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 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.