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ART STOP AT BMoCA, summer While you fill your basket with organics from the Boulder County Farmers’ Market, kids can take part in free, guided art activities on the front porch of the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 1750 13th St. Every Sat through September from 9am-1pm. 303-443-2122. BOULDER PARKS AND RECREATION CLASSES The city’s recreation centers offer classes in sports, arts and more at South Boulder Recreation Center, 1360 Gillaspie Drive; East Boulder Community Center, 5660 Sioux Drive; and North Boulder Recreation Center, 3170 Broadway. You can also stay fit with weights, cardio equipment, swimming or fitness programs. Classes are available for adults, children, teens and disabled individuals. For a schedule, pick up a brochure at any recreation center. Classes: 303-413-7270. Leagues and athletic office: 303-441-3410. BreakThrough Arts’ free classes for teens—including break dancing, Japanese sword, photography and cooking—run during the spring school semester. A final exhibition/performance is organized at the end of the season. 303-443-4474 ext. 4650. BUTTERFLY PAVILION PASSPORT ADVENTURES Light as air and as beautiful as a rainbow, butterflies abound at the Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. The Passport Adventure series takes kids through activity stations to earn honorary badges. 303-469-5441. CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS AT THE LIBRARY Kids discover the wonder of words at story programs daily at all branches of the Boulder Public Library. ¿Habla español? Kay Negash hosts a bilingual Spanish-English storytime the first Saturday of each month at the main branch, 1000 Canyon Blvd. Sparky the Fire Dog also visits on third Thursdays. Babies and toddlers get their own special book time assorted Tuesdays (18 months and younger) and Wednesdays (18 to 36 months old). 303-441-3099; www.boulder.lib.co.us/youth. CHILDREN'S STORYTIMES AT THE LIBRARY Got a voracious reader on your hands? Encourage your tyke’s literary passion at weekly library-sponsored storytimes. A complete list of other library-sponsored children’s events is available at www.boulder.lib.co.us/youth.
Finally, children have their own special day. April 25, free activities, like interactive live music, games with CU athletes, and water-fountain dancing, celebrate children through elementary school age. Parents can also learn about services available to them in Boulder. Children’s Day takes place along Pearl Street Mall, approximately 1300 Pearl St. 303-441-1977; coloradochildrensdayboulder.googlepages.com/home. COLORADO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL EDUCATION Professional actors work with children at schools and communities across Colorado, offering performances and hands-on workshops of Living Shakespeare. Programs are available for libraries, drama groups and more. 303-492-1537; www.coloradoshakes.org/education. Children paint alongside adults at this new art space. The studio offers drop-in sessions Thursdays 10-11:30am, with 18 pre-mixed paints and high-quality brushes. Creations also offers classes and workshops by local artists. Creations Art Space, 1740 Cedar Ave., 303-709-6884; www.creationsartspace.com. CU SCIENCE DISCOVERY CLASSES & CAMPS This popular five-week, after-school program offers activity-based science, math and technology classes. In the summer the fun moves outside so kids can explore Boulder’s streams, rocks and animals. 303-492-7188; www.colorado.edu/sciencediscovery. Calling all science fans—this longtime free program continues another season jam-packed with discovery and adventure. The wizards work their magic during hour-long programs on monthly Saturdays at 9:30am. Shows are designed for fifth- through ninth-graders, but all ages are welcome, and no reservations are required. Call to confirm dates, 303-492-5011; www.colorado.edu/physics (click on Outreach).
