RM Parent Magazine | July | 2022

JULY 2022 • RMPARENT.COM

Avoid sports injuries in kids

Solving

SIBLING FIGHTS

Welcome home, Baby!

Cool off at a Splash park Sandcastle creations

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SPECIAL SECTION:

FIT AND FUN!

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JULY 2022

Departments PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The pause that refreshes—Dirt. Trees. Sky. Water.

Critters.

Special Sections

FIT AND FUN!

FIRST YEARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Welcome home, Baby!—Tips for a successful transition

FAMILY ACTIVITIES . . . . . . . . 10 Cool off at a splash park—Entertainment for everyone

LEARN AND LIVE . . . . . . . . . . 12 Sandcastles—Science, engineering and artistry compressed into art

COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . . . 14 Get out and explore—Nature opportunities, new bus routes, young entrepreneur tourney, more

HEALTHY LIVING . . . . . . . . . 16

Avoid sports injuries in kids—Try stretching, core exercises and rotating sports

CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Events and activities for parents, kids and families

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT Fit and Fun

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FIT AND FUN!

Browse family activities and enrichment opportunities.

Feature 20 BREAK IT UP!

Sibling relationships are a gift but sometimes there are conflicts. Help kids learn negotiation, sharing and conflict resolution.

TIME OUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 0 Show kindness—Offer comfort, experience joy

School District News GR-E 6 School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 District 6 students receive Colorado Seal of Biliteracy, Shawsheen Elementary School adopts new mascot

Poudre School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Preston 8th grader gifts 3D-printed, light-up puma mascots to teachers, Requests for busing for the 2022-23 school year, PSD is opening the new Wellington and Timnath middle/high schools in August

Thompson School District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Jackie Anderson, 1972 Loveland High graduate, currently athletic secretary at LHS

ABOUT THE COVER: Cover kids Torrey Jean and Ezra love riding their bikes, reading books, singing songs and exploring the ponds nearby. Photo shot by Cheri Schonfeld,

courtesy of Sky's Open Design. www.skysopendesign.com

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perspective The pause that refreshes Dirt. Trees. Sky. Water. Critters.

W

e are fortunate to live where we do.

Maybe that goes without saying, but it’s worth saying every now and then and to then reflect.

So here I go…reflecting. Just watch me reflect.

I’ll start my reflecting like this: “What is it,” I ask myself, “that makes me happy to wake up here every day?”

Hmmmm, well, where to start.

First, it’s the people—family, friends, co-workers. And on a larger scale, it’s the general tone. People here seem generally happy, and it shows in our daily interactions with those we know and those we don’t as we go about our daily business.

Next, for me, is the incredible access we have to the natural world from little spaces along the river to world-class parks in our greater backyard. I just feel better when I’ve been out near or on a lake or river or on a trail through grasslands or the mountains.

It seems that we’re hard-wired to be refreshed by nature. Out there, we can find a quiet space. Out there, we can find exciting moments. Out there, we can connect with ourselves and with the web of existence of which we are a small, but important, part. Out there, we can wonder and wander. Out there, we must accept the weather and the challenge. Out there, we can get a sense of who we are without all the interference.

I have a Thoreau quote taped above my desk. It’s tiny and behind the leaves of a plant so I have to work to read it.

It says, “Many men go fishing all their lives, without knowing that it is not fish they are after.”

I find this to be true myself. I like to fly fish. Lakes or rivers, I don’t care. Sometimes I get caught up and actually think I’m there for the fishing, but I’m actually there, I believe for the connection to the natural world and the solitude and the moment where I am focused on what’s right in front of me and not distracted by discursive thoughts.

I find it much easier to let go of the worries of the day, with its challenges and maddening details, and just be there doing my thing out in the woods. I connect with the busy birds, the buzzing bees, the babbling brook and the buzzy bugs (OK, I got a little sucked into the alliteration thing.)

In any case, I encourage you to take a moment and lose yourself “out there.”

Scott

JULY 2022 • Volume 26, Issue 2 PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Susan Harting susan.rmpublishing@gmail.com COVER PHOTO

Cheri Schonfeld

Courtesy of Open Sky Designs CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Theresa Baer, Lea Hanson, Lynn U. Nichols, Kim Sharpe

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING PO Box 740 Fort Collins, CO 80522 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. ©2022 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited.

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first years Welcome home, baby!

Tips for a successful transition

LY NN U. NICHOLS

Y

ou made it through the birth, now you have a new baby at home.

Congratulations! If it’s your first baby you are likely feeling a little unsure about how to do everything. If you’ve been through this before, you may need a few reminders of how to tackle some of those early challenges, including sleep, calming your baby, and feeding.

SLEEP, SWEET SLEEP Since newborns have to feed every 2 to 3 hours, sleep is going to feel elusive for a few weeks. Find comfort in knowing that as each week passes, your baby’s on his or her way to sleeping longer. The best advice in the early weeks is to sleep when your baby sleeps, no matter how tempting it is to do chores or fulfill social obligations. By 6 to 8 weeks, your baby’s need to eat stretches out and you’ll get chunks of sleep. By 12 weeks you hit pay day—most babies sleep 6 hours a night.

If your baby is close to eight weeks old and you hear her fussing (not crying) during the night, wait and see if she can get herself back to sleep before going to her. That’s because babies naturally cycle through lighter and heavier sleep periods every three hours. At three hours, she might come into a lighter sleep and wake a bit, but if she’s not stimulated she may fall back to sleep on her own. As she ages, falling back to sleep on her own becomes more of a habit.

REMEMBER THE 5 S’S TO CALM YOUR BABY Have you heard of Harvey Karp, the founder of Happiest Baby on the Block? He coined the 5 S’s technique to calm and soothe newborns, which basically advocates that you mimic the environment of the womb. By doing so, you turn on your baby’s natural calming reflex. The 5 S’s are swaddling, swinging, shushing noises, sucking and side-lying, 8

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and research shows they reduce crying by up to 40 percent.

First up, swaddling. The trick to swaddling is getting a big enough blanket—at least 40” across—and swaddling your baby tight with his hands by his side. Tight swaddling mimics the womb and eliminates babies waking themselves by poking or scratching themselves. Next, there’s swinging. Think of it more as jiggling rather than a back-and-forth motion.

Shushing noises can be mimicked with white noise machines, fans, humidifiers, or air cleaners at night and keeping the house noisy during the day. Sucking is simply for comfort and can be achieved by a thumb or pacifier. Finally, sidelying and spending time on their tummy while awake decreases the startle reflex in babies.

IF BABY’S GAINING WEIGHT, HE’S EATING JUST FINE It’s a common worry of new parents that their baby isn’t getting enough food, but if your baby is gaining weight at each well visit, you can let this one go. By two weeks, most infants are up to their birth weight. Newborns need to eat every two

to three hours, and sometimes feed more in the evenings. Typically, babies double their birth weight by four months and triple it by one year.

Many women think breastfeeding should come naturally, but learning proper latch on takes a little work for both you and your baby. Proper latch on avoids problems such as nipple soreness or low milk supply. If you need help, ask. Research shows that moms who have support—whether that’s from a lactation specialist, a support group, family, or from other moms who are breastfeeding—are much more successful. For many women, it’s smooth sailing after they’ve made it through the first three weeks.

A side benefit of breastfeeding is plenty of bonding skin-to-skin time.

Skin-to-skin closeness not only promotes bonding and attachment, but it also allows new moms to tap into early feeding cues, such as rapid eye movements, clenched fists, hands to mouth, licking, smacking, sucking and finally, crying.

Enjoy this precious time. It may have its challenges but your baby’s first smile around two months will make it all worth it.

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family activities

Cool off at a splash park Entertainment for everyone

LEA HANSON

S

plash pads and spray parks feel new to most parents. The public pool craze began in the 1920s and 1930s. Thousands of oversized, resortlike pools opened across the nation and attracted millions of swimmers.

While community pools can be fantastic community-gathering hubs, they’re not a one-size-fits-all approach to aquatics.

Your community has a number of options to consider. Enter: splash pads.

SAFE Splash pads are interactive “spraygrounds” that pretty much check all the boxes of a fun and all-inclusive gathering place. For starters, they’re much safer than pools. Nozzles on the ground spray water upwards from the splash pad deck or from decorative, playful, shower-style features—all triggered by motion sensors. With little or no standing water, there is essentially zero chance of drowning and no need to have swimming skills or a lifeguard on duty. Splash pad decks are also generally textured or surfaced with non-slip materials in order to reduce slipping and prevent injuries.

