here’s a short list of big and small places that promise adventure within a one to seven-hour drive. Road trip!

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado (3-4 hour drive) If you haven’t made it here yet, put this on your must-see list. Expansive Medano Creek is at the base of these incredible dunes that look like the Sahara Desert rising out of the mountains. Bring your sleds and sand buckets. Camping available. Visit www.nps.gov/grsa.

Lake McConaughy, Nebraska (3-4 hour drive) Need a camping and lake fix? If you love sand and campfires, here’s a great weekend getaway for you. Bring a boat or just come for the beach. Learn more at ilovelakemac.com.

Curt Gowdy or Glendo Reservoir, Wyoming (1-2 hour drive) Need more camping and lake fixes? Like McConaughy but shorter drives and more hills. The bonus with these places is killer mountain biking and hiking trails above the lakes. Visit wyoparks.state.wy.us.

Moab, Utah (Arches, Canyonlands) (7-8 hour drive) Hankering for the Grand Canyon but it’s too far? Go to Moab instead, especially if you love mountain biking, jeeping and camping. The red rocks, arches and canyons will reset your stress button. Fall and spring are nice, too. Visit www.discovermoab.com.

Yellowstone National Park, ID, MT, WY (7-8 hour drive) It would be a mistake to leave out the granddaddy of destinations. Busy in the summer, but worth it for the buffalo, bubbling mud and geysers. Visit www.nps.gov/yell.

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greeley-evans district 6 news Employee of the Year named for Daniels Scholarships this year.

The foundation awarded 226 scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

The Daniels Fund awards scholarships based not only on academic success, but on the character, leadership qualities and commitment to contributing to the community exhibited by students.

“The Daniels Fund is a prestigious recognition of a student’s academic success and commitment to the community, and we are very proud of this year’s recipients,” says Superintendent Dr. Deirdre Pilch. “This scholarship will provide many opportunities for these students and will launch them on a path to post-K-12 success. We congratulate them and wish them the best.”

The District 6 Daniels Scholarship recipients for 2016 are: The Classified Council has named Madison Elementary School Office Manager Lynn Van Buskirk the Greeley-Evans School District 6 Classified Employee of the Year.

Van Buskirk was honored Monday, April 11 at the Board of Education meeting. She began working at Madison Elementary School in 1980, first as an instructional assistant, then as an office assistant. In 1990, she was named office manager and has held the position ever since. She has been employed in District 6 for 36 years.

Knowing that every day will be different, Van Buskirk says she has come to consider Madison as her home-away-from-home, and the staff as her extended family. She and her husband, Tom, have been married for 52 years, and have three grown sons and seven grandchildren.

In her nomination of Van Buskirk, Title 1 Assistant Carol Gustafson said Van Buskirk has an 24

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amazing work ethic.

“Her demeanor in the office has a calming effect and adds to the atmosphere of family,” Gustafson says.

“She has consistently adapted to new personalities and policies with grace and cheerfulness.”

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

Paid for through the Daniels Fund, a private foundation started by entrepreneur and cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, these scholarships cover four years of tuition and fees, room and board, books and miscellaneous educational expenses for scholars who attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States.

More than 2,200 students applied

•H ernan Dominguez, Greeley Central High School • Javier Adrian Lopez Castillo, Greeley West High School • Cristal Garcia Hernandez, Northridge High School • Elizabet Garcia Hernandez, Northridge High School • Alexis Michelle Deviney, University Schools

Last year, nine District 6 students received Daniels scholarships.

Over the past 10 years, 79 District 6 scholars have received this competitive award. Since the program was launched in 2000, the Daniels fund has awarded more than $138 million in scholarships.

ENROLLING NOW FOR COLORADO PRESCHOOL PROGRAM Greeley-Evans School District 6 is now enrolling students in the Colorado Preschool Program for the 201617 school year.

The Colorado Preschool program serves young children in Colorado

who face educational challenges due to family, economic or developmental concerns. The program provides free, high-quality preschool to eligible children in District 6 through partnering community sites. There is no fee for children who qualify, and priority is given to qualified 4-year-olds.

District 6 partners with ABC Child Development Centers, Early Childhood University and Number 1 Child Enrichment Center to offer its preschool program.

Applications are available at the Early Childhood Center at Aims Community College, 20th Street and 55th Avenue, just west of the Cornerstone Building and at ABC East, 1028 5th Avenue in Greeley.

Applications must be received by May 27. Space is limited.

DISTRICT 6 SEEKS SPONSORS FOR SCHOOL KICKOFF EVENT Greeley-Evans School District 6 is seeking sponsors for the second annual School Kickoff Community

Celebration, to be held Saturday, August 13 at Island Grove Regional Park.

Funded totally through private donations, the 2015 event raised enough money to give away 2,200 backpacks filled with school supplies, serve free lunch to 2,500 and provide more than 80 onsite $10 sports physicals for students. The celebration also featured four student entertainment groups performing throughout the day and more than 60 community booths and activities such as games, free balloons and face painting. It is estimated more than 3,000 people attended the event.

The goal for this year’s School Kickoff Community Celebration is to give away at least 2,300 backpacks filled with school supplies and provide lunch for 2,500 participants.

More sponsors are needed to help reach that goal.

Sponsors can help with this event in many ways: • $5,000

will buy 300 backpacks filled with school supplies

• $3,000

will buy 200 backpacks and help fund the free lunch • $2,000 will buy 100 backpacks filled with school supplies • $1,000 will buy 100 backpacks or sponsor our entertainment stage • $500 will help purchase school supplies to go inside the backpacks • $250 will help purchase lunch for the event • $100 will buy pencils for 200 backpacks

Each sponsorship level has marketing and publicity opportunities for businesses and organizations, as well as a free community outreach booth at the event.

Any business or organization interested in becoming a sponsor for the event should contact District 6 Director of Communications Theresa Myers at (970) 348-6003 or at tmyers@greeleyschools.org.

For more information on the School Year Kickoff Community Celebration, visit www.greeley schools.org/kickoff.

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poudre school district news Peer counselors support fellow students

High school students are taking ownership of the mental health of the teenagers in their building.

About 2,000 ninth grade students hear presentations each year on positive mental health and suicide prevention, thanks to the efforts of dozens of upperclassmen peer counselors.

On Monday morning at Fossil Ridge, two senior girls, Brynn Peters and Abby Burns, explained the difference between eustress and distress, sadness and depression, and worry and anxiety to a ninth-grade advisory class.

