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Boulder Family Events: November 22 to 28, 2013

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Looking for family-friendly events and happenings around Boulder? Check it out right here each Friday!

Friday, November 22

Saturday, November 23

  • Nature for Kids & Parents: Gobble, Gobble. Learn terrific facts about wild turkeys and why they are different from domesticated turkeys! Games and nature activities on this easy hike. Kids ages 5+. 1pm at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage.
  • Panicking Poultry Turkey Trot at the Boulder Reservoir. 5 mile, family-friendly run. 1 mile kids’ run.
  • Bilingual Spanish/English Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Storytime in both English & French. 10:15am at the Main Boulder Library.
  • Boulder Folders. Informal origami workshops for people aged 10 and older or experienced younger folders accompanied by an adult. Please bring your own paper if you have it. 10:15am @ the Main Boulder Library AND 1pm @ George Reynolds Branch Library.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, do some artwork, get some lunch. There is always so much going on at the market! 8:00am to 2:00pm. It’s still open. Head out to support these great farmers, bakers, and the rest!
  • FREE Day at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits or stop by during the Farmer’s Market for a fun kids craft.

Sunday, November 24

  • Switch on the Lights. Head to Downtown Boulder for a holiday performance by the Boulder Chorale as Santa counts down to the grand illumination of the Boulder County Courthouse and the Pearl Street Mall. 1300 Block of Pearl Street. 5pm. Stick around for FREE visits with Santa until 7:00 p.m.

Monday, November 25

  • No School for BVDS students
  • Take your kids on a bike ride at the Valmont Bike Park. This is a fantastic place to take kids of all ages and abilities! There is a play space, flat trails, pump tracks, and plenty to explore for all.
  • Kids Eat FREE: Larkburger & Cafe Mexicali 

Tuesday, November 26

Wednesday, November 27

  • No School for BVDS students
  • Boulder Folders. Informal origami workshops for people aged 10 and older or experienced younger folders accompanied by an adult. Please bring your own paper if you have it. 1pm @ George Reynolds Branch Library.
  • Wednesday Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Children enjoy stories, songs and more in the Children’s Area.
  • Kids Eat FREE tonight at Wahoo’s!

Thursday, November 28

  • Happy Thanksgiving! 

#getoutside #free #parenting #boulder #colorado #thanksgiving

You Won Tickets To See The Magic Flute!

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Screen Shot 2013-11-19 at 6.27.13 PMCongratulations to Anne Prairie, you have won a pair of tickets to see the Boulder Opera’s The Magic Flute! If you were not the winner you can purchase tickets for shows in Boulder or Broomfield here.

Email me to get instructions on how to get your tickets. Get ahold of me ASAP since the shows are coming up very soon.

And stay tuned for the next Boulder Family give away! Cheers, Amanda

P.S., What other local Boulder giveaways would you like to see on this blog?

Boulder Family Events: November 15 to 21, 2013

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Looking for family-friendly events and happenings around Boulder? Check it out right here each Friday!

Friday, November 15

Saturday, November 16

  • FamilyDance Planet with Amazing DJ Rolf. FamilyDance Planet is transforming family time by offering your family a Saturday morning, active dance party with upbeat grooves that adults and kids can enjoy.  Our music is played live by different DJs each month!  We have a seasonal earth altar that kids help create, so ask your child to pick out an item from nature to put on the earth altar.  We throw in shakers, scarves and yoga mats to encourage creativity and movement.
  • Bilingual French/English Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Storytime in both English & French. 10:15am at the Main Boulder Library.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, do some artwork, get some lunch. There is always so much going on at the market! 8:00am to 2:00pm.
  • FREE Day at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits or stop by during the Farmer’s Market for a fun kids craft.

Sunday, November 17

  • CU Museum of Natural History Presents the Americas Latino Festival. The festival promotes environmental awareness and unites diverse communities for a sustainable future through dialogue on the environment, health, education, culture, and small business entrepreneurship. This will be the first environmental justice Latino themed festival in the United States with novel programming components bridging the gap between academia, K-12 education, arts, policy, business and Latino and non-Latino communities

Monday, November 18

Tuesday, November 19

  • Lap Babies at the Main Boulder Library. Babies (birth-12 months) and their caregivers explore language and books in a fun and intimate setting. Programs include rhymes, songs and books as well as time for free play and informal discussion of early childhood development. Attendance limited to babies up to 12 months of age; no older children please.

