Month: April 2020

Deals: Earth Day, Take-out restaurants & more!

I’ve nearly lost track of what day it is – what makes Monday different from Tuesday and so on? I do daily check-in phone calls with my parents, which they seem to really like. I was reminded that when I was in High School our house burnt down. It was a difficult time living with my grandparents (who happened to live closer to the school) and my parents living on the other side of town with my uncle. My memory of that time was very different from that of my parents. I remember the fun we had on the weekends exploring the other side of town, different parks, different restaurants. So as a reminder to parents – what you see as a daily lost track could very well be the adventures remembered by your kids. Hang in there! Earth Day. Mile High Mamas has some great suggestions of safaris ...

Will Colorado schools reopen in the fall or will remote learning continue?

Denver metro area school districts are starting to plan for the 2020-2021 school year, which means considering the possibility that schools could remain closed. Douglas County School District Superintendent Thomas Tucker addressed the issue in a virtual town hall Thursday night. “We are looking at the possibility of continuing remote learning in the fall,” he said. “We hope not, but at the same time we have to be prepared if that does happen.” Tucker said much will depend on what happens over the next month, as the state lifts the stay-at-home order and some businesses return to in-person operations. Many metro area school districts are making plans for in-person graduation ceremonies later this summer. But districts say they’ll be waiting for guidance from the state and health officials t...

Avid4 Adventure: Resident and Expedition Summer Camps

My children have participated in Avid4 Adventure’s summer camps for a number of years and now that they’re technology-obsessed teenagers, those adrenaline-charged summers are more relevant—and imperative—than ever. One of the many great things about Avid4 Adventure’s camps is they are not just for the extreme outdoorsman. In fact, Pre-K – 12th graders of all levels and backgrounds learn to kayak, canoe, stand up paddleboard, rock climb, bike, hike and thrive in the outdoors. Day camps are offered in Boulder, Superior, Golden, Highlands Ranch, Washington Park, Stapleton, Greenwood Village, Lowry, Castle Rock, Lafayette and Colorado Springs.  Additionally, Avid4 Adventure also offers Resident and Expedition programs.  I’m often asked why we love Avid4 Adventure so much and th...

Take your family on a free history tour of Denver

Whenever I walk downtown with my family, I frequently wonder about the history of many of the places and buildings. Now, my most burning questions can be answered! The Denver Architecture Foundation (DAF) recently released two significant audio tour journeys, free and accessible from DAF’s website featuring 24 locations historically significant to Denver and Colorado and highlighting more than a century of Denver’s architecture and cultural history. This project was paid for in part by the History Colorado State Historical Fund. Weaving together historic facts and preservation, the audio journeys tell an interactive story about Denver’s past, better explaining the present and helping to imagine the future. Tours can be explored on location or remotely. The journeys are in walking or biking...

9-year-old from Highlands Ranch folds, delivers 2,000 ‘Thank you’ hearts to hospital workers

 A 9-year-old girl wanted to show her appreciation for medical workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic in Colorado. So she started folding paper, and along with friends and classmates, ultimately created and delivered 2,000 origami paper hearts with “thank you” messages on them to the hospital staff at Swedish Medical Center. “We wanted to let the medical staff know that we cared about them during this tough and difficult time,” 9-year-old Erica told Denver7. She soon recruited her family and friends, then her classmates at Cougar Run in Highlands Ranch, to take part. Each three-inch heart has a simple message written on it: “Thank you and stay safe.” “They risk their lives to save ours so I want to say thank you to them,” Erica’s friend Eunice, ...

Do’s And Don’ts Of Mask-Wearing During Colorado’s Coronavirus Outbreak

Now that masks are recommended for everyone who’s out and about, new questions are coming in from Colorado Wonders and other channels about mask etiquette and efficacy. What should people look for in masks? The key thing is covering the nose and mouth securely. Ideally with something that can hold the mask over the shape of the bridge of the nose. This is important because one of the main reasons officials decided to recommend masks for the general public of increasing evidence that people who don’t have symptoms could be shedding the virus through coughs, sneezes or even just breathing. In fact, it seems some people could have the virus and be spreading it up to 48 hours before they even show symptoms, so officials decided if everyone masked up, it could help. The state has team...