SUSTAINABLE Splash pads are also more environmentally sound and help to conserve water. Water is stored in underground tanks and propelled upward by hyper-efficient jets. It can then be recycled and pumped back through the water features or utilized for other purposes such as watering plants and trees. Motion or handactivated sensors turn the features on automatically and they only stay running for a limited amount of time, drastically reducing water usage.

Splash pads are a smart solution for communities of all sizes as well as drought-sensitive areas and locations with limited natural resources.

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ACCESSIBLE Last, but not least, splash pads are accessible to all—whatever your age or mobility level. Those in wheelchairs or utilizing assisted devices can easily transport themselves into the splash park and enjoy all the features. Babies in strollers can enjoy a cooling mist without ever leaving their seats. Young, old, water-loving or water-cautious, splash pads provide low-risk, easy entertainment for everyone. These are truly come-as-you-are places of play.

KEEPING GERMS AWAY Splash pads are aquatic venues that spray or jet water on users. Splash pads are usually designed so that standing water does not collect in the water play area to reduce the risk of drowning.

Because of this design, splash pads do not always meet the local, state, territorial, or tribal definition of an “aquatic venue.” This means they are not always regulated, nor are they always required to disinfect the water with germ-killing chemicals. Splash pads can spread germs and make users sick if the water is not adequately disinfected. So, users and parents of young users should take their own steps to stop the spread of germs.

Check out a splash pad near you!

FORT COLLINS Oak Street Plaza Splash Pad 119 W. Oak Street Splash Pad at Fossil Creek Park 5821 S Lemay Avenue http://www.fcgov.com/parks/map/ Splash Pad at Spring Canyon Park 3156 S Overland Trail GREELEY Sunrise Splash Park 325 12th Street http://greeleygov.com/activities/ recreation/aquatics Island Grove Splash Park 302 N 14th Avenue http://www.greeleygov.com/recreation LOVELAND Splash/Spray Park 700 S. Railroad Avenue https://bit.ly/3HKa6Q6 Loveland Sports Park 950 N Boyd Lake Avenue https://bit.ly/3y8iNAt Mehaffey Park 3285 W 22nd Street WELLINGTON Wellington Community Park Splash Pad 8760 Buffalo Creek Parkway https://www.wellingtoncolorado.gov/Facilities

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learn and live

Sandcastles

Science, engineering and artistry compressed into art THERESA BAER

H

ere in land-locked northern Colorado, building sandcastles may not be the top activity that comes to mind for summer, but it’s definitely an easy, fun outdoor choice for families of all ages visiting local lake swim beaches or even your backyard sandbox.

Very few tools are required to get started…a bucket for mixing sand, shovel and maybe some fun plastic molds. Simple plastic spoons/ knives/ forks or offset kitchen spatulas are great for carving and smoothing finer details.

In fact, several kitchen tools could be used to create unique designs…think melon ballers, plastic storage bins, cookie cutters, etc.

The first step is to prepare your sand, either in your bucket or by digging a hole and adding water so it can hold a shape. Many experts agree the ideal combination is about 99 percent sand to 1 percent water which forms a consistency like think mud or a milkshake. If your sand is too dry, it will crumble easily and if it is too wet, it will be too sloppy to use and just slide away.

Once the sand is ready, you can create a strong foundation by simply using your hands and the “scoop, plop, jiggle” method of making pancakes and continuing layering up those pancakes with gentle jiggling to solidify the water and sand. Some professional sand sculptors suggest using larger buckets of varying sizes with bottoms cut off to form a basic structure. With a bottomless bucket, fill it with the wet sand and jiggle it some to get the air bubbles to rise to the surface, then smooth the top before sliding the bucket sleeve up and away. With either method, compaction is essential for a stable sandcastle. Scientists in Australia recommended against bucket dumping saying, “While you can compress sand

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in a bucket, it loses much of its strength and compaction when it is tipped out.” (source: www.science.org.au/curious/ technology-future/how-make-perfectsandcastle) Once your basic structure is complete, use your fingers or the plastic knives, etc. to smooth and carve details like doors, windows, bricks and rooftops.

You can make arches, dig moats and more to add realistic details…or perhaps you might choose to create animals or one-of-a-kind creatures with big eyes, gnarly teeth and wild hair! How about building a giant truck or a self-portrait?

The possibilities are truly endless with your kids’ imaginations at work.

For some tips on technique and to share the science and engineering behind building successfully, check out the following sites: • www.kiwico.com/blog/the-sciencebehind/the-science-behindsandcastle-building • www.science.org.au/curious/ technology-future/how-makeperfect-sandcastle

Swim Beaches– where to go in NoCo: Boyd Lake State Park, 3720 N County Road 11- C, LV https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/ BoydLake Carter Lake www.larimer.gov/naturalresources/parks/ carter-lake Horsetooth Reservoir, FC www.larimer.org/naturalresources/parks/ horsetooth-reservoir Lake Loveland, 2626 N. Taft Ave., LV www.lovgov.org Windsor Lake, 421 Chimney Park Dr., WS www.recreationliveshere.com/210/Swim-Beach

To view some amazing sculptures from around the world and learn advanced building techniques of professional sand sculptors, visit www. insmoothwaters.com/best-sand-castlebuilders-to-follow.

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community news Get out and explore

Nature opportunities, new bus routes, young entrepreneur tourney, more THERESA BAER

OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH TO EXPLORE NATURE This summer, the community of underserved middle schoolers at the Boys & Girls Club of Larimer County have an opportunity for a variety of outdoor experiences plus learning tools for mental health wellness. Through Club Outdoors, the City of Fort Collins is hoping to inspire these youth as the next generation of environmental stewards with natural-area hikes, stargazing and more. Citizen-initiated sales taxes make land conservation and educational activities like this possible.

Visit www.fcgov.com/events to see which activities are available and to register. For further questions, contact Katsí Peña at 970-416-2043 or kpena@ fcgov.com.

RAISING AWARENESS OF WELD COUNTY CHILD ABUSE Life Stories Child & Family Advocacy Center will hold their second annual “Save Jane” event to raise awareness of child abuse in Weld County on Tuesday, July 12 from 11am until 2pm at Lincoln Park in Greeley. Influential leaders and community member volunteers will anonymously read the names and ages of 2,684 children who were assessed for abuse or neglect in Weld County in 2021. To protect the identities of these minors, Jane (or John, Juana and Juan Doe) will be used in place of their names. Participate by purchasing a shirt or make a donation at, visit www. lifestoriesweld.org/save-jane-weld.

GREELEY WEST PARK PLAYGROUND REFRESH Construction should be wrapping up soon for the new playground at Greeley West Park, located at 2300 42nd Street.

The City of Greeley’s Parks Division has been working since May to remove 14

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the existing playground equipment, and replace it with newer, innovative and more accessible play features on a larger footprint, as well as relocate/replace the picnic shelter near the new playground.

Look for details about the opening date at https://greeleygov.com/activities/ parks/projects/greeley-west-park.

LOVELAND TO ADD NEW NORTHWEST BUS ROUTE Beginning August 15, City of Loveland Transit (COLT) will offer a new fixed bus route in the northwest area of the city. The new daily bus service will include stops on 37th and 57th streets and Taft and Monroe avenues, providing access within walking distance of the Walmart shopping center on 57th and continuing down Monroe back to 29th and by McKee Medical Center.

Additional minor adjustments will be made to existing routes 5 and 3. Route 5, which makes stops south of U.S. 34/ Eisenhower, will add stops further east, near the Boys & Girls Club on East First Street, Loveland Sports Park and Mountain View High School while Route 3, which serves Centerra and the Boyd Lake area, will extend service to the new Veterans Administration clinic.

For more information, visit lovgov.org/ COLT. LIBRARIES OFFER LARIMER COUNTY AND STATE PARK PASSES Did you know Larimer County Natural Resources provides a parking pass and family activity pouch for check out through the Poudre River Public Libraries? The Discover Packs offer a free opportunity visit any Larimer

County parks and open spaces and learn about wildflowers and other native plants and recreation opportunities like paddleboards, kayaks and canoes and how to stay safe using them, and more. Reserve yours at https://tinyurl. com/2awmnabz.