Wednesday, November 20

  • Cruisers & Crawlers at the Main Boulder Library. Crawlers and beginning toddlers (9-24 months) explore language and books with their caregivers in a fun and intimate setting. Programs include rhymes, songs and books as well as time for free play and informal discussion of early childhood development. Attendance limited to crawlers and beginning toddlers up to 24 months of age; no older children please.
  • Wednesday Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Children enjoy stories, songs and more in the Children’s Area.
  • Kids Eat FREE tonight at Wahoo’s!

Thursday, November 21

#getoutside #free #parenting #boulder #colorado #halloween

Ticket Give Away: Magic Flute by the Boulder Opera

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Screen Shot 2013-11-13 at 7.50.37 PMBoulder Opera is back this holiday season with a family-friendly one-hour version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. There are six opportunities to see this exciting production: Broomfield Auditorium on December 8th at 11am and 2pm or the Nomad Theatre in Boulder on Friday, December 13th at 10:30am and 4pm or Sunday, December 15th at 12pm and 3pm. For more information and to purchase tickets click here. Want to win a pair of tickets? Head to the bottom of the page to learn how to win or see Boulder Families on Facebook.

Mozart’s famous German singspiel, or opera-play, “The Magic Flute,” tells a charming, fantastic story that includes a bird seller, a dragon, a captured princess, a prince who wants to rescue her, an evil Queen of the Night, a priest and, of course, a magic flute. The plot is intricate but engaging and the music is beautiful and memorable. You won’t be able to stop humming Papageno’s theme song! Lasting approximately an hour with a question and answer period after the show, The Magic Flute is the perfect introductory opera for children who love stories, singing, and acting. Professional singers and a live chamber orchestra bring an authentic and exciting opera experience to children and parents alike.

The dialogue will be in English and main characters Papagena and Monostatos will narrate the story while inviting lots of audience participation. There is even a chance to dress as a dragon! The performance is probably most appropriate for children ages 3 and older.

Want a chance to win tickets? Here’s how you do it…

We will pick a winner out of all those who comment here and like Boulder Families on Facebook by midnight on November 18, 2013.

Boulder Family Events: November 8 to 14, 2013

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Find a listing of fun family-friendly events and happenings around Boulder right here each Friday!

Friday, November 8

Saturday, November 9

  • FREE Day at the Longmont Museum. 
  • The Liquid Crystal Wizard’s Show. A great CU program teaching kids the love and magic of science! These are free presentations that are always fun. Aimed at kids 5th grade and up, but all welcome! CU’s Duane G1B30 at 9:30am.
  • Dance Bridge Showcase. Fun, free, family dance showcase! Boulder’s annual “Dance is for Every Body!” showcase is a rich harvest of regional dance. Equal parts entertainment and education, the showcases feature local dance groups participating in 5 – 15 minute, family-friendly presentations. The one hour showcase is FREE and open to the public. 3:00pm at the Meadows Branch Library.
  • Bilingual Spanish/English Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Disfrute con sus hijos cuentos, rimas y canciones del segundo, cuarto y (cuando sea aplicable) del quinto sábado del mes. Enjoy stories, rhymes and songs with your children in English and Spanish. 10:15am at the Main Boulder Library.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, do some artwork, get some lunch. There is always so much going on at the market! 8:00am to 2:00pm.
  • FREE Day at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits or stop by during the Farmer’s Market for a fun kids craft.

Sunday, November 10

Monday, November 11

  • BVSD Day Off. What are you planning? A day at the Valmont Bike Park? A hike? Time with friends? An art project? 
  • Kids Eat FREE: Larkburger & Cafe Mexicali 

Tuesday, November 12

  • Lap Babies at the Main Boulder Library. Babies (birth-12 months) and their caregivers explore language and books in a fun and intimate setting. Programs include rhymes, songs and books as well as time for free play and informal discussion of early childhood development. Attendance limited to babies up to 12 months of age; no older children please.

Wednesday, November 13

  • Science Discovery Teen Cafe: Extreme Weather. Teen Science Café is a free, fun way for teens to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. Stimulating conversations with scientists, engineers, and inventors take place in an informal and relaxed setting. Free food is served! 6:00 to 7:30pm. RSVP at the link above.
  • Cruisers & Crawlers at the Main Boulder Library. Crawlers and beginning toddlers (9-24 months) explore language and books with their caregivers in a fun and intimate setting. Programs include rhymes, songs and books as well as time for free play and informal discussion of early childhood development. Attendance limited to crawlers and beginning toddlers up to 24 months of age; no older children please.
  • Wednesday Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Children enjoy stories, songs and more in the Children’s Area.
  • Kids Eat FREE tonight at Wahoo’s!

