Tag Archives: Boulder

Boulder Arts Week = Great Arts Opportunities for Families!

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Screen Shot 2014-03-27 at 2.15.29 PMThe first annual Boulder Arts Week is shaping up to have tons of potential! The line up looks great! Here are some fun family-friendly events to check. There is plenty more where these came from in many disciplines! The ones I am highlighting are FREE – some of the others cost.

Boulder Arts Week is March 28 – April 6, 2014. Get the entire Boulder Arts Week schedule here.

March 28, 2014: Frequent Flyers® Aerial Fabric Solo
Frequent Flyers® Aerial Dance will present a solo aerial fabric performance on Friday, March 28th, 6-6:50 PM in the lobby of the Dairy Center for the Arts. The inimitable Kim Townsend will dazzle patrons with her strong, sensual, graceful and lovely performance. Free. 6 to 7pm.

March 29, 2014: Children’s Storytelling Hour
Please join JoLee Wingerson, storyteller and author, to hear three original children’s stories. All ages welcome, from birth to 100 +. 10 – 11am

March 30, 2014: Boulder Creek Balancing
Stone balancing will be executed by Andrew Davis and Michael Grab at Ebin G Fine Park. Kids of all ages love to try their hand at rock balancing! 9am – 5pm.

March 31, 2014: Pearl Street Mall: Student Banner Project People’s Choice Award
Downtown Boulder, Inc. worked with 66 budding artists from Columbine Elementary School, Casey Middle School and Boulder High School to create banner art for the 50 small banner poles that line the Pearl Street Mall. This year’s theme is “What I love about Boulder” and designs include images of local wildlife, Chautauqua Park, downtown Boulder landmarks and much more. Mediums used to create the banners range from collage to pencil art, water colors, and digital art.

April 5, 2014: BMoCA Presents FAMILY DAY: Art That Soars!
Bring the entire family for a fun afternoon of making ‘Art That Soars!’ with BMoCA’s inspiring art educators. Taking an ordinary balloon, and using assemblage techniques, we will create fanciful characters and abstractly imaginative shapes that will soar high above our heads and delight the town!! Free. 9 to 11am

 

#boulder #colorado #arts #boulderartsweek

BVSD Offers Students/Employees Seriously Cheap Refurbished Computers!

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BVSD is offering students and employees refurbished desktop PC’s for seriously discounted rates – $25 for students and $50 for employees. The Adopt-a-Computer program is about to close for the year. The last date to get one of these for your home is March 20, 2014! So if you need one, time to get on it!

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More info on the computers & the process of getting one here. It seems easy from what I read…

#technology #bvsd #families #students

Foodie Kids. Where is a Boulder Family to Go?

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Enjoying sushi at Hapa Sushi on Pearl Street

Boulder has amazing food options! Recently I was asked where to go with the kids and here is what I said…

1. Wahoos. We love Wahoos for a semi-fast meal. The kids love watching the fun surf and skate videos and the overall vibe. I like the food because it is semi-healthy too. Kids Eat Free on Weds nights. 

2. Backcountry Pizza. This place is great if you have a kids who want some entertainment before or after dinner. It has a great casual and easy going vibe. They have a great arcade room that kids love!

3. Southern Sun. They have fun games, healthy-ish pub food, as well as great beer! The restaurant loud and kids feel right at home! We love playing games while waiting and when you have a beer it can be helpful. You can check out Under the Sun which is downstairs too.

4. Hapa Sushi [on Pearl]. They have a fantastic kids menu. The kids’ menu is inexpensive, healthy, and kid-friendly. Sit at the counter so the kids can enjoy watching the sushi chefs at work.

5. The Kitchen Next Door. This foodie favorite on Pearl Street offers a menu that resonated with kids – from kale chips to garlic smashers. The food is healthy and fast. And parents love the diverse and delicious food!

Interested in Kids Eat Free option in Boulder? Find a list here.

Free Days: What’s Happening Around Town?

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Screen Shot 2014-03-03 at 10.51.18 AMThere was recently a question about finding Free Days. Free Days are great! They are specific days when some of the best museums around town are free. This means you can stay as long as you like without feeling like you just dumped down a lot of money and have to get the value. It increases the fun!

Free Days include locations such as:

  • Denver Art Museum
  • Denver Museum of Natural Science
  • Boulder History Museum
  • Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Denver Botanic Garden
  • Colorado Railroad Museum
  • Denver Zoo

Want to plan a trip or just see what Free Days are coming up? Check out the Free Days Calendar 

#getoutside #freedays #free

Talking With Your Kids About Disasters/Emergencies

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For years I had heard about floods in Boulder. The forms came home many times a year in my kids’ folders from school. I glanced at them. Recycled them. Went on my way.

After the September Floods I get it. Here is some information about how to speak to your kids about different natural disasters. The idea is that knowledge is power. You don’t have to scare your kids, but simply talk about who your family handles issues when they come up.

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To read specifics about talking to your kids about natural disasters/emergencies check out this website: http://www.ready.gov/kids/know-the-facts.

Boulder Area Summer Camps 2014

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Why do I need to start thinking about summer camps? I feel this way every year. Honestly. And many years I have blown it off and figured it would all work out in the end. It has and it hasn’t. If you wait too long a lot of the really popular camps fill up. So even though there was recently snow on the ground and more is coming it is time to start thinking about summer camps.

There are lots of summer camp listings that come out every year. I like the one the Boulder County Kids pulls together. Click the image to get to the actual camp directory.