Deals: Learn at Home websites, free HBO and more

It is said that it takes 21 days to create a habit. Have you created a habit of some great family time? Have you created some habits that you will take with you after the Covid lockdowns are no longer in place? I can say that although I’m still not the most awesome cook – the idea of putting a well-rounded meal on the table (that still fits in my budget) is one I will certainly try to continue.  Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is offering half-price season passes to residents of Colorado, April 1-30. The passes are good for one year from the date of purchase with unlimited visits. A 2020 adult season pass regularly $72, is now $36 for Colorado residents, a child season pass, regularly $60 is $30, and a family season pass for four regularly $220, is $110.    Passes ca...

Virtually travel the world with these films, books, podcasts, and other immersions

One thing I’ve realized from finally having the time to catch up on my media queue is how much of the joy of travel comes from anticipating it, the sweet spot between the moment you find out about a place and decide to start planning a visit and your actual departure—all the dreaming that happens in between. While we collectively retreat and wait out this homestay, these are the travel films, books, podcasts, and other immersions that we’re turning to for inspiration and escape. Take a digital hike with help from Google Earth’s tours of 31 national parks, ranging from Acadia to Zion to Denali. Or check out Google Trekker from the Conservation Fund; staffers hiked through over a dozen protected destinations—like Lewis and Clark National Historical Park in Oregon and DuPont St...

Special Report: How flawed curriculum contributes to Colorado’s reading struggles

School districts that serve tens of thousands of Colorado students are using discredited or inconsistent approaches to teach children how to read, contributing to the state’s persistently low rates of reading proficiency. A Chalkbeat investigation found the state’s 30 largest school districts and three charter networks together use three dozen core curriculums, often different ones in neighboring schools. Experts on curriculum say such variation can be found in many states, but should raise questions about which students get left behind by the mish-mash of methods. “It’s astonishing how much the United States under-teaches all of its students, but it particularly lowers the bar for its disadvantaged students,” said David Steiner, executive director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for E...

COVID-19 & Child Sexual Assault Prevention

I know child assault prevention might be the last thing you want to think about at this time, and I get it. However, children are more vulnerable to sexual assault at this time because more children are spending unsupervised time with older children, children are spending more time online, childcare networks are disrupted, and adults, in general, are experiencing greater stress and overwhelm. Here are two ways to educate yourself and your family, while you’re at home, on how to keep your children safe from child sexual assault. Register for the Parenting Safe Children Online Workshop, which is self-directed, so you can learn at your own pace, and from any device. Schedule a Body-Safety Consultation at any time that is convenient to you. These are quick, easy, and affordable ways to e...

Earth Day 2020: Colorado activities that are good for the earth

Now more than ever, our hearts are turned to the importance of taking care of this beautiful world.  As the first U.S. state travel office to develop a comprehensive destination stewardship plan aimed at inspiring travelers to reduce their impacts, the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO), along with destinations across the state, is creating opportunities for people who love travel to visit responsibly when restrictions are lifted. Colorado already is home to two of the seven U.S. cities powered 100 percent by renewable energy, meaning travelers to both Aspen and Glenwood Springs can enjoy a vacation with little carbon impact. Visitors can experience Vail knowing they are in the first certified sustainable mountain resort destination in the world. And with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis pushing ...

Shelter In Place: A military mom shares her experiences staying home after 9/11

This is not the first time I have been sheltered in my home. Though under different circumstances, the feelings are similar.  On September 11, 2001, my world was turned upside down. My husband left on October 4th with his Army unit out of Ft. Drum, NY to fight an enemy in an undisclosed location for an unknown amount of time. I had two small children at the time, ages 2 ½ and 6 months, and one large furry comfort dog – a Golden Retriever. I was not ordered to stay in my home, although circumstances and schedules dictated that I would. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Each day was eerily the same. I spent my time: Feeding a toddler and nursing an infant Changing diapers and potty training Shoveling upstate NY snow Entertaining above-mentioned kids Trying to uplift o...