Also available for checkout are Colorado State Park passes with family activity pouches. These passes were provided by Colorado State Parks and Wildlife to encourage Colorado residents of all ages to visit State Parks, enjoy and explore nature, and engage in healthy, fun activities. Reserve yours at https://tinyurl.com/2yk7qx62.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR TOURNAMENT IS BACK The Young Entrepreneur Tournament (YET) returns this fall in person for young adults ages 18 and under with ideas for creating their own business AND competing for over $2,200 in prize money to get started. The Pre-Tournament Orientation and Ideation Session takes place Wednesday, September 21 from 6pm until 8pm. Instruction and facilitator workshops are Saturdays, October 1–22 from 10am to 3pm for youth to design their business plans; and the Final Pitch Competition will be Saturday, October 29. Learn more and register at www. larimer.gov/ewd/young-adults/youngentrepreneur-tournament.

PLAY IT SAFE ON THE POUDRE With hot July temperatures, the Poudre River offers cooling relief but it is also powerful and unpredictable. According to Poudre Fire Authority, safer river conditions typically exist later in July once snow runoff has subsided, but personal flotation devices are always encouraged. Debris pileups or strainers resulting from the Cameron Peak Fire also continue to be a danger, whether they are visible from a distance or invisible waiting beneath the surface.

Debris buildups, or strainers, directly contributed to the majority of the rescues in 2021 where people were separated from their vessel and carried downstream or caught on the strainer.

Look to the Play It Safe on the Poudre website at www.poudre-fire.org/ programs-services/poudre-river-safetyinitiative for resources to help you make good decisions if you choose to recreate on the river.

KIDS TO PARKS ADVENTURE BOOK City of Loveland Parks & Recreation encourages families to visit parks and free events at parks all summer long with the Kids to Parks Adventure Book.

This free booklet is full of fun games, play ideas and information about local parks and open spaces in Loveland.

Kids complete activities and attend free events to receive a sticker for their book and earn a prize at the end of the summer. Download a book at www. lovgov.org/services/parks-recreation/ events/kids-to-parks-day.

PSD SEEKING INPUT ON TRANSPARENCY As of result of its commitment “to creating spaces where people may listen to one another and engage in respectful dialogue,” Poudre School District (PSD) is holding two community engagement meetings this summer. One session took place June 13 and and another will occur Thursday, August 4 from 5:30pm until 7:30pm at the media center at Boltz Middle School, 720 Boltz Drive in Fort Collins. Open to all students, employees, parents/guardians and members of the community, attendees are asked to reflect upon what transparency looks like and share ideas about how PSD could improve in this space.

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healthy living

Avoid sports injuries in kids Try stretching, core exercises and rotating sports LY NN U NICHOLS

I

f your elementary-aged child is growing like a weed or playing a demanding sport, it’s time to be extra vigilant about sports injuries.

Kids who play explosive sports tend to get hurt more often, especially during growth spurt years. Growth spurts typically occur between ages 7 and 12 for girls and between 10 and 14 for boys. Explosive sports is anything that involves fast stops and starts, sprinting, or jumping. Good examples are football, soccer, basketball, track, volleyball, and gymnastics.

During growth spurts, kids go through a relatively tight phase where their muscles and tendons become inflexible, making them more prone to injury. That’s because bones grow first, followed by muscles and tendons.

Muscles and tendons are stretched tight until they catch up to growing bones.

STRETCHING, CORE EXERCISES, AND ROTATING SPORTS HELP A great way to avoid injury is warming up beforehand. When kids go from zero to 60, it can result in muscle strains and pulls, because cold muscles don’t absorb shock or impact as well as warm muscles. That means planning ahead and getting to practice early so your child can stretch at least 5 to 10 minutes before and after practice. While not all experts recommend stretching, Harvard Health says it keeps muscles flexible, which kids need to maintain range of motion in their joints.

When core muscles are strong they support the spine, pelvis and shoulders and ready them for impact during sports. Encourage your kids to do core exercises to keep their cores strong. Draw a line from your belly button around your back: these are your core muscles.

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When injury happens

Here are some tips for dealing with injuries and when to call the doctor:

By getting your kids involved in a variety of sports, you help them develop their whole bodies and avoid the overuse of any one muscle. Kids who come in with the most injuries are the ones playing the same sport in both a club and at school. Consider having your kids play different sports each season and not get too carried away— at least during the growth spurt years.

Knees tend to get injured without stretching. If your daughter is in track and field, be extra aware. Running without stretching can cause knee pain, particularly IT band injuries.

The IT band runs from the hip to the knee along the outer thigh. It easily tightens up and without stretching, tugs at the knee joint, causing pain.

Other common sports injuries in kids are twisted ankles, chronic tendonitis, sprained wrists and ruptures of the Achilles tendon.

• If your daughter twists an ankle while running, have her stop immediately, sit down and take pressure off of it. If it feels better within a few minutes, she can run again but she shouldn’t ever try to run through the pain.

• If your son falls and twists an ankle, see a doctor if he has extreme pain. If he is unable to bear weight on it, that’s a warning sign. He might have a fracture.

Hearing a pop or snap at the time of the fall is a sign that he might have broken it. Yet if he can bear weight and it gets better each day, it’s most likely a sprain.

• Treat swollen or bruised muscles with the PRINCE technique: Protection (ankle brace), Rest (crutches, if severe), Ice (for the first 24 to 72 hours), NSAIDS (acetaminophen for pain), Compression (ACE bandage) and Elevation (keep it raised). Depending on the severity of the sprain it will heal in a week or two. If it gets worse, not better, see a doctor.

• With shoulder, arm or hand injuries, if your child feels numbness, tingling or weakness, get it checked out by your family doctor or a sports medicine specialist.

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GOAL High School Excited for Graduates and Community Growth

BY JACOB DOYLE At the end of this school year, GOAL High School, the largest in Colorado, graduated nearly 1,000 students across the state. Through 11 separate graduations they got the festivities going and celebrated the Seniors on stage. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Constance Jones relayed her thoughts on the celebrations, “We are so proud of our graduating Seniors and their perseverance throughout their most unusual high school careers. The fact that they have gone through this historic pandemic and did not let it become an excuse…makes their graduation even more special!”

And special it was, especially in the Greeley area with approximately 200 graduates of their own. The budding site, Greeley, has been going through a bit of an overhaul with their mainstay and Rockstar Assistant Principal Dr. Derek Staves moving up to be the Principal of the Denver region.

Even so, Dr. Staves said this about the Greeley site. “The community in Greeley generally has been really, really supportive of all our students. They

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support us in helping move those kids forward. They are generous in giving to our kids. They’re great. This is a great community.”

GOAL has created a lot of community partnerships, not just the literal partnerships with community organizations, but a partnership that is built with the whole community.

GOAL High School has committed themselves to all 37 communities they reside in. Through different programs and events that they put on, they enrich the community.

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live in, including but not limited to their partnership with Perfect World Music, which holds concerts that students participate in, or GOAL Ventures, where students travel the U.S. while working and earning credit. All of this is to uplift the community and ensure a great education for the students. As the new Assistant Principal of Greeley says. “Our students are absolutely part of our community and world, and we’re not just educating them, we are creating productive members of society.”

Jacob Doyle is a Journalism Intern at GOAL High School.

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Break it up!

Lynn U Nichols

S

ibling fights happen, but they don’t have to bring down the house. Most of us are uncomfortable and even annoyed when our kids fight. Rather than thinking of fighting as something you have to always stop, consider the positive side of conflicts between your kids—learning life lessons of negotiation, sharing and conflict resolution. Sure, they might need your guidance and good direction on how to master these skills, but don’t fret. By putting in place some solid house rules, rewards and consequences, and giving them tools for getting along, you will win the day and keep the house standing.

Solving sibling

fights

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DRAW SOME LINES IN THE SAND Make a list of non-negotiables for your household, a.k.a house rules. Establish and share them long before any fists fly.

Speaking of fists, no physical violence will probably be at the top of your list—no hitting, no pushing, no hair pulling, no breaking toys, no throwing things. You might include other items, like no name calling, cursing, or saying the hate word.

“These behaviors are problematic between adults so it’s our job as parents to help kids learn early on not to develop these

Got a tattler? Try this!

If you’ve got a tattler, you might want to cover your ears and run away.

Instead, try these ideas:

1. Introduce the idea of tootling, not tattling. A toot is a positive shout-out to someone rather than a negative reflection on what someone is doing. Give toots a ton of attention, and toot a lot, yourself.

habits when in a conflict. It’s important they learn to express emotions without belittling or degrading the other person,” says Andrea Holt, Marriage and Family Therapist with UCHealth’s Family Medicine Center in Fort Collins.

