The Importance of Year-Round Swimming Lessons for Kids

Summer is around the corner and naturally, parents are thinking about swim lessons for their kids. And that’s a good thing, because drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 1-4 and the second-leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of 14 in the United States, according to the CDC. These are harsh statistics, but the good news is formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88%.  

We may talk about these statistics more in summer, when families head to waterfronts and pools, but it is important to remember the need for water safety never ends and parents should always be thinking about it for their kids.    

In fact, USA Swimming launched a campaign recently called Saving Lives is Always in Season in an effort to prevent drowning by raising awareness about the importance of year-round children’s swimming lessons. The campaign is particularly important given that parts of the country have seen spikes in drowning rates since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kids are spending more time at home with distracted parents trying to juggle both working from home and caregiving, making them more vulnerable near water.  

A new swim school in the Front Range is making it easy and fun to keep a weekly swim lesson routine all year long. Big Blue Swim School opens its first Denver-area pool in Centennial in May. Located at the Smoky Hill Town Center, Big Blue offers swim lessons to children ages six months to 12 years of age through a proprietary distance-based curriculum.

“Big Blue has transformed the way kids swim lessons are taught,” said Wendy Skaalerud, owner of Big Blue Swim School Centennial.  “We make sure that at each lesson, every kid is gaining skills and confidence, but we also make sure kids are having fun because that’s what keeps them excited about coming back!”

Big Blue hires only highly trained, professional swim instructors, which truly sets them apart from other swim schools. “Our instructors get to know our swimmers, making it possible for them to connect with kids individually, in a way that keeps them engaged and motivated,” said Skaalerud. “For example, if a child loves Star Wars, their instructor might suggest back floating like Yoda or swimming away from the Stormtroopers.”

Kids also like the comfortable and fun environment they find at Big Blue pools. “With our 90-degree ultra-clean water, kids are never shivering around the pool so they stay focused on having fun and gaining and improving their swim skills,” said Skaalerud. “But our pools are designed to fit the needs of the entire family so we have a comfortable viewing area with free WIFI for parents and plenty of changing rooms for kids before and after lessons. There’s no waiting in lines here.”

With four levels of curriculum spanning 10 levels of instruction, Big Blue kids progress to their next swim level as soon as they achieve the skills required, not when they complete a set number of classes.  Families can also start and stop lessons at any time and can schedule multiple children to swim during the same 30–45-minute timeframe using Big Blue’s mobile app.

Safety is always a priority at Big Blue, but during the pandemic, it’s even more important. Big Blue has extensive, localized COVID safety measures in place. Given the evolving nature of the pandemic, they continuously monitor CDC guidelines as well as those of other federal, state, and local agencies to ensure they comply with the most up-to-date recommendations.  

Are you ready to make swim lessons a fun part of your family’s weekly routine? Learn more about the Big Blue Difference and special Big Blue Centennial pre-opening deals at http://bigblue.link/MileHighMama.

In partnership with Mile High Mamas

Considering breast augmentation? Here are 7 important things you need to know.

The choice to undergo breast surgery, or any cosmetic procedure, is deeply personal. And for the right person, it can also be totally rewarding. As you do your research, you likely have found that there’s no shortage of information online—but it sure can be time-consuming to parse what’s useful (and factual) from what isn’t.

To guide you on this journey toward renewed confidence, Denver board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Buford has published a free, one-stop guide with all the information you need. Here are 7 of our favorite takeaways from The Boob Job Bible: Your Ultimate Guide to Breast Surgery.

Important Things to Know About Denver Breast Augmentation

1. Not every plastic surgeon is equally qualified.

Screen potential surgeons by asking questions and watching for red flags. To begin, set up a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in your desired procedure, look at their before and after photos, and check that the quoted cost is similar to that of other surgeons.

2. You will have options for your incision and implant placement.

There isn’t one single best incision or way to place implants, but the most popular choices today are submuscular implant placement through inframammary fold incisions, which run along the base of the breasts.

3. Women are choosing a natural look over the ‘90s buxom aesthetic.

Breast augmentation has been embraced by women from all walks of life. Thus, compared with the gravity-defying implants of the Pamela Anderson era, today’s breast augmentation patients are choosing modestly-sized implants.