Thursday, November 14

  •  What’s happening today? 

#getoutside #free #parenting #boulder #colorado #halloween

Too Much Candy? Here Are A Few Ideas Of What To Do With That Loot!

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Too much candy? Not sure what to do with it? Here are 2 alternatives if you just have too much of a good thing…
The Candy Fairy
Your child can put out a bag of candy by the side of her bed and in the morning it is magically gone and the Candy Fairy has left something in its place — a book, a nerf football, a new paint set….
The Halloween Candy Buy Back Program:
Your child can take in candy to one of the two local dentists below in change for cold, hard cash– call for details
Dental Horizons–Tues Nov. 5, 4-6pm
600 S. Airport Rd., Suite 200-A
Longmont, CO, 80503
Phone: (303) 776-3320
Email: kathleenb@dental-horizons.com
www.dental-horizons.com
Colorado Healthy Smiles–Fri. Nov. 1, 4-5pm
380 Empire Rd., Suite 140
LAFAYETTE, CO, 80026
Phone: 303-469-3344
Email: molly@coloradohealthysmiles.com
www.coloradohealthysmiles.com

Happy Halloween Boulder Families!

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Have a blast tonight! Be safe. Be silly. Have fun. 

 

DIY: Sweet Lanterns to Keep the Light!

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The days are getting shorter. To honor those shortened days–or to keep the light around longer–I am posting about a very cool lantern making project I found on the very fresh blog, willowday.com. These lanterns are beautiful, creative and easy to make with your kids. They use LED lights, so you may need to get those. Try Michael’s or McGuckins around Boulder.

Now that it is dark earlier consider a few things to do with your lanterns:

  • Take a walk in the dark with just the lanterns for light.
  • Eat by lantern light
Paper Lanterns. These non-flammable, simply beautiful, versatile, paper lights, have been a staple in our summer entertaining — scattered on dinner tables, added to picnic blankets, strung across the patio; they’re even a excellent kid’s craft: the kids have made night lights for their rooms.

After making “night lights” for Grayson’s camping birthday,  I just couldn’t stop. My personal current favorite are the ones made of news print. They are just so fresh.

See? You can hold light in the palm of your hand, if you use LED lights.

Why not do these with your kids and paint each face of the pyramid a different color? Since they’re lit with LED lights, they’re non-flammable and don’t require matches. How cool is that?

TUTORIAL BELOW

SUPPLIES
Paper: regular, transparent, news print, etc.
LED tea light candles
Scissors
Hole Punch
Scotch tape
HOW TO:
Francesca and Grayson helped me make this colorful tutorial.
1) Begin by either printing out the template, (PDF TEMPLATE HERE), on your desired colored paper OR print one template which you will use for tracings. I  have one cardboard template ready at all times and like to have this handy. For a group of kids or party, having sheets already printed is a time saver.
2) Cut out the lantern shape on desired paper.
3) Punch holes with hole punch.
4) Fold the corners up.
5) Using the longest piece of tape possible, place in on the INSIDE of the box and very, very carefully pull the opposite side up and seal tightly. You do not want light coming out of the edges, so take time to seal these well.
6) Carefully insert the LED candle.
7) Press to light when desired.
I hope these bring beauty tables and even, corners of your home! Enjoy.

Boulder Family Events: October 25 to 31, 2013

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Wondering what to do this week? Check out this list of fun family-friendly events and happenings around town!

Friday, October 25

  • Jeepers Creepers–Halloween Fun In Nature! Explore the mysterious worlds of our favorite Open Space and Mountain Parks Halloween creatures, the bat, the bear, the owl and lion. Naturalists will lead you on a short hike around a wild neighborhood from den to roost and perch, where we will share a moment with these costumed creatures of the night. Join in your own costume, with a flashlight for this short hike. You have to register for 1 of  3 hikes. 5:30pm, 6:00pm, or 6:30pm.
    Location provided with registration. Ages 6 and up.
  • Halloween Carnival at the South Boulder Recreation Center. Jumpy house, games, activities, etc. Kids 2-8 y.o. can join in this fun annual event. 3:00 to 5:00pm. Cost is $5. 
  • Pearl Street Stampedes are fun for the whole family. Come out and cheer on the CU Buffs, listen to band music, and get merry. Starts at 7pm in from of the Boulder County Court House. CU vs Arizona. Free.