Set some softer rules for promoting peace, like having to ask permission to borrow toys or go into each other’s rooms. When rules are posted and agreed upon by everyone, your kids will be less likely to argue about them.

“Also, ban the word ‘always.’ Because it’s never really always,” Holt adds.

GIVE REWARDS AND CONSEQUENCES If your kids break a non-negotiable rule, don’t let them beg and bug you to let them out of a consequence. Instead, give a short and realistic consequence.

Then, the next time they avoid a conflict, praise them. Let them know specifically what you liked. Rather than doling out a simple, “Good job,” say, “I liked how you said that you would give your brother a turn in five minutes, and then you did it. That kept the peace.”

Your real praise and attention is the best reward, but you can sweeten the deal by letting him choose a game to play or a special treat.

When you witness your kids getting along, point it out and let them know how much you appreciate it. In other words, catch them at being good.

Rewards are especially important for aggressive or impulsive kids. Create a point or reward system. Say, if they don’t break a non-negotiable over four days, they earn a reward or privilege.

Yet, reward systems need a good, long try—six months to a year.

“Sometimes one child demands more time and attention. Be sure to counter that with special attention to

2. Explore the real reason behind the tattle. Rather than shutting your daughter down, ask her what she would like to say to her toddler sister, instead. For example, if her sister tugged the cat’s tail and she tells on her, ask: “What would you like to say to your sister?” She might simply turn to her sister and say, “Don’t pull the cat’s tail. It hurts her.” Promoting direct communication can stop tattling in its tracks.

the child who isn’t demanding it. In general, it’s really important for parents to spend individual time with each child,” Holt says.

TOOLS TO SOLVE CONFLICTS Getting along with others is a learned skill. Teach your kids to use ‘I’ statements instead of ‘you’ statements.

Have them voice their needs clearly and succinctly and share their feelings.

Some kids might be more naturally empathetic, but all kids can learn empathy. Initiate conversations, talk about why their fighting was not okay and encourage them to share how the conflict made them feel. Doing so teaches them the valuable skill of identifying their feelings. Finally, if your kids are frustrated, let them take a break and come back to discussing the problem or apologizing later.

Here’s another tip: pause before jumping in to fix the conflict. Let it play out and use your wisdom on when it’s escalating into something scary before stepping in. Doing so gives your kids the chance to practice those allimportant conflict resolution skills.

If you feel like you are breaking up the same fight over and over, step back and ask yourself why. Is there a pattern to their fighting, like they always fight after school? If so, do they simply need a snack or a chance to run around and blow off steam before doing their

homework? Or, do fights break out when you are not giving them attention, like when you are cooking dinner or cleaning the house? When you get to the root cause, work to change up the circumstances that lead to fights.

PROMOTE RESPECT BETWEEN SIBLINGS Early on, reinforce the value of the sibling relationship. If your kids have different personalities and like opposite things, take turns letting them share their individual worlds.

Maybe it’s playing Legos, looking through hairstyle magazines or going fishing. Each gets their own time to shine and show the others something that makes them tick. Create a game out of it. Give it a name like, “What I Like” and keep it fairly short and simple to promote success. You can lessen rivalry between siblings by showing them, in front of each other, how much you appreciate their differences, never indicating that one way is better than the other.

Sibling relationships are often the longest ones in our lifetimes. While friends may come and go, siblings are here to stay. Show your kids you value their unity by telling them what good brothers or sisters they are, praising them when they are kind, and celebrating each other’s victories.

Having a brother or sister is a great gift.

Let them know it.

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Event Series

IN DOWNTOWN LOVELAND

All events are FREE and open to the public!

KIDS ON THE PLAZA Wednesdays, June 8 - August 10 Join us in The Foundry Plaza each week to play in the splash pad fountains, enjoy fun artist and library activities, watch children’s movies at the theatre and more!

For dates & full schedule of events, visit:

downtownloveland.org BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

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greeley district 6 news Students receive Colorado Seal of Biliteracy District 6 is one of 48 school districts in Colorado that have implemented the Seal of Biliteracy for High School Diplomas.

It was her maternal grandfather who worked to ensure Bianca Hernandez Vasquez could read and write in her native Spanish language.

“He was the one who motivated me to learn,” Bianca said. “Knowing that I can converse with others in my family and my community means I can really show up in my culture.”

Bianca, a senior at Greeley West High School, is one of 131 GreeleyEvans School District 6 students who have qualified to receive the Colorado Seal of Biliteracy for high school diplomas. This is the first year the Seal of Biliteracy has been available in the state of Colorado.

A Seal of Biliteracy is a credential given by a school or school district recognizing students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. It was made possible in 2017 through Senate Bill 17-123, and provides avenues for students, through testing and other evidence, to earn the credential.

Bianca gained her seal by taking the Advanced Placement Spanish exam.

She is also studying French and will be taking the IB French exam next week.

Mohammad Branham, a senior at Greeley Central High School, is fluent 24

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in Indonesian and several sub-dialects of the language. Because there is no exam for Indonesian, he completed a capstone project that provided evidence that he can write, read, speak and listen to the language.

Mohammad spent 10 years living in Indonesia with his native Indonesian mother and became fluent in the language. He is fluent in English and is also teaching himself Korean.

Colorado universities will give two credits for students who achieve the Seal of Biliteracy. Mohammad said that was the primary reason he decided to pursue the Seal of Biliteracy.

“It was worth it,” he said. “It will save me money and I thought, ‘Why not?’”

Bianca is headed to the University of Colorado at Boulder in the Fall to study biology, with the hope of becoming an obstetrician and gynecologist.

Mohammed is planning to study software engineering at the University of Northern Colorado in the Fall.

Preserving their biliteracy is important to both Bianca and Mohammed. They know that being proficient in multiple languages will be beneficial in their careers and in life.

“It provides me more opportunities ahead and a jump start on my future,” Bianca said.

SHAWSHEEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADOPTS NEW MASCOT Shawsheen Elementary School in Greeley has adopted a new mascot.

Effective immediately the school will now be known as the Sparrow Hawks.

For the past several years, administrators and teacher leaders at the school have been exploring the origin of the school’s name and mascot.

Shawsheen is named in honor of a Native American woman, who was also known as She-towitch, who was a member of the Tabeguache Ute tribe and sister to Chief Ouray.

The Thunderbird, Shawsheen’s former mascot, is a powerful and sacred symbol to indigenous people in the United States. Many Native American tribes believe the Thunderbird is a powerful spirit who comes in the form of a bird. The use of the Thunderbird as a mascot can appear hurtful and disrespectful to some indigenous people.

In addition, Shawsheen is one of many schools in Colorado that is required to change its mascot to meet the requirements of the Prohibit American Indian Mascots Act, or Senate Bill 21-116. This law prohibits public schools and public charter schools from using Native American mascots unless the school can gain approval from a Native American tribe.

After meeting with a committee of staff, family members, students and community partners and conducting a survey of students, staff and families, the school has selected the Sparrow Hawk as its new mascot. The Thunderbird mascot will no longer be used, and the school is in the process of removing it from the school, its website and social media and anywhere else it exists.

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poudre school district news 8th grader gifts puma mascots to teachers Poudre School District Child Nutrition is feeding kids this summer… for free! Any child, age 18 or younger, in Larimer County can receive free meals this summer from May 31—July 29. There will be no meal service on July 4.

Meals will be available at: • Linton Elementary, 4100 Caribou Dr., Fort Collins, 11:30am– 12:30pm.

• Putnam Elementary, 1400 Maple St., Fort Collins, 11:30am– 12:30pm.

Meals are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.

Preston Middle School eighth grader Oliver Cossins started planning endof-year gifts for his teachers on Dec. 17, 2021.

Yes, you read that right: more than six months ago. If that isn’t the most generous showing of gratitude and creativity, then we don’t know what is.

It all started with Cossins taking more than 350 photographs of the stone Puma in the entryway at the southeast Fort Collins middle school. He spent countless hours processing the photos, retaking some to capture different angles and, ultimately, using the images to render a 3D model.

Printing each puma on a 3D printer took approximately five hours. Twentyfive of the mascot figurines were solid while two others were designed to light up. Cossins did all his own soldering for the electronic versions.

For Cossins, this project was a labor of learning and love.

He was able to take something from the real world and recreate it in 26

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another form—form that is spreading joy to others.