4. Breast implant profile & projection matter more than cc’s of volume.

Given the same amount of overall volume, a wider-based implant profile will give you a fuller, more natural look, while a “higher profile” implant will create more forward projection.

5. There’s no one-size-fits-all recovery timeline.

Recovery time will vary based on your profession, the specifics of your procedure (i.e. if you have a breast lift, too), and your personal preferences.

6. Most women can still breastfeed after surgery.

Claims that breast augmentation can interfere with the ability to breastfeed aren’t supported by research, and Dr. Buford has never seen this happen to a patient in almost twenty years of practice.

7. Home remedies can ease recovery.

Before surgery, choose whole, organic foods, including plenty of high-quality proteins and good fats to support a smooth recovery. After surgery, treat swelling, pain, and muscle spasms with implant massage, breast banding, epsom salt baths, CBD, and magnesium.

The Boob Job Bible has all this information & more. If you are ready to learn what it’s like to undergo breast augmentation, claim your free eBook now. You can also get your hands on a paperback version of The Boob Job Bible by purchasing a print copy on Amazon.

About the Author: Gregory Buford, MD, FACS, is the founder and medical director of BEAUTY by BUFORD, a Denver-based plastic surgical practice and medical spa. Dr. Buford is the acclaimed author of Beauty and the Business and Eat, Drink, Heal, and he serves as the Official Plastic Surgeon to the Miss Colorado Pageant. Visit beautybybuford.com for more information on Dr. Buford and his award-winning aesthetic services. In partnership with Mile High Mamas.

Denver Deals: Elitch Gardens Reopening Discounts and Easter

When your kids get (or act) too old for an Easter Basket – but you still want to give them something fun, might I suggest the Table Mountain Farm’s Mallow basket. It is made with all Colorado produced things featuring Table Mountain Farm’s Goat Milk Caramel sauces (Vanilla Bean, Cinnamon Vanilla, Whiskey and Salted Chocolate) plus Magical Mallows Peeps! The basket is just $29.99. My daughter was most excited (she got hers early) to create some caramel coffee drinks with a floating peep!

Elitch Gardens Will Open! Exciting news for thrill seekers – Elitch Gardens has gotten approval to open this summer. The capacity will be limited to 3,200 per day (about 18% capacity) and some covid protocols (yes, that means face-masks). The park will open to pass holders on April 24 so hurry – now passes are WAY on sale for a limited time (normally $179.99 now only $69.99) Kids 2 and under are free.

Denver Botanic Gardens Plant Sale. This year’s sale will be online April 26-29. You can purchase an early access ticket on March 30 for $25. Then you will pick up your plants via curbside pick up May 6-9. The Garden in a Bag offering has expanded this year (thanks to popularity last year), the curated mix takes the guesswork out of garden planning (and they help with care instructions too)!

Host Your Own Easter Egg Hunt. The big community Easter egg hunts may be canceled this year but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a lot of Fun. Check out our ideas for hosting your own socially-distance Easter egg hunt, complete with fun fillers, DIY Easter basket and eggs, game and more.

Outlets at Castle Rock Easter Egg Hunt. Through this Friday, April 2 Hop on down to the Outlets of Castle Rock. There is a Kids Scavenger hunt – stop by Customer Service (in the Food Court), pick up the scavenger hunt card, find the six Easter friends on the storefront windows through the center, return the completed card to Customer Service for a special treat and the Golden Egg Contest – find one of the 12 Easter eggs hidden around the shops each day. Eggs could be worth $1–$50 Outlets gift cards to a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory basket!

Easter at YMCA of the Rockies. You can still book your last-minute Easter get away at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park. There will be an Easter egg hunt and visit from the Easter Bunny (he’ll pose for photos for you), Egg drop contest, Egg on a spoon races, and an Easter Sunday service. Plus, an Easter meal to-go! Lodge rooms are just $89 per night or you can do a pet-friendly cabin for as low as $109 per night.

Earth Day. Be kind to Mother Earth! We’ve rounded up family-friendly things to do in Denver and beyond for Earth Day. From “The Lorax” Earth Day Art to Every Child in a Garden to school tree-planting events.

