The CU Wizards Are Here. Let Them Engage Your Child In The Wonders Of Science!

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Screen Shot 2013-12-12 at 10.38.00 AMThe CU Wizards program is an ongoing science discovery program presented free by CU professors on a variety of topics. The presentations are geared towards kids in grades 5 to 9, but everyone is welcome! These are fun, interactive, intense, silly, engaging presentations so take a look! The next Wizard program is titled Sink or Swim! on 1/18.

CU Wizards website

Wizarding schedule

FAQ’s 

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Boulder Family Events: December 13 to December 19, 2013

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Family-Friendly Boulder area events for the next week are right here!

Friday, December 13

Saturday, December 14

Sunday, December 15

  • Nature for Kids & Parents: Oh Deer!  Hike into the forest with Debora Martin, Early Childhood Educator/Volunteer Naturalist and imagine we are a herd of deer.  Play a game, sing a song, learn a magical story, then continue to prance, stroll, and play like deer while exploring their habitat. Make an antler headband to take home! Meet at the Lehigh Street entrance to Shanahan Ridge (map search 1903 Lehigh, where Lehigh and Lafayette Streets intersect) for an easy hike.  Ages 5 and up.
  • Timberline Handbell Ensemble Holiday Concert at the Main Boulder Library. Back by popular demand! This family friendly special event that celebrates the season and ring in the new year. Timberline Handbell Ensemble strives to broaden the appreciation of the art of handbell ringing in the Denver Metro area by providing excellent concerts and education for diverse audiences. 3pm.

Monday, December 16

Tuesday, December 17

Wednesday, December 18

Thursday, December 19

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

Boulder Family Events: December 6 to December 12, 2013

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Family-Friendly Boulder area events for the next week are right here!

Friday, November 6

Saturday, November 7

Sunday, December 8

Monday, December 9

Tuesday, December 10

Wednesday, December 11

Thursday, December 12

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

BVSD Open Enrollment Time Is Here!

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Open Enrollment. These two words bring strong emotions to the parents of Boulder. For some who chose to enroll their kids in their neighborhood school, open enrollment in the Boulder Valley School District [BVSD] is not a big deal. Phew! For the 40% of us who do open enroll our children it can be stressful.

So what is open enrollment in BVSD? Any child can go to any school based on availability by entering their child into the lottery system called, Open Enrollment. All families in BVSD can look at all schools to see which one seems to meet their child[ren]’s needs best. There are many choices [charter schools, focus schools, and neighborhood schools] and each has it’s benefits and drawbacks. But ultimately many Boulderites choose to open enroll their children in an attempt to try and find the best fit. For more details on open enrollment click here.

There are two main types of BVSD schools:

1. Neighborhood Schools: These are the schools that are designated for your neighborhood. Your child can always get into these schools if you live within the boundaries. You DO NOT need to open enroll to these schools if you are in the neighborhood, but you CAN if you want your child to go to the school, but you are not in the designated boundary.

2. Focus/Charter Schools: These are open enrollment schools that serve ALL of BVSD. There are NO designated neighborhood boundaries for Focus and Charter schools. You MUST open enroll to these schools. 

To help you visualize the open enrollment process here is the BVDS open enrollment flow chart:

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For Boulder Families with younger children there are a few schools that have open enrollment options for preschool, such as Community Montessori. For these schools, open enrolling at preschool age is the best way to secure a slot for your child. So even if your child is too young for elementary schools, taking a look at the open enrollment process can be really helpful. Likewise, the award winning Peak to Peak Charter School has open enrollment policies that favor those who have applied many times. They are all a bit different, so best to do your research!

Open enrollment happens for a limited time. You MUST apply to open enroll your child between December 2, 2013 and January 17, 2014. To get an open enrollment application head to the BVSD website. Good luck to everyone open enrolling a child this year!

Boulder Family Events: November 29 to December 5, 2013

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IMG_3470Happy Day After Thanksgiving! Here are the Family-Friendly Boulder area events for the next week…

 

Friday, November 29

Saturday, November 30

Sunday, December 1

  • FREE Day at the Boulder History Museum

Monday, December 2

Tuesday, December 3

Wednesday, December 4

Thursday, December 5

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

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