“The people at Preston supported me no matter what I was doing,” he says. “It was really fun being at Preston.

I really liked being here.”

Tracey Winey, a teacher librarian at Preston, shared Cossins’ act of kindness on Twitter, garnering positive reactions, including from one person who called the pumas “rad” and adding that they would buy one online if they were available. Winey described Cossins as curious, kind, incredibly talented, intelligent, giving and fun.

“We loved having Oliver in the Preston library,” she says. “We will miss him and proudly will display our Pumas.”

FUELING UP KIDS WITH FREE SUMMER MEALS! Summer vacation is here! Even though kids may not be in class, they can still power their minds and bodies with a nutritious meal.

REGISTER NOW FOR KINDERGARTEN IN POUDRE SCHOOL DISTRICT! Children must be 5 years old on or before Oct. 1, 2022. Kindergarten in PSD is free!

PSD has 33 elementary schools to meet students’ unique educational needs. Learn more at www.psdschools. org/schools/school-options-choice.

Don’t wait—register today!

For more information, visit the Kindergarten webpage at www. psdschools.org/kinder.

REQUESTS FOR BUSING FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR Poudre School District aims to transport as many students as possible to and from school. To ensure that families needing transportation receive this service, riders must now apply for busing each year, even if they’ve had busing before.

Families may submit a PSD bus request by visiting the transportation section of the PSD website at www. psdschools.org. If your student is registered for kindergarten in or is a new-to-PSD student for the 202223 school year, please select the “No ParentVUE access” option when completing the request form.

Submitting a request is not a guarantee of services. Even with ongoing recruiting efforts and the hiring of additional bus operators, PSD is still busing fewer students than in previous years because of a reduction in routes due to the ongoing driver shortage.

What you need to know when submitting a request • Transportation will be provided automatically to all students who

qualify for transportation through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the McKinneyVento program, or foster placement.

Students who meet these criteria need NOT apply.

•B using is NOT provided for students who attend a school of choice or PSD-authorized charter school. If your student is eligible for busing at their neighborhood school but is switching

to a school of choice, they will not receive busing.

• Alternate bus requests will not be accepted for students in the walk area or for multiple addresses.

• Incoming freshmen and sophomores who currently attend Poudre High School or Fossil Ridge High School but live in the Wellington or Timnath attendance areas will not be eligible for busing to Poudre or Fossil.

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thompson school district news The 50th anniversary of Title IX

To help commemorate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, TSD is featuring a series of profiles of past district graduates who have a unique perspective on the federal civil rights law and who share their personal stories on the impact it has had on their lives.

JACKIE ANDERSON, 1972 LOVELAND HIGH GRADUATE CURRENTLY ATHLETIC SECRETARY AT LHS When Jackie Anderson was a student at Loveland High School fifty years ago, there weren’t many opportunities for girls to participate in athletic activities. The only physical activities for girls were cheerleading, which was not considered a sport at the time, and the Girls’ Athletic Association, a sort of intramural organization that allowed girls to practice on volleyball or basketball teams every day before competing for one day each season.

“The girls had to practice at night to work around the boys’ schedule,” Jackie recalls. “The boys had priority.”

Jackie says that back then, people didn’t consider it “ladylike” for girls to 28

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participate in sports.

“Back in that day, girls who were heavily into sports were looked at more as tomboys – whereas now, they’re looked at as athletes,” she explains, recalling that when she was in high school, girls were required to wear dresses or skirts to school unless the temperature dropped below zero.

Many girls were members of the Pep Club, an organization that would take buses full of girls in uniform to out-of-town games to sit together and cheer with the cheerleaders.

“Attendance at games was expected,

but it was also more of ‘it’s what everyone did,” she says.

After graduating from LHS in 1972 – the same year Title IX was enacted – Jackie took a job as athletic secretary at the school, a position she held until 1998.

She left the job for a while to pursue other opportunities, but when the chance arose to come back to LHS as the athletic secretary in 2013, Jackie returned to the school, and has been there ever since.

Now, having spent decades seeing things change for girls in sports, Jackie says the effects of Title IX are profound, and the differences became apparent in the early 1970s, as LHS quickly added girls’ basketball, volleyball, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, and track over the next few years. She says the effect it had on girls who had wanted to participate in sports for years was immediate.

“I think it creates a sense of belonging and family, and of school pride,” Jackie says. “Even a sport that hasn’t experienced a lot of success, there’s still that sense of accomplishment. You don’t always have to win to be successful. You’re improving skills, teamwork, and character.”

Jackie explains that early on, girls’ sports were never taken quite as seriously as boys’ sports, and that the girls’ teams didn’t have much of a fan base.

“For girls it was more about promoting good sportsmanship and a sense of dedication and achievement,” she says. “Girls weren’t considered at the same level as the boys. I don’t think it took very long for that to change as numbers grew and things got a little more serious.”

Jackie comes from a family that was always into sports, whether as participants or as avid fans. Her parents graduated from LHS in the 1940s, Jackie and her two sisters all graduated from LHS, and the three sisters each married LHS alums as well. Years later, Jackie’s son would also graduate from Loveland High.

“I can remember getting into my

red snowsuit as a kid to go to LHS football games. It didn’t matter how far away they were playing, we went,” she recalls. “Loveland High has been such a big part of our family’s life; getting to be a part of our team successes, our school successes is fulfilling. It continues a sense of pride that’s been a part of our family for decades.”

Jackie was also the coach for the cheer team at LHS for seven years in the 1970s and 1980s, watching it evolve from more of an activity to a CHSAAsanctioned sport.

Spending all of that time immersed in high school sports, Jackie is somewhat of an authority on the effects of athletics on young people.

“There’s so much to learn from it: How to succeed, how to fail in an appropriate way,” she says. “I think it’s good when kids can do something for themselves that makes them stronger, better people, and at the same time get involved in their school.”

As schools expanded their girls’ athletic programs to create more opportunities each year, most recently adding programs such as lacrosse and wrestling, Jackie says the effects of Title IX have become evident.

“It’s much more serious and

competitive now, partly because the opportunities are available at a young age, and there are more college opportunities,” she says. “I think it’s fair, and kind of wish maybe it had come along a little bit earlier. Why shouldn’t girls have those same opportunities?”

SCAN HERE Help children in need start the school year off right by donating supplies!

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J U LY 2 0 2 2

EVENTS CALENDAR Please check websites for the status of the following events as cancellations or postponements may have been announced after our publication date.

FESTIVALS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

WEDNESDAYS THROUGH DECEMBER Virtual QPR Suicide Prevention Training Learn the three steps–Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)–to help save a life from suicide in these virtual community training sessions. Registration required for meeting link. Alliance For Suicide Prevention of Larimer County Zoom meeting. https://bit.ly/3Gv0szv.

THROUGH JULY 4 Greeley Stampede Celebrating 100 years, this festival includes rodeo, concerts, parade, carnival, shopping, food, demolition derby, kids korral and fireworks. Island Grove Regional Park, GR. www.greeleystampede.org.

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TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, & THURSDAYS THROUGH JULY 28 Kids Feeding Kids Summer Program Delicious breakfast and fun activities for kids and their families. Ages 1–18 (family members of any age allowed in addition to child). Free or Pay-It-Forward. FoCo Café, 225 Maple St., FC. 9–10:30am. 309368-1659, www.fococafe.org/programs/ summer-breakfast.

THROUGH JULY 29 (EXCEPT JULY 4) PSD Free Summer Meals PSD Child Nutrition provides free nutritious meals to any child, age 18 or younger in Larimer County.

Linton Elementary, 4100 Cariibou Dr. FC, 11:30am–12:30pm OR Putnam Elementary, 1400 Maple St., FC, Noon– 12:30pm. www.psdschools.org.

THROUGH AUGUST 12 (EXCEPT JULY 4) Lunch Lab Free Summer Meals Lunch Lab from Food Bank for Larimer County offers children 18 and under one free lunch per visit. Lunch must be eaten on-site.

Various locations in Fort Collins, Loveland and Laporte. Times vary. https://thelunchlab.org.

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10 One Sweet Summer Event Series Live music concerts, outdoor dining, kids’ days, fitness classes and more. July 22, enjoy an ice cream festival featuring NoCo ice cream vendors and the movie Frozen on the outdoor screen. All ages.

The Foundry Plaza, Downtown LV. Days/ times vary. www.downtownloveland.org/ onesweetsummer.