Ulta Beauty. Ulta is celebrating 21 days of Beauty deals and bonuses. Up to 50% off some of the top makeup and skincare brands. The deals go through Easter – and there are some great Easter Basket ideas for those eye-rolling teens that maybe think they are too old for an Easter Basket. I’ll plan to get the Mario Badescu 3-piece facial spray for just $10.50!

Epic Ski Passes. Epic passes are the ones from Vail Resorts (including Colorado Resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte) are on sale for next year – and they are 20% off what they were last year! You can pay in full now – or just $49 down to lock in that rate (the rest will be due in mid-Sept).

Black Friday$. I still sort of get a kick out of the Dollar stores, where everything in the store is just $1.00!! The Aurora store called Black Friday$ has a similar concept, each day is given a different dollar amount but that day everything in the store is that price. Ie. Friday is $9 day. Everything in the store is $9 (Wednesday is $1 day).

Disney+ 30 Days Free. If you have not already subscribed to Disney+, now is your chance to check it out for FREE. Disney+ has partnered with Kellogg’s cereals. To get the FREE 30 Days of Disney buy a Kellogg’s Cereal (Apple Jacks, Crispix, Froot Loops, Rice Krispies) before March 30. Upload a picture of your receipt to Kellogg’s Family Rewards Account. Then enjoy your free trial of Disney+ for 30 days. Of note, they will ask for a credit card to activate. If you cancel before the 30 days are over it is free (if not, there is a $6.99/month charge).

Subway Buy One Footlong Get One-Half Off. Subway is offering a Buy One Get One Half Off promotion through April 14. When you order your sub online or using the app. Use code BOGO50. We love to grab a sandwich on a fun Spring Break road-trip up to the mountains.

Krispy Kreme offers Free Donuts to Vaccinated. Any day through the rest of the year, show your vaccination card for Covid 19 and get a FREE Original Glazed Doughnut. They have a few other offers going on – Be Sweet Weekends offers a Dozen donuts for just $1 when you purchase any ful-priced dozen. And Every Monday through May 24 start your week with a free donut and medium coffee.

Staples & Office Depot Laminate Vaccine Card for Free. I plan to travel later this summer. I’m not sure if I will need my covid vaccine card (assuming I can get vaccinated before I go). Office Depot and Staples will laminate your card for you for FREE. At Office Depot you will need coupon code: 52516714 or Staples coupon code: 81450. Just make sure you do it after you have both vaccines.

Free Lego Life Magazine Subscription. If your kiddos love all things Legos and enjoy seeing all things Lego – this is a great grab for FREE. https://www.lego.com/en-us/life/subscription

Consignment Sales. Seasonal consignment sales are back! Just in time for spring, you can get some awesome deals. Check out our full list and then mark your calendars!

Free Days. Free days are back at some of the best museums in town. Check our list and mark your calendar.

April Fool’s Day pranks Denver kids will love to hate

April Fool’s Day is almost here. Last year during the height of the pandemic when we were in homeschooling toilet-paper-shortage lockdown, I recruited my friends to text my kids, asking them about their toilet paper crafting company. At first, they were understandably confused but after a while, they started to see the humor in it and had a blast pitching various creations.

Here are some other awesome April Foll’s Day ideas!

25 April Fool’s Day Pranks, Recipes and Ideas!

1. My kids have never forgiven me for the year when I bought some succulent strawberries and dipped them in sugar…only to find out it was salt.

2. Put fake dog poop or a fake spilled drink on their tablet or shoes.

2. Speaking of salt, sprinkle a bit of it on your child’s toothbrushes the night before.

3. Put a couple of very small drops of food coloring on your child’s toothpaste. They won’t notice until they start brushing and their mouth turns a different color.

4. If your kiddos are deep sleepers, carefully put them in a different bed when they are asleep. There’s nothing like waking up in a different place.

5. Lunch surprise. Open a small bag of Cheetos from the bottom and replace them with carrots before carefully taping it back up.

6. Open up the lid of your child’s shampoo and put a piece of Saran Wrap underneath. Nothing will come out when they go to wash their hair.