Saturday, October 26

  • Super Science Saturday at NCAR. People look forward to this event all year long! Be entertained all day with weather balloon launches, science experiments, amazing activity tables, and engaging activities for the whole family. In one of the most amazing locations ever. Free event. All ages. 10:00am to 4:00pm.
  • Ghost Walk, Ghost Talk. Learn about the haunted happenings in the historic homes on north Mapleton Hill. This is a family-friendly spooky event. Children $8 [5 and under free] 5:30 to 9:00pm. Purchase tickets ahead of time. 
  • Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center’s Enchanted Forest. Meet mountain creatures, tell stories, make crafts, and more. 3:00 to 6:00pm. $6 advanced or $8 at the door. Great for children of all ages.
  • Louisville’s Monster Dash. 1k kid’s race, 5k/10k adult race.
  • Boulder High’s Kid Friendly Haunted House. They turn on the lights, turn down the scare factor and let kids enjoy a fun haunted house experience. 1:00 to 4:00pm.
  • Boulder Farmer’s Market. Meet your farmers, do some artwork, get some lunch. There is always so much going on at the market! 8:00am to 2:00pm.
  • FREE Day at BMoCA. Join them all day to delight in their exhibits or stop by during the Farmer’s Market for a fun kids craft.

Sunday, October 27

  • Ghost Walk, Ghost Talk. Learn about the haunted happenings in the historic homes on north Mapleton Hill. This is a family-friendly spooky event. Children $8 [5 and under free] 5:30 to 9:00pm. Purchase tickets ahead of time.

Monday, October 28

  • Bats, Spiders & Pumpkins–Halloween story time & hike. Celebrate the creepy creatures of Halloween as naturalist Ellen Orleans reads lively picture books at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage. Kids join in the fun with foot stomping, arm-flapping, and the color of the week. 3 to 6-year-olds. Wear clothes to match the weather and bring a snack if you like. 10:00am start. 
  • Halloween at the Y. The Arapahoe Y is hosting their annual Halloween Hullabaloo. Venture into the haunted house (not for the timid), enjoy carnival games, explore the cookie forest and light up the night in our new glow-in-the-dark room. Oh, and don’t forget the bone-chilling fun of the ice rink with costumed performances from the Flatirons Figure Skating Club. Free for members and non-members. 5:30 to 7:30pm.
  • Kids Eat FREE: Larkburger & Cafe Mexicali 

Tuesday, October 29

Wednesday, October 30

Thursday, October 31

  • Munchkin Masquerade on the Pearl Street Mall. This is the classic Boulder Halloween event for kids! Join the masses as you walk along Pearl Street stopping into businesses that happily hand out treats. Dress up. Have fun. Great for young kids. 3:00 to 6:00pm.

#getoutside #free #parenting #boulder #colorado #halloween

Halloween Tips for Building Neighborhood Connections & Supporting Children

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halloween old imageHalloween is a perfect time to build connections in your community! Let’s make Halloween an asset-building experience for children by helping them feel more connected to their community. The Search Institute does it again in helping to frame this fun holiday as a way to support children! It’s easy and just these few ideas will make BIG difference for our kids!

11 Halloween Tips for Building Neighborhood Connections

  • If you don’t know the kids who come to your door, ask their names and grades in school.
  • Compliment (or get scared by) their costumes.
  • Ask the child a question or talk to them briefly before you give a treat.
  • Turn on a light so children will be safe.
  • Intervene if trick-or-treaters become disrespectful or damage property.
  • Invite kids with parents you know to come in for a short visit. (Don’t invite kids you don’t know inside.)
  • Offer to take a busy parent’s child or children out along with yours.
  • Share treats that reflect your culture or values.
  • Get together with neighbors to decorate together. (Make it more fun for kids and get to know neighbors at the same time.)
  • Remember to greet kids the next day–when they don’t have costumes on!
  • Consider making a special treat bag (with extra treats or extra surprises) for the children who live nearest to you. When these children arrive, make a fuss about them coming and say you have something extra special for them.

Want to share this with your neighbors and friends? Here is a handout: 11 Halloween Tips for Building Neighborhood Connections

Do you have other ideas for creating a safe, welcoming, community-building experience for kids? Please share!