Children of all ages read to specially trained dogs in the Meeting Room of the Longmont Public Library, 409 Fourth Ave. One Saturday per month, starting Dec. 8, from 1-2pm. See website for supervision details; no registration required. 303-651-8477; www.ci.longmont.co.us/library. This special show of African music and storytelling for kids, by kids will be enjoyed by all members of the family! Featuring Kutandara Center's youth performance ensemble, and written by the center's musical directory Randy McIntosh, Follow Your Song is a new magical, musical fable featuring marimbas, drums, and costumes. April 19 at 7pm and April 20 at 2pm & 4pm at the Nomad Theater, 1410 Quince Ave., Boulder. Kids can also register for a special pre-show event on April 19 from 1:30-3:30pm where they can learn to play marimbas and drums, make crafts and props to be used in the show and meet Kutandara Center's summer kamp counselors. 303-443-2969. www.kutandara.com. INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL EVENT, annually in October International Walk to School Event has expanded from one week to the whole month of October, with Walk to School Day on Oct. 4 in 2006. It gives elementary schoolchildren, parents, faculty, staff and community leaders the opportunity to be part of a global event that celebrates the benefits of walking (and biking). 2007 will be the tenth year the Boulder Valley School District has participated. 303-245-5931. The University of Colorado schedules diverse events to satisfy almost every interest and age. To get weekly information on kid-focused activities and family events, visit www.colorado.edu/eventscalendar (click on Kids/Family Events). KIDS’ FARMFEST at SUNFLOWER FARM Hit Farmfest to feed baby animals, ride ponies, play in a giant sandbox or huge treehouse, collect eggs and more. Now open Saturdays 10am-3pm year-round. Sunflower Farm is at 11150 Prospect Road, Longmont. 303-661-0954; www.sunflowerfarminfo.com. Dodgeball, dancing and DJ music make this Saturday party at Bob L. Burger Recreation Center, Lafayette, a blast. Swimming, snacks, prizes and more round out the evening, 7-10pm every Saturday through May 31. 111 W. Baseline Road. 303-665-0469; www.kidsniteout.org. LONGMONT MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER DISCOVERY DAYS Discovery Days, a drop-in arts-and-crafts program for kids aged 2-5, starts in the fall and runs through the school year. Also check out the educational Discovery Backpacks and the Longs Peak Interactive Gallery, including new dress-up costumes and wooden blocks for kids to design their own “Main Street.” Admission is free to the museum and center, located at 400 Quail Road. 303-651-8374; www.ci.longmont.co.us/museum. OLD FIREHOUSE ART CENTER SATURDAY ART EXPERIENCE Crafty and creative kids 5-12 can take part in free art classes at the Old Firehouse Art Center in Longmont (667 Fourth Ave.). Sessions are the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Children are asked to bring a nonperishable food donation for the OUR Center. Registration is required; see website for details. 303-651-2787; www.firehouseart.org. OPEN SPACE AND MOUNTAIN PARKS NATURAL SELECTIONS This free educational series on ecology, wildlife and local history produces numerous children’s programs throughout the year. 303-441-3440; www.osmp.org. Project YES (Youth Envisioning Social change) creates leadership opportunities for young people through the arts and service learning. Create a large-scale public artwork about a social issue that affects your life, or take free after-school classes in mural painting, digital arts, civic responsibility and more. 303-666-8211; www.project-yes.org. RAILS IN THE ROCKIES, annually in February Chug on over to this extensive annual train fest. Model trains race through the Estes Park Conference Center, and kids can help run the engines. The show is at the center, 101 S. St. Vrain Ave. Call 303-577-9900 or Ed Mularz at 970-586-5393; www.estesvalleymodelrailroaders.org. ROCKY MOUNTAIN CENTER FOR MUSICAL ARTS RMCMA programs include lessons in all instruments and voice, early childhood classes, music theory for all ages, and concerts. Tuition assistance is available. 303-665-0599; www.rmcma.org. ROCKY MOUNTAIN THEATRE FOR KIDS During the school year, RMTK offers after-school classes in dance, drama, musical theater and improvisation. The company’s 120-seat Magic Playhouse is at 5311 Western Ave., Suite D. 303-245-8150; www.theaterforkids.net TEEN ACTIVITIES AT THE LIBRARY The Boulder Public Library, 1000 Canyon Blvd., offers many free programs for teen-agers. 303-441-3099; www.boulderteens.org.
Kids go wild for the wetland flora and fauna at the Thorne Natural Science School. Children of all ages track the trails around the marsh during workshops. Other opportunities include Movies on the Marsh and school in-service ecological classes. See website for current schedule. 303-499-3647; www.thorne-eco.org. In partnership with the Wild Bear Center for Nature Discovery, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) hosts a free public celebration of Earth Day April 19. Hands-on science and environmental activities run 10am-2pm at NCAR’s Mesa Lab, 1850 Table Mesa Drive. 303-497-1174; www.eo.ucar.edu. 110 N. Harrison Ave., Lafayette, 303-604-2424. Interactive science and art exhibits, classes, performances and workshops for children and their families. YMCA of Boulder Valley offers numerous teens-only events, including baby-sitting training, leadership courses, Y Riders mountain bike club, skateboarding, Breakthrough Arts and much more. 303-442-2778 (Mapleton Center); 303-664-5455 (Arapahoe Center); www.ymcabv.org. Play writing games, make word collages and learn hints to make prose and poetry shine in this long-running popular workshop. Kids from fourth to seventh grade receive advice and encouragement from professional writers 10-11am every Saturday in January, February, April and May at the Boulder Public Library, 303-441-3099; www.boulder.lib.co.us/youth.
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