7. Grüß dich. For older kids, go in and change the language on their smartphone. Just make sure you know how to switch it back!

8. Stuff some toilet paper into the toes of their shoes so they’ll think they grew overnight. PSA: Only if you have valuable TP to spare!

7. Takedown some wall hangings and replace them with your child’s shoes. Or put them in funny places.

8. Swap the cereal in the boxes so they need to track down their breakfast in the correct box.

9. The night before, pour their cereal and milk into a bowl and freeze. The next morning, they’ll have a frozen surprise when you call them down for breakfast.

10. Turn their room upside down while they’re asleep. Everything from furniture to toys to pictures to books.

11. While they’re sleeping, adjust their alarm clock a half-hour early. This one will go over splendidly well. 🙂

12. Tell your kids to clean their room. When they do it, have a co-conspirator go in and mess it up a bit again. When you go to check their work, laugh at their reaction.

13. Take a rubber band and wind it tightly around the sink’s spray nozzle and leave it aimed at the person’s face. When the water is turned out, they’ll get drenched. Note: be sure to do this one before they get dressed.

14. This one is for the husbands. Block the remote signal with a piece of opaque tape.

meatloaf cupcakes

15. For a fun April Fool’s Day dinner, make meatloaf and put them in cupcake tins and wrappers and top them with colored mashed potatoes that look like frosting.

16. Do your kids love chocolate chip cookies? Whip up a batch of mashed potatoes (emit spices and pepper) and mix in some black beans. Bake them as you would cookies and serve. Oh, the anti-climax!

17. Do you have someone who checks their email first thing in the morning? Put part of a post-it note over the tracking ball on a computer mouse — it won’t work! Or, turn up the volume as high as it can go on someone’s computer or radio before they turn it on.

18. Hide all the utensils in the house and make the rule everyone has to eat with their hands. Kids will love the break!

19. Do your kids love Oreos? Scrape the filling out and carefully replace a few of them with toothpaste.

20. Take all their underwear and hang it in embarrassing places around their room. What a memorable way to wake up!

21. Get yourself a pack of plastic bugs and freeze them into ice cubes so that the kids’ cold drink gives them a good freakout.

22. Pop Brussels sprouts on candy sticks and cover them with chocolate or candy wrappers. YUMMMM.

23. Tie kids’ shoelaces together so they’ll get nowhere fast when they try to head out the door. Make sure they are heading out early so they’re not late.

24. Offer the kids a tantalizing-looking bowl of Easter candy… or is it? Nope, you’ll have wrapped foil from chocolate eggs around ordinary green grapes.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. While clicking these links won’t cost you extra money, they help us keep this site up and running. See our disclosure policy.

Big News: Elitch Gardens is Reopening for the 2021 Season!

Hang on to your hats and secure all loose articles – The thrills are back at Colorado’s only combination theme & water park. Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park has been approved by City and State officials to open for the 2021 season with new health and safety guidelines. Elitch Gardens will open to Season Pass holders on April 24^th and 25^th and the public on May 1^st.

“After having to be closed all of last season, all of us at Elitch Gardens are extremely excited to be able to once again deliver the kind of outstanding family fun we’ve been known for over the past 130 years,” said David Dorman, Elitch Gardens General Manager.

Health and Safety Protocols

At Elitch Gardens, the health and safety of the guests and team members are the top priority. The parks COVID-19 suppression plan is designed to meet or exceed any and all guidelines set forth by the city and county of Denver, the state of Colorado, World Health Organization (“WHO”), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) and respected industry organizations such as the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), the World Waterpark Association (WWA) to assure the park is a safe place to be and have fun.