They taught the class the signs of suicidal ideation and how to get help for themselves or a friend.

“I’m really passionate about this because I’ve struggled with depression myself,” Burns says. “It’s just really powerful to talk about it, so it’s not so hushhush.”

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The suicide prevention trainings began among the peer counselors at Fort Collins High School a few years ago, after a student died by suicide, then spread to the other high schools as the students trained each other on what to say.

And they had a similar reaction this year, after hearing about two middle schoolers who took their own lives in the fall. The group started developing a training for middle school students around self-confidence that they’ll pilot for the first time at eighth grade transition night on April 18.

“We really want that kind of studenton-student education and interaction because it seems to stick a little bit better than hearing from an administrator,” Rebecca Hamner, a FCHS peer counselor explains.

The model has been in place in Fort Collins high schools for about 30 years,

when the first peer counseling programs were established at the comprehensive high schools.

“We already know that teens are talking to each other and getting advice from each other. It’s where they are developmentally — they turn to each other more than adults. So it just makes sense that we would train them to do a better job at that,” Pam Kilness, school counselor at Rocky Mountain says.

Having students available as a point of access makes it easier for the teenagers to connect with mental health professionals, she says. Not only are the peer counselors more connected with what’s going on around the school and in various social groups, but also they can multiply the effect of the school mental health support staff.

“It takes a lot of time and effort to train and enable these kids, but we see

it’s so worthwhile, because then it’s not just me, we have kids helping kids too,” Kilness says.

Over the years, each high school has seen clear success from their peer counseling programs. Along with giving regular presentations on everything from teen dating violence to eating disorders, Rocky and Fort Collins also offer an office for students to come for confidential peer counseling.

“We listen and help people through things. We’re there to be a resource to students who need to come in but might not want to talk to counselors or teachers about their problem,” Hamner says.

The students complete extensive training on when to call in a professional school counselor or mental health specialist, and all have received suicide prevention training. Often, they’ll accompany a student who’s nervous about seeking help.

“Having people you see every day in the halls telling you about this stuff makes more of an impact,” Brynn Peters says. As the leader of the Peer Support and Mental Health Committee at Fossil Ridge, she’s seen results firsthand of their work.

At each school, the students actively reach out and form relationships to help break down barriers to support. The Fort Collins peer counselors make overhead announcements about their services, check-in with people eating lunch in the hallways and touch base when they hear about a tragedy in a family.

“That familiarity has had a direct result on who comes into the office,” Hamner explains.

The partnership the peer counselors have created with district staff has allowed for a much greater level of student support than would be possible without them, and impacted thousands of lives.

ELEMENTARY STUDENTS COMPLETE VOLTBUSTERS UTILITIES CHALLENGE More than 500 students participated in a new energy-saving challenge created by the City of Fort Collins Utilities Education team.

The team designed “Voltbusters,” a four-week energy conservation program tied to state standards, to teach elementary

students why and how to save electricity.

Fourth and fifth graders learned about conserving energy by turning off computers and electronics. Second and third graders studied heating and ventilation in their classroom. Kindergarten and first graders learned about lighting. Each time a class completed an energy-saving action; they counted it towards their total, competing with classrooms all over Fort Collins.

Small rewards — like yelling “Voltbusters!” every time a student flipped off a light switch — made the activities so fun that siblings, students in other grades and parents at home jumped on board, too.

“Voltbusters was different because it connected all those areas — other schools, the community, and parents — in a way I can’t usually do,” says teacher Tammy Warren, whose kindergarten class won the K-1 division by completing the most energy-saving activities.

Each participating classroom received materials that explained the background, facts and importance of energy conservation locally and globally.

The flexible curriculum allowed teachers to adapt it to their needs. For example, Warren tied the information into units on plant life cycles and citizenship.

“This is valuable because our main mission is connecting the community with conservation through water and energy education,” Hallie Adams,

utilities education specialist, says. “We want to get that message out, but also be reaching state standards and the objectives of teachers in the community.”

The behaviors that Voltbusters encouraged, like turning off lights and electronics, have continued beyond the month of programming. Warren’s classroom now relies solely on natural light all morning until lunchtime.

“Even when I told my class they’d won, they still wanted to continue,” she says. “It’s a great message that they received. They feel like they’re a part of something bigger, so they’re going to carry it on.”

The Utilities Education team delivers more than 200 programs to about 5,000 – 6,000 PSD students annually.

PSD Calendar of Events May 10 ......... 6 :30pm, Board of Education meeting, Johannsen Support Services Complex, 2407 LaPorte Avenue.

May 19-21 ... High school graduations May 24 ....... 6 :30pm, Board of Education meeting, Johannsen Support Services Complex, 2407 LaPorte Avenue.

May 27 ....... L ast day of school, half day for students.

May 30 ....... All schools and offices closed

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thompson school district news Logo chosen for High Plains School boundary. To verify residence status within the attendance boundary, please visit www.thompsonschools.org.

Thompson School District is pleased to formally announce the winner of a recent design contest that was hosted to identify an official logo for the new High Plains School. Francisco (“Frank”) Silva, a senior at Loveland High School, created the piece that was chosen to serve as the school’s official image.

“Bison are known for being strong and I wanted to reflect that in my logo submission,” Frank says. “I used Adobe Illustrator to make an outline of a bison and I then created the details in black.

Later, I used Adobe Photoshop to create the blue stroke around the black and I then left the inside as a grey in order to match the colors of the school.”

Silva, who is 18 years old, is no stranger to graphic design. In addition to his class load at Loveland High School, he has attended Aims Community College to earn his certification in the use of Illustrator and Photoshop. He also spends his free time designing for the LHS Algebra 1 in Manufacturing 28

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Processes, Entrepreneurship and Design and Geometry in Construction programs. He has designed several banners for the school district and has also helped in the creation of custom T-shirts for students and staff. Frank plans to join TSD’s ASCENT program in order to attend one more year of community college before hopefully attending Colorado State University-Pueblo to study Graphic Design and Mathematics.

A total of nine contest entries were received. Entries were judged by the school’s Construction Review Committee, a community oversight group comprised of district parents, community members and staff. The new official logo will now be used throughout the school’s marketing materials.

High Plains School, which has been under construction since spring of last year, is scheduled to open for students this coming August. Enrollment is still being accepted for students who reside within the school’s attendance

NEW SAFETY AND SECURITY MANAGER Thompson School District is pleased to announce that it has named Jesse Lunsford as Safety and Security Manager, effective July 1. He will fill the position that is being vacated by Rick Frei, who is retiring from the district in June.