SATURDAY, JULY 9 Family Pride at the Lyric Theatre Join in celebrating pride and supporting the community of Fort Collins. Canyon Concert Ballet will perform. The Lyric, 1209 N. College Ave., FC. 11am–4pm (CCB on outside stage 11:30am).

Activities start at 11 am and run until 4pm. https://lyriccinema.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 16 Cherry Pie Celebration Commemorating Loveland’s longstanding connection with the cherry industry, enjoy live music, vendor booths, children’s activities, and more Peters Park and parking lot, next to Loveland Museum, LV. 5pm. www. thelovelandmuseum.org/programs-events.

SATURDAY, JULY 23 LEGO® Creation Festival Children, adults and families show off their building skills in this annual funfilled competition. Old Town Square, FC. 8am–5pm. www.downtownfortcollins.org.

JULY 23 THROUGH AUGUST 1 Weld County Fair Celebrate the 104th fair with 4-H livestock shows, sales, awards, BBQ , vendors and more. Island Grove Park, GR. Times vary. www.weldcountyfair.com.

FAMILY FINANCE EVENTS

JULY 14, AUGUST 11, SEPTEMBER 15 Financial Seminars for Families Free monthly seminars to learn more about financial security, understand your current financial standing and your future needs. Topics include: Protection from the Unexpected, Money Talks; College Funding; Flexibility in Retirement; Tax Diversity; Child Gifting. WIT Fitness, 1224 Automation Dr. Unit B, WS. Times vary. 970-301-3320, www.facebook.com/ SusanHartingnyl.

LIBRARY EVENTS

THROUGH JULY 29 Clearview Summer Adventure Program: Oceans of Possibilities Clearview Library District invites readers to splash into a world of adventure. Special early literacy program every Friday.

Complete a bingo card featuring reading and activity-based challenges. WindsorSeverance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. https://clearviewlibrary.org.

THROUGH JULY 30 Loveland Summer Learning Program: Mountains of Possibilities Read, make, inspire and explore to log points that can be used to win prizes and enter in raffles.. All ages. Loveland Public Library, 300 N. Adams Ave., LV. www.lovelandpubliclibrary.org/events/ summer-learning-program.

THROUGH AUGUST 4 High Plains Summer Reading Adventure: Oceans of Possibilities High Plains Library District invites readers to dive into adventures, reading to earn prizes! Enjoy multiple ocean-related events and take-and-make projects. All Greeley Libraries, GR. www.mylibrary.us/sra.

THROUGH AUGUST 15 Poudre River Summer Reading: Challenge Oceans of Possibilities Poudre River Public Library District invites readers of all ages to dive into adventures. Read your way to prizes and participate in fun learning activities. Old Town, Harmony and Council Tree Libraries, FC. www.poudrelibraries.org/src.

SATURDAYS Family Fun Saturdays Fun STEM projects and activities for the family every week. Lincoln Park Library, 1012 11th St., GR. 2–4pm. www.mylibrary.us.

FRIDAY, JULY 1 Family Art Challenge: Ocean Themed Diorama Families create an art piece to display at the library. Pick up art kit at WindsorSeverance Library, 720 3rd St., WS, view overview on Facebook and return art by July 31. All ages. Registration required.

Clearview Library District Facebook meeting.

4–4:30pm. https://clearview.libnet.info/ event/6542931.

JULY 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 Seafloor Escape (Escape Room) Restore the power and escape a seafloor hotel room, all the while uncovering a sinister plot. All ages. Lincoln Park Library, 1012 11th St., GR. Times vary. https://mylibrary.evanced.info/signup.

TUESDAYS, JULY 5, 12, 19, 26 Homeward Alliance Family Resource Navigator Free assistance for families /individuals needing housing, documents (obtaining IDs, Birth Certificates, SSNs, etc.), employment, public benefits, or those experiencing homelessness. Loveland Public Library lawn, 300 N. Adams Ave. LV. 9am–1pm. www.lovlib.org/events.

JULY 9 & 15 Underwater Mini-Golf Test your skills against your friends and family as you putt around the library…or is it the bottom of the see? All ages. Lincoln Park Library, 1012 11th St., GR. Noon on July 9; 2pm July 15. https://mylibrary.evanced.info/signup.

MONDAY, JULY 11 Colors of the Ocean Chalk Fest Create an ocean scene in the parking lot with provided chalk, ocean animal stencils and light refreshments. Registration required. All ages. Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 4–5pm. https://clearview.libnet.info/ event/6543668.

MONDAY & TUESDAY, JULY 11 & 12 KidZone: Oceans of Fun Fun crafting, learning, and sharing all things oceans. Ages 6–9. Registration required. Monday at Harmony Library, 4616 S. Shields, FC and Tuesday at Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave. #200, FC. 10–11:30am and 1–2:30pm. www.poudrelibraries.org.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13 Will Parker’s Under the Sea Show— Greeley Performance Whimsical, interactive show with guitar and harmonica and songs that open up to the world of imagination. Bring chairs/ blankets, sunscreen and even a picnic! All ages. Lincoln Park, central GR. 11am–noon. https://mylibrary.evanced.info/signup.

THURSDAY, JULY 14 Rocky Mountain Raptor Program Meet a live raptor and learn about what a raptor is, how they survive and adapt and the challenges they face. Ages 11–17.

Loveland Public Library lawn, 300 N. Adams Ave., LV. 10–11:30am. www.lovlib.org/events.

Science Workshop with Science Matters!

Explore nature and animals through science in this interactive workshop with several hands-on STEM stations. Ages 4+. Loveland Public Library lawn, 300 N. Adams Ave., LV. 1–2pm. www.lovlib.org/events.

FRIDAY, JULY 15 Dance in the Ocean Engage in ocean-themed dances with Just For Kix, a local dance studio. Will we move like waves or wiggle like seaweed?

Registration required. Ages 0–6. WindsorSeverance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 10–10:30am. https://clearview.libnet.info/ event/6550527.

Toddler Tracks Little ones will discover flowers, bugs, tracks and more in this slow-paced exploratory walk and storytime. Ages 1–3 with adult caregiver. Registration required.

Red Fox Meadows Natural Area, 1810 S. Taft Hill Rd., FC. 10–11am. www.fcgov.com/events.

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Nailed It! Under the Sea Edition Demonstrate your dessert decorating and snack shaping skills and learn new ones!

Work together in groups to see which team can make the most spectacular ocean themed snacks and desserts. Ages 10–13.

Registration required. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave. #200, FC. 2–4pm. www.poudrelibraries.org.

TUESDAY, JULY 19 Getting Crafty: Shark Week From goblin sharks to hammerheads and cookie cutter sharks, look at shark species and create own shark puppets. Ages 6–12.

Registration required. Windsor-Severance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 3–4pm. https://clearview.libnet.info/event/6542886.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20 Tween Time: The Great Partner Race Work with a partner and compete against a clock to complete several activities including: giant beach ball volley, corn hole toss, an obstacle course and more. Ages 9–12. Registration required. Lakeview Park, 512 Mallard Dr. Severance. 4–5pm. https://clearview.libnet. info/event/6542919.

THURSDAY, JULY 21 Experience the Ocean in VR Virtual reality headsets take you to the bottom of the sea to get up close with some creatures of the deep. Ages 13–18.

Registration required. Centennial Park Library, 2227 23rd Ave., GR. 1–2pm. https://mylibrary.evanced.info/signup.

MONDAY, JULY 25 Sea Stories: performed by The Story Bakers Family-friendly event highlights the elements of a story while promoting excitement about storytelling and the performing arts.. Ages 6–12. Registration required. Windsor HS Auditorium, 1100 Main St., WS. 4–5pm. https://clearview. libnet.info/event/6551341.

TUESDAY, JULY 26 Turtle Talk Join wildlife ecologist Bryan Wallace to explore sea turtle conservation, learning about one of the greatest threats to sea turtles with a hands-on activity. All ages.

Registration required. Farr Regional Library, 1939 61st Ave., GR. 2:30–3:30pm. https://mylibrary.evanced.info/signup.

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THURSDAY, JULY 28 Riverside Celebrate Summer Reading Party Following family storytime, enjoy a party with the Greeley Water Conservation truck, snacks, games and activities. Riverside Library, 3700 Golden St., Evans. 10–11am. https://mylibrary.evanced.info/signup.