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How do you decide which camps your kids should attend. First of all what are your needs? Do you work? Do they provide the hours you need. If you are simply doing these camps as enrichment then what does your child enjoy? What are their interests? The Camp Issue above helps you to sort through these questions.

A quick shout out to some great Boulder camps:

Larger camp programs

  • CU Science Discovery: Very diverse offerings from the fields of science, math, writing, photography. Most kids can find something here they will love!
  • Avid 4 Adventure: If your child loves adventures outside this may be the camp for them. Kayaking, biking, climbing, and most other outdoor pursuits you can name are provided here.
  • Boulder Indoor Soccer: This program offers week long summer soccer camps. They are super flexible, fun, challenging and your kids come back with great skills.

Smaller camp programs

  • Feet on the Earth: Earth bound, skills oriented camps for girls and boys
  • Science Adventure Program: Very sweet farm and survival skills related summer camps for boys and girls situated on a small farm in the Cherryvale area.
  • Growing Gardens – Children’s Peace Garden: Spend a summer learning about the earth, gardening and much more through this small Boulder non-profit.

There are so many great options out there. Take a look. Get excited. All the best on your summer camp journey!

Boulder International Film Festival [BIFF] Offers Fantastic Programming for Kids and Teens!

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Check out the BIFF line up for kids! This year marks the 10th anniversary of the excellent cinema that BIFF brings to Boulder! There are fantastic youth appropriate films and workshops! What a great opportunity for Boulder area youth!

They even give you an idea what ages would be appropriate for the films and workshops–looks like 6+. Check it out…

BIFF Youth Schedule

I am thinking of heading to the Shorts on Friday. I think the Filmmaking Workshop looks great too! For more information on BIFF and the programs they have for youth click here. I hope your family enjoys this great annual event! 

Reminder–BVSD Open Enrollment Ends January 17th

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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: December 27, 2013 to January 2, 2014

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fireworks

Family-Friendly Boulder area events for the next week are right here! It’s a quiet week here in Boulder. Enjoy some sweet down time!

Friday, December 27

Saturday, December 28

Sunday, December 29

  •  Check the lights on the Boulder Courthouse on the Pearl Street Mall.

Monday, December 30

  • Winter Skate in Louisville. Enjoy the old fashion fun of skating. Now through February 2014.
  • FREE Horse Drawn Carriage Rides in Downtown Louisville. Starting at the Ice Rink. Noon to 3pm.
  • Kids Eat FREE: Larkburger & Cafe Mexicali 

Tuesday, December 31

Wednesday, January 1

Happy New Year!

Thursday, January 2

  • Toddler Time at the Main Boulder Library. Children 18 to 36 months are welcome to enjoy a fun story time. 10:15am. 

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

Boulder Family Events: December 20 to December 26, 2013

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Sweet Little Library outside at BCSIS/High Peaks Elementary Schools

Sweet Little Library outside at BCSIS/High Peaks Elementary Schools

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

Friday, December 20

Saturday, December 21

Happy Winter Solstice!

  • Bilingual Spanish/English Storytime at the Main Boulder Library. Storytime in both English & Spanish. 10:15am at the Main Boulder Library.
  • ATOMS and Lego Holiday City Building Workshop. To celebrate the holiday season and share the joy of playing with ATOMS, we are turning our headquarters into a themed, open workshop space for anyone to come and build! They provide a free opportunity for anyone to come into our Boulder, CO office and build holiday creations with ATOMS. Our combined efforts will create an entire North Pole Village that moves, lights up, shakes, and pops! December 21 [10am to 4pm] & December 23 & 24 [4pm to 7pm].
  • 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.
  • Last Day for St. Nick on the Bricks. Head to the Pearl Street Mall if your kids would like to visit with Santa. Fridays and Saturdays from today through December 21. 11am to 2pm

Sunday, December 22

  • Celebrate the Winter Solstice at The Starhouse up Sunshine Canyon has a family-friendly celebration planned and all families are invited! They will have crafts, snacks and stories to welcome the longest day of the year. Cost is $30/family or less for individual tickets. Click link for more details.
  • ATOMS and Lego Holiday City Building Workshop. To celebrate the holiday season and share the joy of playing with ATOMS, we are turning our headquarters into a themed, open workshop space for anyone to come and build! They provide a free opportunity for anyone to come into our Boulder, CO office and build holiday creations with ATOMS. Our combined efforts will create an entire North Pole Village that moves, lights up, shakes, and pops! December 23 & 24 [4pm to 7pm]

Monday, December 23

  • ATOMS and Lego Holiday City Building Workshop. To celebrate the holiday season and share the joy of playing with ATOMS, we are turning our headquarters into a themed, open workshop space for anyone to come and build! They provide a free opportunity for anyone to come into our Boulder, CO office and build holiday creations with ATOMS. Our combined efforts will create an entire North Pole Village that moves, lights up, shakes, and pops! Today [4pm to 7pm]
  • Winter Skate in Louisville. Enjoy the old fashion fun of skating. Now through February 2014.
  • FREE Horse Drawn Carriage Rides in Downtown Louisville. Starting at the Ice Rink. Noon to 3pm.
  • Kids Eat FREE: Larkburger & Cafe Mexicali 

Tuesday, December 24

  • Lap Babies at the Main Boulder Library. Babies birth to 12 months can enjoy storytime!10:15am

Wednesday, December 25

Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 26

  • Toddler Time at the Main Boulder Library. Children 18 to 36 months are welcome to enjoy a fun story time. 10:15am. 
  • Storytime at the George Reynolds Branch Library. Come one, come all to South Boulder’s branch library for a storytime. 2pm.

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