Lunsford recently served for three years as a School Resource Officer (SRO) for the district, working primarily with the Ferguson High School and Thompson Valley High School communities. Among other duties, SRO personnel work directly with school and district staff to help ensure safety for students and visitors, meet with students and families on a variety of schoolrelated issues and investigate potential violations of the law on campus. Prior to his post as an SRO, Lunsford worked as a patrol officer for the Loveland Police Department. His law enforcement experience also includes service as a patrol officer, police detective and police lieutenant for the Collierville Police Department in Collierville, TN. As safety and security manager, Lunsford will coordinate all security efforts for district schools and buildings, working directly with school and district administrators and local and regional law enforcement and management agencies.

“I’m very happy to be able to transition into this role,” Lunsford says. “I’m really looking forward to contributing to the Thompson School District team and being able to focus on the safety and security needs of the entire district, rather than just two schools.”

STEM NIGHT Edmondson Elementary School held it’s 4th annual STEM Night. OtterCares was on-site to see the school’s Innovation Station debut, made possible by an Innovation Station grant

that the school received in September.

Over 300 people attended the evening event and families spent time exploring Design Thinking Challenges grounded in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

A highlight of the entire day was a visit from Google Expeditions. Expeditions is a beta product from Google that brings virtual reality to schools.

All students in grade 2-5 at Edmondson participated in Virtual Field Trips during the day and over 150 people experienced the exciting technology during STEM Night.

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT RECEIVES AWARDS AT SCIENCE FAIR Congratulations to Joey Perko, who participated in the Colorado State Science and Engineering Fair at CSU in Fort Collins. Joey represented Walt Clark Middle School with his project titled, “Effects of Sublimation of Dry Ice on Mars Geology.”

At the state science fair, Joey was awarded Honorable Mention (5th place)

in the Junior Division of Earth & Space Sciences. Joey’s project was also recognized with the following special awards:

• $50 from the American Institute of Professional Geologists Colorado Section • $50 from the Colorado Scientific Society • A gift bag with geology books and other items, as well as a plaque recognizing his efforts from the Geological Society of America • A gift bag with reference material and a mineral sample of Fiber Optic Calcite from the United States Geological Survey

Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of prizes and scholarships were awarded to students from around the state of Colorado at this year’s state science fair.

STUDENT WINS FRENCH AWARD Emily Strand, a French IV student at Loveland High School, has received a $1,000 travel award from the American Association of Teachers of French and the National French Honor Society for her essay entry written in French. Her teacher is Arnaud Garcia.

Emily is one of ten students se-

lected for this award nation-wide. She has been selected to participate in the Rotary International Student Exchange Program in Belgium next year and will be attending school and living with families in the French speaking part of the country. She will use this travel award to help with her trip.

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lunchbox POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT—Elementary student lunches are $2.45, secondary student lunches are $2.70 and reduced lunches are $0.40. Entrees offered daily: Elementary—a variety of fruits and vegetables, milk and juices; Secondary--hot and cold sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, deli salad and pizza.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2 Potato bar w/chili; chicken patty sandwich 3 Cheese ravioli; chicken bites & roll 4 Asian Teriyaki rice bowl w/chicken; hamburger/cheeseburger 5 BBQ chicken or cheese pizza; tuna salad sub 9 Toasted cheese sandwich & tomato soup; chicken nuggets 10 Spaghetti & roasted veggie meat sauce; turkey gravy & roll 11 Sweet & sour meatballs; chicken patty sandwich 12 Chicken enchilada bake; trout treasures

13 Pepperoni or cheese pizza; Mediterranean pasta 16 Sloppy Joe sandwich; mac n’cheese 17 Veggie lasagna; cheese calzone dipper w/ marinara 18 Asian noodles w/chicken; grilled chicken sandwich 19 Green chili pork bowl; hamburger/cheeseburger 20 Meat lovers or cheese pizza; chicken Caesar wrap 23 Taco burger; chicken nuggets 24 Chicken patty sandwich; meatball sub 25 Orange chicken & rice; hotdog

26 Cheese or pepperoni pizza MIDDLE SCHOOLS 2 Chicken nuggets; BBQ chicken fillet sandwich 3 Spaghetti & meatballs; cheese ravioli 4 Asian bar: Teriyaki chicken/beef & egg roll 5 Beef & chicken taco bar 6 Trout treasures; mac n’cheese 9 Philly cheesesteak 10 Rotini w/roasted spring veggies & chicken; veggie lasagna 11 Asian bar: orange chicken/beef 12 Beef & bean burrito

13 Turkey gravy & roll; baked chicken & roll 16 Chili cheese dog; chicken bites & roll 17 Spaghetti & roasted veggie meat sauce; meatball sub 18 Asian bar: sweet chili steak/ chicken & egg roll 19 Green chili bowl w/pork or chicken 20 Tortilla soup bar 23 Philly cheesesteak beef or chicken 24 Chicken nuggets; penne & meat sauce 25 Asian bar: sweet & sour meatballs/chicken 26 Beef & bean burrito bar

THOMPSON R2J SCHOOL DISTRICT—Elementary lunches are $2.75. Secondary school lunches are $3. Reduced lunches are $0.40. Offered daily: PBJs & fruit.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2 Chicken strip basket; Caesar salad w/roll 3 Chicken Alfredo; chicken tender salad 4 French bread boat; chef salad 5 Sweet & sour meatballs; taco salad 6 Star pretzel w/dipper; garden

entrée salad 9 Grilled chicken sandwich; Caesar salad 10 Pizza; chicken tender salad 11 Orange chicken w/rice; chef salad 12 Pasta w/meatballs; taco salad 13 Fish & chips basket; garden entrée salad 16-26 Manager’s choice

SECONDARY SCHOOL 2 Chicken strip basket; chicken patty sandwich 3 Chicken Alfredo; pizza 4 French bread boat; chicken dipper bites 5 Domino’s pizza; sweet & sour meatballs 6 Star pretzel w/dipper

9 Grilled chicken sandwich; hamburger 10 Pizza; pizza stick w/sauce 11 Orange chicken w/rice; chicken breast strips 12 Pasta w/meatballs; French bread boat 13 Fish & chips basket; burrito 16-26 Manager’s choice