FRIDAY, JULY 29 Summer Learning Program Finale Party Celebrate reaching those reading goals with an end of season party. All ages. Loveland Public Library lawn, 300 N. Adams Ave. LV. 3–5pm. www.lovlib.org/events.

SATURDAY, JULY 30 End of Summer Carnival Celebrate the end of summer with a carnival featuring bouncy houses, inflatable games and challenges, light refreshments and more. All ages. WindsorSeverance Library, 720 3rd St., WS. 3–7pm. https://clearview.libnet.info/ event/6651262.

Sea Rescue: A Family Escape Room Find clues, solve puzzles, and decipher codes to rescue an adorable sea creature in this escape room. Ages 6–10 and their caregivers. Registration required. Council Tree Library, 2733 Council Tree Ave. #200, FC. 1:30pm; 2:45pm; 4pm. www.poudrelibraries.org.

CONNECT TO NATURE

MONDAYS, TUESDAYS & SATURDAYS The Gardens Read and Seed in English, en Español ¡Es tiempo de explorar en los Jardines!

Garden story, movement/song plus natureinspired activity. Ages 2–4 with adult.

Registration required. Free/members; $8/ non-member child; $11/ non-member adult (includes gardens/butterfly house.)

Gardens on Spring Creek, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. English M/T 10:15–11am & 11:15am–Noon; Spanish Sat. 10:15–11am. www.fcgov.com/gardens/read-and-seed.

TUESDAY, JULY 5 Light Up the Night Fort Collins is home to one of the largest firefly populations in Colorado! See what makes it such a great place to live along this easy 1-mile hike on dirt trails. All ages. Registration required. Riverbend Ponds Natural Area, 2856 E. Prospect Rd. between Sharp Point and Summitview, FC. 8:30–10pm. www.fcgov.com/events.

THURSDAY, JULY 7 Junior Naturalist: Hiding in Plain Sight Learn to use the SLOW method to increase your chances of seeing nature’s creatures. Easy hike up to one mile. Ages 8–12. Registration required. Riverbend Ponds Natural Area, meet at the Cairnes Dr. Entrance off of Tiimberline Rd., FC. 10am–Noon. www.fcgov.com/events.

SATURDAY, JULY 9 Wild Fest Geared toward families of all ages and focused on educating about native species, how to safely interact with them, and providing opportunities to contribute to conservation efforts. All ages. Senior Center, 1200 Raintree Dr., FC. Noon–3pm. www.fcgov.com/events.

FRIDAY, JULY 15 Toddler Tracks Little ones will discover flowers, bugs, tracks and more in this slow-paced exploratory walk and storytime. Ages 1–3 with adult caregiver. Registration required.

Red Fox Meadows Natural Area 1810 S. Taft Hill Rd., FC. 10–11am. www.fcgov.com/events.

Bat Walk Join a bat biologist to learn about local bats and their ecological roles and hear realtime echolocation calls at the site of the largest maternal roost in NoCo. Easy hike.

All ages. Registration required. Gateway Natural Area, meet near picnic shelter A to get your parking pass, FC. 8:30–10pm. www.fcgov.com/events.

SATURDAY, JULY 16 Skygazing Volunteers from the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society provide telescopes and share knowledge about the stars, planets, galaxies and more. Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area, Carpenter Rd./CR 32, approximately one mile west of I-25, or two miles east of Timberline on the north side of Carpenter Rd., FC. Drop in anytime 9:30–11:30pm. www.fcgov.com/events.

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THURSDAY, JULY 21 Junior Naturalist: Waterwise Explore the journey of a water drop from its source to your home’s tap and learn how the city assesses the health of our watershed to provide drinking water for thousands.

Short, easy hike. Ages 8–12. Registration required. Gateway Natural Area, near picnic shelter A to get your parking pass, FC. 10am–Noon. www.fcgov.com/events.

FRIDAY, JULY 29 Rocky Mountain Raptor Program Live ambassador raptors on display to educate people about RMRP’s mission and raptors. Old Town Square, FC. 5–7:30pm. www.downtownfortcollins.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 30 Astronomy & Skygazing: Perseid Meteor Shower Catch a glimpse of impressive “shooting stars.” Brief, family-friendly astronomy activity followed by skygazing. Telescopes provided. All ages. Registration required.

Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, Approximate address: 10184 W. CR 32C, LV. 8:15– 10:15pm. www.fcgov.com/events.

MUSEUM EVENTS

SECOND THURSDAYS Greeley History Museum: Museum at Twilight Explore the galleries and enjoy refreshments during evening hours.

In June, learn about climate change in Colorado and beyond. Greeley History Museum, 714 8th St., GR. 4–8pm.

970-350-9220, greeleymuseums.com.

THROUGH JULY 10 History as Art: Cherry on Top Loveland artists create artwork based on cherry pitters and their importance in Loveland. All ages. Loveland Museum, 503 N. Lincoln Ave, LV. Museum hours. www.thelovelandmuseum.org.

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 24 Exhibit: Visions of Rural China Huxian folk art, created by villagers and farmers, captures late 20th century rural Chinese life in rich and bold colors. $5/ adults; $3/students/ seniors Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures, 200 W. Mountain Ave., FC. 11am–5pm Tuesday– Saturday. www.globalvillagemuseum.org.

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Exhibit: GUATEMALA: Rotary in Action Community development projects by Fort Collins Rotary Club in collaboration with Rotarians in Guatemala. $5/adults; $3/ students/ seniors Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures, 200 W. Mountain Ave., FC. 11am–5pm Tuesday–Saturday. www.globalvillagemuseum.org.

THROUGH AUGUST 28 Tame Your Marmots: Tammi Brazee Series is based on the metaphor of a trickster marmot who embodies our tendency to be misled by false perceptions and biases. All ages. $7/ages 13+. Loveland Museum, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. Museum hours. www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

Become a Leaf on a River-A Journey Through Life: Ronda Stone Your life is like a leaf on a river. Abstract photographic images take viewers on a journey of the good, challenging and ugly.

All ages. $7/ages 13+. Loveland Museum, 503 N. Lincoln Ave., LV. Museum hours. www.lovelandmuseumgallery.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 2 THROUGH MONDAY, JULY 4 Greeley Stampede at Centennial Village Museum Visit Centennial Village Museum, a living history experience, during the Greeley Stampede. Centennial Village Museum, 1475 A St., GR. Noon–6pm. https://greeleymuseums.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 9 Meeker Home Museum Tours Step into the past on a 30–45-minute tour of this two-story adobe home. All ages. $5–$8. Meeker Home Museum, 1324 9th Ave. GR. 10am–2pm. https:// greeleymuseums.com.

ENTERTAINMENT

WEEKENDS, THROUGH JULY 23 Cyrano de Bergerac With wordplay, swordplay, and the most famous nose in history, this show is a night of love, mistaken identity and romantic tragedy under the stars. Food trucks nightly. The Park at Columbine Health Systems, FC. www.lctix.com.

TUESDAYS, THROUGH JULY 26 Rialto Theater Kids Movies Free family-fun movies for all ages. Rialto Theater, 228 E. 4th St., LV. 11am and 2pm. www.rialtotheatercenter.org/kids-summer-fun.

WEDNESDAYS, THROUGH JULY 27 Lagoon Summer Concert Series Free summer concerts and fun activities.

July lineup includes Christine Alice, Clark Street Station, Rusty 44, and The Wendy Woo Band. Food trucks onsite, or bring your own picnic (no alcohol) plus blankets/ chairs. CSU Lagoon on west lawn of Lory Student Center, 629 W. Plum St., FC. 6:30–8:30p. www.lagoonseries.com.

FRIDAYS, THROUGH JULY 29 Cheap Date Nights $5 movie nights (includes ticketing fee).

All ages. Rialto Theater, 228 E. 4th St., LV. 7pm. www.rialtotheatercenter.org/cheapdate-night.

Movies on the Main Grab lawn chairs and blankets for outdoor movie nights with delicious sweets, popup shops and giveaways. FREE popcorn and cotton candy will be available, while supplies last. Promenade Shops at Centerra, Main Plaza, LV. 7:30pm preshow activities; movie at sundown. www.

ThePromenadeShopsAtCenterra.com/events.

THROUGH AUGUST 5 Loveland Movies in the Park July titles include Happy Gilmore, Frozen, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and The Lego Movie: The Second Part.. Bring blankets, chairs and a picnic dinner if you’d like (no alcohol/glass).

Various LV locations. Dusk, approximately 8:45pm. 970-962-2446, www.lovgov.org/ services/parks-recreation/events.