GREELEY DISTRICT 6—To obtain a complete meal, student gets an entrée and can select 1-3 sides. Elementary lunches are $2.55, and middle school lunches are $2.80, reduced-price lunches are $.40. Offered daily: PBJ. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2 Hamburger/cheeseburger; Italian sub 3 Sloppy Joe; chicken salad sandwich 4 Cheese ravioli w/sauce & breadstick; PBJ 5 Chicken enchiladas w/fiesta rice; ham & cheese wrap 6 Cheese or green chili chicken pizza; PBJ 9 BBQ pork sandwich; beef hoagie 10 Buffalo chix sandwich; Chicken fajita wrap 11 Chicken taco; PBJ 12 Lasagna w/breadstick; turkey & cheese hoagie 13 Hawaiian or cheese pizza; PBJ 16 Mac n’cheese w/roll; beef hoagie 17 Taco; chicken salad sandwich

18 BBQ chix sandwich; PBJ 19 Bean & cheese burrito w/green chili; ham & cheese hoagie 20 Chicken, bacon, ranch or cheese pizza; PBJ 23 Teriyaki chicken w/rice; Italian sandwich 24 Cheese enchiladas w/fiesta rice; chicken fajita wrap MIDDLE SCHOOL 2 Hamburger/cheeseburger ; Italian sub 3 Sloppy Joe; chicken salad sandwich 4 Cheese ravioli w/sauce & breadstick; PBJ 5 Chicken enchiladas w/fiesta rice; ham & cheese wrap 6 Cheese or green chili chicken pizza; PBJ

9 BBQ pork sandwich; beef hoagie 10 Buffalo chix sandwich; Chicken fajita wrap 11 Chicken taco; PBJ 12 Lasagna w/breadstick; turkey & cheese hoagie 13 Hawaiian or cheese pizza; PBJ 16 Mac n’cheese w/roll; beef hoagie 17 Taco; chicken salad sandwich 18 BBQ chix sandwich; PBJ 19 Bean & cheese burrito w/green chili; ham & cheese hoagie 20 Chicken, bacon, ranch or cheese pizza; PBJ 23 Teriyaki chicken w/rice; Italian sandwich 24 Cheese enchiladas w/fiesta rice; chicken fajita wrap

WINDSOR SCHOOL DISTRICT—Price for elementary lunch is $2.65, for middle school students, $2.90. Reduced lunches are $0.40. Salad bar is served daily with entrees. Offered daily: PBJ and yogurt.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2 Popcorn chicken; mini cheeseburgers 3 Mini cheese ravioli; PBJ 4 Mac n’cheese; corndog 5 Taco; PBJ 6 Big Daddy’s cheese pizza; turkey & cheese sub 9 Chili nachos; corndog 10 Teriyaki chicken; PBJ

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11 Chicken sandwich; mini cheeseburgers 12 French toast sticks; PBJ 13 Pepperoni pizza; turkey & cheese sub 16 Chicken tenders; mini cheeseburgers 17 Hotdog; PBJ 18 Big Daddy’s cheese pizza; corndog

19 Cheese breadstick w/marinara; PBJ 20 Hamburger; turkey & cheese sub SECONDARY SCHOOL 2 Potato bar 3 Lasagna w/breadstick 4 Mac n’cheese 5 Taco 6 Turkey club wrap 9 Chicken wraps

10 Teriyaki chicken 11 Bean & cheese burrito 12 French toast sticks 13 Steak & cheese sub 16 Chicken tenders 17 Chili dog 18 Hot ham & cheese sandwich 19 Chicken sandwich 20 Cheeseburger

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GROWING SEASON 2016

LOCAL FOOD AND FARM GUIDE

JESSUP FARM ARTISAN VILLAGE AT ONE YEAR

Connecting Crops to Cuisine

SOURCING

RESTAURANTS SOURCING LOCAL

LOCAL MEAT

The Heritage of

HAPPY HEART FARM

ALSO INSIDE: FARMS & MARKET DIRECTORY SPRING & SUMMER WORKSHOPS & EVENTS

* *

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Motherlove is now the proud operator of an organic farm and educational community center on the Front Range.

The 120 acre farm provides local, sustainable, certified organic herbs for Motherlove’s products, as well as traditional organic grains and vegetables for our tables and other’s.

Join us for classes on growing, harvesting and preparing herbs for use in personal care products, as well as herb identification for edible and medicinal plants. Learn the importance of organics in the food industry, biodiversity and other environmental issues, including water conservation.

Please contact mother@motherlove.com for additional information.

www.motherlove.com 34

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Fortified Farm Dinners 24 ||

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Our farm dinners showcase the very best our region has to offer in locally grown food, culinary creativity and community collaboration. Every dinner raises funds for a local non-profit. Join us for a delicious dinner on the farm! [ JULY 17 ] Heart of Summer Dinner at Happy Heart Farm [ AUGUST 21 ] 3 Forks Progressive Farm Dinner – Farms TBD

For tickets and more information, visit:

fortifiedcollaborations.com

[ SEPTEMBER 4 ] Mishawaka 100 Year Harvest Dinner at Grant Farms CSA

Event Sponsorship opportunities available

[ SEPTEMBER 25 ] Harvest Moon Salmon Bake at Poudre Valley Commmunity Farm [ OCTOBER 8 ] 5th Annual Bounty and Brews Beer Dinner at Jordan’s Floral Gardens

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Toys • Games Resource Books Dramatic Play Bulletin Boards Butcher Paper Arts & Crafts Borders • Stickers Unique Gifts Educational Toys and More!

Northern Colorado’s Parent Teacher Store Huge Selection!

Over 5,000 sq. ft!

1290 Main Street Windsor, CO 970-674-2997 Just 5 minutes east of I-25 at exit 262 and centrally located for the convenience of our northern Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska customers!

knowledgebound.net

$7.00

OFF

A PURCHASE OF $35 OR MORE VALID MAY 2016

Limit one coupon per customer.

Valid on in-stock products only. Not valid with additional sales/coupons. RMP16

So much MORE than your

NEIGHBORHOOD POOL!

ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND AMENITIES OFFERED AT FCC • FCC Club Fit • Rocky Mountain Physical Therapy on-site • Personal Trainers • Raquetball and Handball Courts • Salon Giorgio: Full Service Salon and Spa • Summer Camps for Kids • Over 30 Yoga Classes per week

• Kids’ Club House: Air Hockey, X boxes, foosball, and more!

• Kids’ Club Daycare • Swim Team • Swim Lessons • Spring Creek Trail access • Kiddie pool with family changing area nearby • Outdoor pool with a slide!

• Children’s playground • Sand Volleyball court

CONTACT MEMBERSHIP FOR MORE DETAILS

970-224-CLUB membership@fcc.net

www.fortcollinsclub.net

1307 East Prospect Road Fort Collins, CO 80525 Follow us on:

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M AY 2 0 1 6 ONGOING MAY 1 AND 5 THROUGH 7 Rhythm on the River Join the crew of the S.S. Jubilee for a memorable musical excursion down the mighty Mississippi. There’ll be onboard singing, dancing and laughter, plus timeless music. $18. Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th St., LV. Show times vary. www.rialtotheatercenter.org.

MAY 3 AND 17 Bright by Three Infant Group You have the power to shape your child’s future. This class provides parents and caregivers with educational tools, books and games to make the most of these important developmental years.

Registration required. Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., LV. 12noon-1pm. 970-495-7500 or www.uchealth.org.

MAY 4 AND 11 Welcome to Motherhood Support Group Group offers mom-to-mom sharing while discussing topics important to you.

Westbridge Medical Suites, 1107 S. Lemay Ave., FC. 2-3pm. 970-495-7500 or www.uchealth.org.

MAY 6, 8, 13 AND 14 Charlotte’s Web A Debut Theatre Company production about a remarkable pig, a young girl, a spider and the strand that binds them together: friendship. $8. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. Show times vary. 970-221-6730 or www. debuttheatre.org.

MAY 7 AND 8 Spring Plant Sale The sale is presented in partnership with students from CSU and Front Range Community College, along with High Plains Environmental Center. All proceeds benefit horticulture programs at each organization. Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. May 7, 9am-4pm; May 8, 12noon-5pm. 970416-2486 or www.fcgov.com.

MAY 7 AND 19 World Language Storytime Head to the library for a time of children’s stories, crafts, puppets and music in new languages. Presented by CSU students.

May 7-Russian; May 19-Mandarin.

Locations and times vary. 970-221-6740 or www.poudrelibraries.org.

MAY 13 THROUGH 15 AND 20 THROUGH 22 Once Upon a Mattress If you thought you knew the story of “The Princess and The Pea,” you may be in for a walloping surprise! Ticket prices and show times vary. Rialto Theater Center, 228 E. 4th St., LV. 970-9622120 or www.rialtotheatercenter.org.

MAY 19 AND 21 Smart Cycling Join this popular class, offered in two parts. This course is for beginner and seasoned cyclists alike, and will help you gain confidence to ride safely and legally in traffic and on trails. Ages 14+.

Westbridge Medical Suites, 1107 S. Lemay Ave., FC. May 19, 5:30-9pm; May 21, 8:30am-2pm. www.fcgov.com/bikespring.

MAY 19 THROUGH JULY 10 Into The Woods How far would you go to make your wish come true? Find out when familiar storybook characters get tangled up together and take a magical journey into the woods. Prices and show times vary. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown. www.coloradocandlelight.com.

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

Loveland (970) 493-7442

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY

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Scrumptious Yarns and a fabulous staff to help you with all your knitting needs.

1408 West Mountain Ave. Fort Collins (970) 407-1461 mysisterknits.com Hours: Tues. 10 am to 8 pm , Wed. - Sat. 10 am to 5 pm .

Looking for a Care Integrative Practitioner?

un F s ’ It shy l a r T a It’s cation Edu s ’ t I

Primary

It’s the

Garbage Garage

Schedule today with Sheila Kupersmith NP

We offer the best Medicine for Body, Mind and Spirit Integrating: Primary Care for All Ages Integrative Medicine Functional Medicine

Larimer County’s waste & recycling education center at the Larimer County Landfill in Fort Collins

(970) 498-5772 larimer.org/solidwaste

NATURAL PHARMACY

Homeopathy

9am - 5pm Monday thru Thursday 9am - 4pm Friday Closed weekends & holidays Pharmacy 970.472.6802

Supplements, Botanicals and Nutraceuticals WE ACCEPT MOST INSURANCE

• Clinic 970.472.6789

315 Canyon Avenue, Fort Collins • www.TheHealingGardens.org

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WEDNESDAYS Learn to Ride for Women This four-part class is designed for women and taught by women. It’s never too late to learn to ride a bicycle! Ages 16+. City of Fort Collins, 215 N. Mason St., FC. 6-7:30pm. www.fcgov.com/bikespring.

MAY 6 AND 7 Kids on Broadway Musicals Selected music from Big River, Oliver Twist and Pete’s Dragon performed by all four Centennial Children’s Chorus choirs. Prices vary. Poudre High School, 201 Impala Drive, FC. 7pm. www.

Showtix4u.com.

MAY 28 THROUGH 30 Memorial Day Weekend Art Market More than 90 local, regional and national artisans assemble to kick off the summer season and to showcase their art in Bond Park in the heart of downtown Estes Park. Bond Park, MacGregor Ave., EP. 9am. 970-586-5882 or www. visitestespark.com.

THROUGH JUNE 18 Encounters: Images and Words This display features a father’s poems and photographs for his children conveying the personal significance of the many persons and places he has encountered. Prices vary. Global Village Museum, 200 W. Mountain Ave., FC. 11am-5pm. 970-221-4600 or www. globalvillagemuseum.org.

WEEKENDS THROUGH JULY 10 The Margaret Brown Collection – A Legacy of Fashion and Friendship This exhibit showcases a remarkable collection of a century of fine womenswear, mid-1800s to mid-1900s.

Visitors will see a beautiful, extensive range of fashion, from evening gowns to sportswear, outerwear to undergarments, hats to shoes. 1879 Avery House, 328 W. Mountain Ave., FC. 1-4pm. 970-2210533 or www.poudrelandmarks.org.

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MAY THROUGH MID-AUGUST Youth Gardening Program Grow your own garden and learn sustainable horticulture practices.

Also develop responsibility, teamwork, communication, problem solving skills and leadership. Applications due May 5. Prices vary. Loveland Youth Gardeners, 907 S. Lincoln Ave., LV. 970-682-4002 or Lovelandyouthgardeners.org.

MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS Read and Seed Preschool Program Story time with an accompanying craft.

No class on Memorial Day. $3. Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. 10am & 11am. 970-416-2486 or www. fcgov.com/gardens.