THURSDAYS, THROUGH AUGUST 18 Windsor Summer Concert Series Bring lawn chairs/blankets to enjoy live music, food trucks and family fun.

Boardwalk Park, 100 N. 5th St., WS. 6:30–8:30pm. www.recreationliveshere. com/219/Summer-Concert-Series.

WEDNESDAYS, THROUGH AUGUST Super Cool Kids Club Weekly Free live music, art projects, educational demos and more. All ages. Lyric Cinema, 1209 N. College Ave., FC. 5–7pm club; 9pm movie. www.lyriccinema.com.

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THURSDAYS, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 4 Windsor Movies in the Park Enjoy free movies such as Surf’s Up, Shrek, Sing and Little Rascals. Various Windsor parks, WS. 8:30pm. www.recreationliveshere. com/217/Movies-in-the-Park.

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10 One Sweet Summer Event Series Live music concerts, outdoor dining, kids’ days, fitness classes and more. All ages.

The Foundry Plaza, Downtown LV. Days/ times vary. www.downtownloveland.org/ onesweetsummer.

THURSDAYS, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 15 Bohemian Nights Presents Thursday Night Live Free live summer concerts. Old Town Square , FC. 7–9pm. www.bohemiannights.org.

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 25 Live at The Gardens Summer Concert Series Presented by The Gardens on Spring Creek and The Lincoln Center. July lineup includes Chris Botti and The Wood Brothers. $35– 80. Gardens on Spring Creek Great Lawn, 2145 Centre Ave., FC. Days/times vary. www.fcgov.com/gardens/concerts.

WEDNESDAYS, JULY 6 AND 13 Children’s Summer Series Features Salida Circus: The Lost Circus, an interactive show featuring magic, and lots of audience participation, and Foco Flava, where dancers of all styles/ages/ walks of life celebrate Hip Hop culture.

All ages. Blankets/sunscreen encouraged.

The Lincoln Center lawn, 517 W. Magnolia St., FC. 10am. www.lctix.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 9 Super Cool Kids Club Monthly Live music, art projects, educational demos and more. All ages. $10/family.

Lyric Cinema, 1209 N. College Ave., FC. 11am–3pm. https://lyriccinema.com/#/ movie/6616.

THURSDAYS, JULY 7 THROUGH 28 Loveland Summer Concerts Enjoy the Mobile Recreation Trailer with kids’ activities, food trucks, beer garden and a brand new Plaza Market plus performances by regional and national touring artists. All ages. Foote Lagoon Amphitheater, 500 E. 3rd St., LV. 6:30pm. www.rialtotheatercenter.org.

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JULY 7 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 4 Cinderella This Tony Award®-winning musical delights audiences with its surprisingly contemporary take on the classic tale. Rediscover some of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most beloved songs. Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 4747 Marketplace Dr., Johnstown. Times vary.

970-744-3747, www.coloradocandlelight.com.

THROUGH AUGUST UCHealth Healthy Kids Run Series A mix of two in-person one-mile fun runs and four one-mile course maps you complete on-your-own at any time during the designated month and one of your choosing for a total of seven runs. Various locations, FC, LV, WS. www.healthykidsclub.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 23 Movie Night at Canvas Stadium CSU Athletics welcomes the community onto the turf of Sonny Lubick Field to watch Encanto on the stadium videoboard.

Registration required. Canvas Stadium, FC. 6:30 gates open; 7:30pm movie. https://csurams.com/movienight.

TUESDAYS & SATURDAYS, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3 Fitness in the Foundry: Dance & Yoga Classes Free all-ages dance, yoga flow and gentle yoga fitness classes as part of the One Sweet Summer Event Series. Foundry Plaza, downtown LV. Dance: Tues 6:307:30pm; Yoga: Sat 8–9am/9–10am. www. downtownloveland.org/onesweetsummer.

THURSDAY, JULY 28 Rock Garden Concert: Songwriters in the Round Features Liz Barnez, Megan Burtt, Alysia Kraft & Bonnie Sims and benefits The Vegetable Connection. All ages. $22/ advance; $27/door; Free/kids 12 & Under.

Fort Collins Nursery, 2121 E. Mulberry St., FC. 5:30pm doors open; 6:30pm show. www.fortcollinsnursery.com/events.

ACTIVE-ITIES

FIRST FRIDAYS Free Fitness Classes On the first Friday of every month, nonmembers can join a fitness class, enjoy the pools, hot tub, basketball court, weight room and or any fitness activity. Windsor Community Recreation Center, 250 11th St., WS. 5am– 9pm. www.recreationliveshere.com.

THROUGH AUGUST 1 Poudre River Trail-athlon Pick up an Adventure Kit at your local library for 10 self-paced family-friendly trail activities such as fun run, bike the Poudre, mountain bike course, climbing wall, scavenger hunt and more. Kits at Lincoln Park/Centennial Park/Farr Regional libraries, GR or Windsor Severance Library, WS. www.poudretrail.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 2 FireKracker 5K All ages and abilities are welcome to walk, jog, run or race on this scenic, flat and fast course. Choose from Citizens 5K, Elite 5K and Kids’ 1 Mile. City Park, FC. 7:30am. www.facebook.com/ events/659733775094352.

MONDAY, JULY 4 Loveland Liberty 5K Run the 5K in person or complete it virtually through July 15. Begins Loveland Fairgrounds Park, 700 S. Railroad Ave., LV. 8–10:30am. www.sweetheartcityracing. com/events/loveland-liberty.

MONDAYS, JULY 11, AUGUST 8, SEPTEMBER 12 New Momma Monday: FIT$MOM Stroller Fitness Class Fun, interactive workout with your little one plus post-workout crafts, story time with Barnes & Noble and snacks.

Registration required. Promenade Shops at Centerra, Main Plaza, LV. 9–11am. www.ThePromenadeShopsAtCenterra. com/events.

SUNDAY, JULY 24 FoCo Fondo Among the five routes of this daring gravel cycling adventure is a 12-mile Safe Routes to School family route. Post-ride, enjoy food trucks, vendors, bike demos, live music and kids’ activities. Starts/finishes at New Belgium Brewing, 500 Linden., FC. 9:30am family start. www.FoCoFondo.com.

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time out Show kindness Offer comfort, experience joy

KIM SHARPE

W

hen I’m really tired and stressed, I often go to a fantastical place in my mind. It’s a big two-story, white, clapboard house with a covered veranda that runs the full length of its front.

Wicker chairs with plump cushions are casually, but thoughtfully clustered around the cozy porch. Majestic trees surround the property and moss-lined paths wind through their shady depths.

A shamrock green lawn with beautiful flower gardens and fragrant, blooming shrubs leads from the house down a gentle slope to a pristine lake where a canoe is tied to the dock.

When I arrive, my mom greets me on the steps of the porch, hugs me and tells me to go upstairs to my room for a nap in a bed made up with crisp, line-dried sheets and a downfilled blanket that I can sink into. She tells me that she’ll have tea and freshbaked scones ready whenever I wake up. My mom is there to take care of all the essentials and then some so I can just rest and recover.

Wow! Even as I write this, I’m yearning for the peace this scene provides to me and I’m laughing because it’s so far from any reality I’ve ever experienced or ever will. Accepting this truth, I strive to be the kind of mom to my adult sons that I yearn for in my dreams.

While my home is small, it’s one where they can always show up at any time of day or night. They’ll have a place to sleep if they need one. They can shower and do laundry here. They can help themselves to any food or beverage that I have on hand, and I’ll make their favorite meal if they want. Basically, I will do anything to help out my sons if I’m able and I try to be attuned to their calls for help.

Recently, one of my sons texted 40

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me at 5 o’clock one morning to “ just keep me in the loop” that he was going to urgent care as soon as he got off work a couple hours later because he had a wicked sore throat and a lot of congestion. I knew that was my cue, so I asked if he’d like me to meet him at the clinic; his response was a quick, “If you want to come, that’d be great!” So off I went, not to rescue, but to provide some comfort.

“Comforter.” I’m not sure that role is clearly spelled out in the parent

job description, but it’s definitely an important one that parents play.

From soothing our crying newborn to tending to our child’s skinned knees to supporting our teen as they navigate emotion-laden relationships to being available to our adult offspring if they ask for advice or more.

“Comforter.” Yep, I’m okay with that role regardless of my sons’ ages, because offering comfort is a way of showing kindness to others and it brings me joy.

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