WEDNESDAYS Holistic Nutrition Lunch and Learn Join Holistic Nutrition Counselor Collin Ruiz every Wednesday at Pathways Holistic Healing Center for a interactive discussion about nutrition and your health. Bring a dish to share or $5 and learn how to improve your life, starting with your gut. Pathways Holistic Healing Center, 134 W. Harvard St., FC. 12:30-1:30pm. 970-682-2694 or onesourcelivewell@gmail.com.

MONDAY, MAY 2 Terrific Games for Two Pair up to learn fun and fabulous twoplayer games with Kirsten from the Nerd Store. Grades 4-12. Kersey Library, 413 1st St., Kersey. 6pm. 888-861-7323 or www.MyLibrary.us.

TUESDAY, MAY 3 Tiny Trekkers Join Larimer County naturalists for a program designed for your 2-5 year old and you. The morning will be will be filled with crafts, stories and fun facts.

A parent/guardian must accompany the child. After the program, feel free to explore the open space with your child!

Registration required. Devil’s Backbone Open Space, Plaster Mill Rd., LV. 1011am. 970-619-4565 or www.Larimer. org/NRregistration.

Bicycle Friendly Driver Certification Course Discuss traffic safety laws and responsibilities for both cyclists and motorists and how to avoid the most common crashes involving bicycles. Ages 16+. Foothills Activity Center, 215 E. Foothills Pkwy, FC. 6:30-8pm. www. fcgov.com/bikespring.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 Bike to School Day Join thousands of children, parents, school officials and community leaders across Colorado and nationwide for the student two-wheeling celebration of the year. Locations and times vary. www. walkbiketoschool.org.

NoCo Farmer’s Markets Enjoy locally grown produce and other food stuffs at Farmers Markets throughout northern Colorado.

SUNDAYS THROUGH MID-NOVEMBER Fort Collins Farmers Market Vegetables, fruits, plants and flowers, meats, eggs, honey, baked goods, pet treats, specialty foods and goods from about 40 vendors. Parking lot of ACE Hardware, 1001 E. Harmony Road, FC. 11am-3pm. www. fortcollinsfm.com.

SATURDAYS, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 24 Drake Road Farmers Market Vegetables, eggs, fruits, baked goods, meat, seafood, honey, specialty foods and goods from more than 40 vendors. 802 W. Drake Rd., FC. 10am-1pm. www.drakeroadfarmersmarket.com.

SATURDAYS, BEGINNING MAY 14 Larimer County Farmers Market Breads and pastries, eggs and meat, fruits and vegetables, flowers, crafts and jewelry, jams and jellies, skin care, sauces and salsas, wine, yogurt and cheese. Larimer County Courthouse parking lot, 200 W. Oak St., FC. 8am-12noon. www.larimercountyfarmersmarket.colostate.edu/ index.shtml.

Spa Night and Yoga Join your friends for a celebration of things that make you feel and look good!

Please bring your own yoga mat (if you have one) and a water bottle. Ages 9-18.

Registration required. Clearview Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 6-7:30pm. 970-6865603 or www.clearviewlibrary.org.

Importance of Emotional Intelligence Learn strategies to help children develop abilities to identify, understand and manage emotions positively to relieve stress, communicate effectively, overcome challenges and defuse conflict.

For families with children ages 2–8. $20.

Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Drive, FC. 6:30pm. www.fcgov.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 5 Family Movie Night: Open Season Scared Silly Boog, Elliot and the rest of their pals team up to track down an elusive werewolf and prevent their forest from being intruded upon by hunter Shaw.

(PG). Carbon Valley Library, Meeting Room, 7 Park Ave., Firestone. 888-8617323 or www.MyLibrary.us.

Parents, What you Need to Know About Sending Your Child to College What do you really need to know before you ship your kids off to college? Come learn how this life changing event will affect your pocketbook. Clearview Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 6:30-7:30pm.

686-5603 or www.clearviewlibrary.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 6 Our Favorite Authors Author Anna Dewdney and Llama Llama Red Pajama. Stories, a craft and a visit with real alpacas or llamas from Sunrise Silhouettes! Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., Evans. 9:30am. 888861-7323 or www.MyLibrary.us.

Geology Underfoot at the Devil’s Backbone Join Larimer County naturalists and travel through millions of years of time as you gain insights into the fascinating geology of this prominent local landmark and the surrounding area. Please dress appropriately for the weather, wear appropriate footwear and pack plenty of water. Registration required. Devil’s Backbone Open Space, Plaster Mill Rd., LV. 10-11:30am. 970-619-4565 or www.

Larimer.org/NRregistration.

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Noches en Familia Family Nights is a time of children’s stories, crafts, puppets and music in Spanish, that invites fluent speakers as well as those interested in the Spanish language, to enjoy an afternoon in community and family. This event is in Spanish. Council Tree Library, Community Room (C), 2733 Council Tree Ave. #200, FC. 5-6pm. www. poudrelibraries.org.

Illuminae Authors Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Meet the authors of the smash hit teen novel, Illuminae. Old Firehouse Books, 232 Walnut St., FC. 6pm. 970-484-7898 or www.oldfirehousebooks.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 7 Wildflower Walk Join naturalist Kathy to explore the beautiful wildflowers of Horsetooth Mountain Open Space. Please dress appropriately for the weather, wear appropriate footwear and pack plenty of water. Registration required. Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, County Rd. 38E, FC. 8-9:30am. 970-619-4565 or www.

Larimer.org/NRregistration.

28th Annual Estes Park Duck Race & Festival “Adopt” one of the little rubber duckies dropped into the river and select one of nearly 70 different Estes Valley charities to benefit from your adoptions. Nicky’s Resort, 1360 Fall River Rd., EP. 11am. www.visitestespark.com.

Mother’s Day Skate Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Ice Haus.

Mothers receive free admission and skate rental. Age 3+. Prices vary. Greeley Ice Haus, 900 8th Ave., GR. 12noon1:30pm. www.greeleycalendar.com.

Fancy Nancy Tea Party Put on your fanciest ensemble and head to the library for an absolutely elegant Fancy Nancy tea party. Preschool-Grade 2. Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., Evans. 1pm. 888-861-7323 or www.

MyLibrary.us.

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Rick Riordan Book Release Party Celebrate the release of the latest book from the author of Percy Jackson & The Olympians. Complete a scavenger hunt and enjoy a party with snacks and games at Old Firehouse Books. $30, includes a copy of The Trials of Apollo. Old Firehouse Books, 232 Walnut St., FC. 2pm. 970-484-7898 or www.oldfirehousebooks.com.

TUESDAY, MAY 10 Everyday Cycling Whether you commute to work, run errands or visit friends, you can Go by Bike. Learn the benefits of using a bike for transportation and how to make it possible. Ages 10+. Northside Aztlan Center, 112 Willow St., FC. 5-6:30pm. www.fcgov.com/bikespring.

Seussical the Musical Presented by A Dance Place. Adults-$5; children-$2. Union Colony Civic Center, 701 10th Ave., GR. 2pm & 4pm. www. ucstars.com.

Family Bike Ride Family Bike Nights are a fun and casual 3- to 5-mile ride for the whole family.

Staff will be on hand to provide bicycle education and tips. Please wear a helmet.

East Memorilal Park, Balsam Ave., GR. 6:30-7:30pm. www.GreeleyBikes.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 8 Mother’s Day Tea Class it up with an afternoon tea for your mom this Mother’s Day. Enjoy three courses, including tea sandwiches, miniquiches, scones, desserts. and endless tea from the “Great Wall of Tea.” Reservations required. Adults-$22.95; children-$11.95. Happy Lucky’s Teahouse, 236 Walnut St., FC. 970-689-3417 or www.happyluckys.com.

Fill the Heart Community members come together to create a heart and then everyone is invited to take the pledge to end the R-word. Northside Aztlan Center, 112 Willow St., FC. 3:30pm. tenamgreen@ gmail.com.

FACE Mother’s Day Concert FACE will be singing popular songs specially arranged for their all-vocal stylings. Prices vary. Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia St., FC. 7-9pm. www. lctix.com.

MONDAY, MAY 9 From Planting to Growing: Start a Successful Vegetable Garden Tried and true vegetable gardening tips and practical advice for everyone from the novice to the old hand. Learn how to improve your soil, select the best crops and varieties for your area, seeds vs. seedlings - when and how to plant and basic watering techniques.

Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., Evans. 6:30pm. 888-861-7323 or www.

MyLibrary.us.

Women on a Roll Learn tips and tricks for women interested in bicycling, from what to wear, what gear to use and how to connect with local women’s clubs and organizations. Ages 14+. Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Drive, FC. 7-8:30pm. www.fcgov.com/bikespring.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11 Rocky Mountain Raptors Niche Switchers: Share the territory.

This program will discuss the importance of sharing spaces and resources. Presenters will bring four birds to visit - Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, and American Kestrels. Harmony Library, Community Room (H), 4616 S. Shields St., FC. 6:30-7:30pm. 970-221-6740 or www.poudrelibraries.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 12 Our Favorite Authors Author Doreen Cronin and Click Clack Moo. Stories, a craft and an opportunity to pet real baby chicks! Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., Evans. 9:30am. 888861-7323 or www.MyLibrary.us.

FRIDAY, MAY 13 The Travel Program – Mexico Travel to different countries through food and crafts! This month’s destination is Mexico. Ages 12+.Registration required. Clearview Library, 720 Third St., WS. 5-7pm. 970-686-5603 or www. clearviewlibrary.org.

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SATURDAY, MAY 21 Old Town Car Show Hundreds of great hot rods, vintage cars and classic trucks will be on display in Downtown Fort Collins.

Old Town, FC. 10am-3pm. www.downtownfortcollins.com.

Backyard Birds, Big and Small Learn about the raptors you might see in your own backyard. You’ll meet big birds and build a birdhouse. Grades K-5.

Locations vary. 1pm. 888-861-7323 or www.MyLibrary.us.

Lego Night!

Celebrate all things Lego at this party with games, crafts and a chance to show off some Lego creations from home.

Old Firehouse Books, 232 Walnut St., FC. 6-7:30pm. 970-484-7898 or www. oldfirehousebooks.com.

SATURDAY, MAY 14 Community Bicycle Rodeo This event will include safety talks, helmet checks, bicycle registrations and a bike course. Windsor Middle School, 900 Main St., WS. 9-11am. 970-674-6400 or www.windsorgov.com.

Día – Book Joy Around the World Celebrate with international crafts and games. Tour the world and be home in time for dinner. Lincoln Park Library, 919 7th St., GR. 1pm. 888-861-7323 or www.MyLibrary.us.

Fiesta 5K The first in a the UCHealth Healthy Kids Club 18th Annual Run Series that includes eight, free local runs through October. 1 mile runs for ages 5-12. Fit.Teen – 5Ks for ages 13-18. Prices and times vary. Island Grove Regional Park, 501 N. 14th Ave., GR. 970-495-7511 or www.healthykidsclub.org.

SUNDAY, MAY 15 Game Day @ Your Library Play a game from the collection or bring one from home. Players of all ages and abilities are welcome. Old Town Library, Community Room Combo, 201 Peterson St., FC. 1-5pm. 970-221-6740 or www.poudrelibraries.org.

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Kites in the Park Grab your kite and head out to Spring Canyon Community Park for the 9th Annual Kites in the Park Festival. Enjoy great food, activities, demonstrations and giveaways all day. Spring Canyon Park, 2626 W. Horsetooth Rd., FC. 10am. www.fcgov.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 Backyard Buddies Bring your toddler to the library for springtime fun with balloons, balls, bubbles and tunes. Erie Library, 400 Powers St., Erie. 10-11am. 888-8617323 or www.MyLibrary.us.

Making Money? Help to Get You Employed This Summer Get help with any questions you might have about getting employed. Ages 12+. Clearview Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 4-5pm. 970-686-5603 or www. clearviewlibrary.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 19 PEEPs – Preschool Environmental Education Programs This month’s program – “Of Trees and Stars”. Ages 2-5. Namaqua Park, 730 N. Namaqua Ave., LV. 9:30am & 11am.

970-962-2643 or www.cityofloveland.org.

Our Favorite Authors Author Dr. Seuss and Green Eggs and Ham. Stories, a craft and fun green egg snacks! Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., Evans. 9:30am. 888-861-7323 or www.MyLibrary.us.

Doctor Who Viewing Party A mysterious blue box was recently sighted in the vicinity of the library.

Ordinary citizens will be train to detect signs of Time Lord activity by watching The Doctor’s 1996 adventure.

Registration required. Carbon Valley Library, Meeting Room, 7 Park Ave., Firestone. 1-4pm. 720-685-5118 or www.MyLibrary.us.

SUNDAY, MAY 22 Butterfly Book Craft Class Leave with a complete project from this craft class where you will upcycle old books into a unique creation! $20, all supplies included. Old Firehouse Books, 232 Walnut St., FC. 2-6pm. 970-4847898 or www.oldfirehousebooks.com.

TUESDAY, MAY 24 Butterfly, Butterfly!

Join in for a special spring treat: a live butterfly release. Centennial Park Library, 2227 23rd Ave., GR. 10-11am. 970-5068622 or www.MyLibrary.us.

Y is for Yoga Build literacy skills and healthy minds and bodies through books, songs, rhymes and yoga! Ages 3-6 and their grown-ups. Clearview Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 10 & 10:45am. 970-986-5603 or www.clearviewlibrary.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 26 Greeley’s Underground Tunnels This is a History Brown Bag, free afternoon event. Greeley History Museum, 714 8th St., GR. 12noon-1pm. 970-3509216 or www.greeleymuseums.com.

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OFF THE HOOK ARTS

By Kate Forgach Many of today’s children primarily interact with music by listening to their favorite tunes, but much recent research suggests that studying music and playing a musical instrument from a young age offers substantial benefits academically and socially.

Children who study music from an early age can do better at a range of subjects such as math, science, arts and language, and they also learn that there are rewards from hard work, practice, and discipline.

Novice and more experienced young musicians between the ages of 5 and 18 will reap these benefits during the annual Off the Hook Arts SummerFest Music Academy which will take place in Fort Collins from June 28th to July 2nd, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“For the fifth year in a row we will offer a fun and educational way for kids to learn more about themselves and the arts,” said Jephta Bernstein, Off the Hook’s Executive and Artistic Director. “Our affordable five-day summer music and arts camps provides enriching musical experiences with outstanding instructors devoted to keeping students musically nourished and inspired.”

The Academy is offered in two Divisions - One for children who currently play violin or viola, and one for children who may be experiencing their first introduction to instrumental music. Daily schedules include diverse exposure to relevant areas

of the arts that stimulate and encourage creative thought and growth.

The String Players Division welcomes students ages 8 to 18 and offers beginning, intermediate and advanced-level Musical Repertoire classes focusing on solo and chamber music for violin and viola. This program addresses technique and musicality via the Suzuki method while working on World and traditional music. Daily schedules include large-ensemble, theater, fiddle, and improvisation and composition classes.

The Music Explorers Division is for children ages 5 to 10 years of age. This Dalcroze-based program provides a dynamic and fun-filled arts introduction.

Music Explorers is perfect for children that don’t already play or have just begun playing an instrument,” said Bernstein.

“It’s a great way for them to fully explore and discover their creative self through movement, music, theatre and art.”

Faculty members will include Justin Lader, a Eugene, Oregon-based instructor of violin/viola and traditional Suzuki method.

Justin will be joined by additional instructors who come to us from Integral Steps, a Dalcroze-based Boulder non-profit.

The Dalcroze Method, also known as Dalcroze Eurhythmics, uses movement to teach concepts of structure, rhythm and musical expression. It focuses on allowing

a student to gain physical awareness and experience of music through training that takes place through all of the senses, particularly kinesthetic.

In addition to the week-long Academy program, Off The Hook Arts is delighted to offer a variety of additional programming of interest to young people this summer including our three day STE(A)M² Workshops and Design Faire, a program which will combine STEM and the Arts in a series of storytelling, music and science-design oriented afternoons; Improve your Improv; and Guitar Aerobics with Eliot Fisk.

Live music is also part of the summer fun with a musical storybook, Adventures of Julian and two Family Concerts, My What Big Ears You Have and Leave it to Ludwig!, hosted by Bruce Adolphe, the Director of Family Concerts at The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in NYC. Their sophisticated and entertaining humor will make the whole family laugh and bring them one step closer to understanding the maestros of the classical music world.

The SummerFest Music Academy will take place at Ridgeview Classical Charter School in Fort Collins. Tuition is $260 for the week. Scholarships are available.

For more information, visit offthehookarts.org/oth-music-school, email director@OfftheHookArts.org or call 970.305.2261.

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time out Flip that chicken!

The 4-H project challenge

KATIE HARRIS

G

rowing up in Georgia, my whole life revolved around horses. English riding lessons from 5 years old on, visiting the fancy stable where my mom boarded her first horse, a Paso Fino, every weekend for years, and then spending every free second in the barn we later built for our horses.

When I had my own daughter, Haley, eight years ago, I was living in Colorado and couldn’t wait to find a piece of land and get her a horse of her own.

I started my search for the perfect horse only to quickly realize that out west, riding horses meant quarter horses, cowboy hats, and 4H. So, we jumped on board and signed her up for a local chapter.

I quickly realized that the Paso Fino shows I’d competed in back in Georgia, where my riding instructor saddled up the horse and led me into the arena and all I had to do was try not to fall off, were no match for a Colorado 4H horse show. Haley would be required to take a test proving she could groom and saddle up her horse without an adult’s help, before being allowed to show. I convinced her to put the horse project off until at least next year.

With only a short time to choose a new 4H project, Haley considered all her options and decided on poultry.

After all, they were the most selfsustaining pets we’d ever had, free ranging, staying near the coop, and tucking themselves in at night. All they required was a coop clean out and refill of food and water from time to time.

We attended our first 4H livestock seminar together. At the seminar, a veterinarian from CSU showed us pictures of chicken lice and scaly leg mites, and how to remove them. Another speaker talked about the proper way to care for chicks; and a final presenter demonstrated techniques for showing your hen to a judge at fair, including the proper way to

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rest your chicken on it’s back and show off it’s underside.

We arrived home from the seminar with a wealth of new knowledge.

The best part of all was when Haley announced to her dad, “I’m going out to the backyard. I have to practice flipping my chicken!” Then she did just that, much to the chickens dismay, who squawked loudly and furiously flapped her wings, desperate to be turned right side up again.

Weekends are now spent making our way across the learning curve, at times frantically, at times quite humorously, as Haley chases her chickens around the yard, grabbing and “flipping” them every chance she gets. She’s much more interested in chasing them around

than reading about them in books.

After the chicken seminar, as a last minute back-up plan, we signed Haley up for a hiking project. Despite our honest effort to emerge ourselves in a Colorado livestock project, the idea of doing a couple hour-long hikes and making a poster at the end of the summer has become more and more appealing, and it seems increasingly wise to have a second option in case the whole chicken thing falls through.

What it comes down to, in the end, is that we’ve learned more these past few months than we did in the last few years of owning a small farm combined.

And hey, if nothing else, knowing how to properly flip a chicken is surely a skill that will come in handy on those college entrance exams!

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