Elitch Gardens has been approved for 3,200 guests at one time which is about 18% of capacity. In-park attendance will be carefully monitored and all Season Pass holders and day ticket guests will be required to make a reservation to visit. In addition:

Guests and team members will be required to wear a face-covering while in the park. The only exceptions will be for children aged 2 and under and while guests are enjoying water attractions.
Team members and guests will undergo a verbal screening upon arrival each day. Additionally, team members receive a temperature check.
Elitch Gardens will routinely clean and disinfect guest and team member touchpoints, including rides, counters and other frequently touched surfaces, indoors and out.
Signs, markers and visual queues are provided to assist guests with social distancing practices while in line at the park entrance, attractions, restrooms, food service locations and more. Park seating and other social layouts will be arranged to ensure appropriate distancing between traveling parties.
Free hand sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the park and signs displayed to encourage all employees and guests to wash their hands often and cover their coughs and sneezes. Guests will be required to use hand sanitizer before boarding rides/attractions.
All Elitch Gardens team members will be trained on COVID-19 safety protocols and safe behaviors.

Elitch Gardens is grateful for guidance from City and State officials in developing an effective COVID-19 suppression plan. The park will continue to work with them to monitor conditions, with the hope of safely adding to the capacity number in the future. For more information on Elitch Gardens’ comprehensive safety guidelines, visit www.elitchgardens.com/update/safetyguidelines/

2021 Season Passes are available online at www.ElitchGardens.com and one-day tickets and reservations are coming soon.

10 tips for hiking with babies in Denver

I started hiking with my kids when they were six weeks old with a mom hiking group in Denver. Not only was it an amazing way to connect with other moms, but my kids developed a love of the outdoors from an early age. I was able to continue carrying them until they were almost 30 pounds because they were comfortable in the backpack.

Our best advice? Teach them while they’re young! If you’re looking for inspiration about where to hike in Denver, scroll to the bottom.

10 tips for hiking with babies in Denver

1. Check the age and weight recommendation of your pack or front carrier before taking your baby on a hike. Our pack had a 6-month, 15-pound minimum, and, although we put our daughter in earlier, we stuck to trails that were smooth to avoid jarring her head and neck. Before you start hiking, check to make sure the pack is properly adjusted. See our buying guide to backpack to

2. Bring a blanket or neck pillow so your baby can comfortably rest their head to sleep in the pack. For some reason, I have yet to see a pack that comes with a nice head support- especially for younger babies.

3. Remember to bring a clean diaper and some wipes–even on short hikes!

4. Wear hiking shoes with good traction and ankle support. You don’t want to fall with your baby on your back. Even a bit of moisture can make the granite we hike on very slick. Good traction on your shoes will help! I struggled to find good hiking boots for years and ultimately found Merrell women hiking boots worked well for me. Tip: If you buy them from REI, you may pay a bit extra but their return policy is excellent in case your boots aren’t a good fit; I’ve even returned boots after a couple of months worth of wear.

5. Carry kid-safe bug spray like All Terrain Kids Herbal Armuor Deet-free Insect Repellent. This spray even kept the mosquitoes off my daughter in Denali, Alaska!

6. Apply and reapply sunscreen! The Colorado altitude can lead to nasty sunburns.

7. Always take a poncho and a jacket for yourself and your baby. Colorado weather can change in an instant.

8. Watch for objects along the trail above your head and to your side that could hit your baby through the pack. Also, make sure that you are not rubbing little legs and arms into bushes with stickers, trees with needles, or poison ivy as you walk along the trail.

9. Watch for signs of heat exhaustion in the summer and hypothermia in the winter. Offer your baby water when you have a drink.

10. ALWAYS hike with another adult. Remember that if something happens to you, your baby won’t be able to go for help!

And most of all, remember to have fun, relax, and enjoy the scenery!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. While clicking these links won’t cost you extra money, they help us keep this site up and running. See our disclosure policy.

Don’t Miss

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Denver’s best hikes for kids

“Among Us” is the newest video game obsession: expert advice on monitoring your kids

There is lots and lots of video gaming these days. Parents tell me how they feel torn because their child does not have any after school sports or activities where they see friends, so video gaming is where they connect with their friends. Yet, they worry about the sheer amount of hours — 3, 4, 5 hours.

Parents tell me about the “decision fatigue” they are seeing with their kids now during Covid. Their children say how they are worn down and giving up on trying to find alternative things to do besides video gaming (or shows, social media, etc.).

Parents feel worn down as well. And the truth is, of course, options are limited right now. I feel it these days now that the cold and rain has arrived in Seattle, and there are so few places to go to do something inside given Covid.

The newest game on the block is Among Us. If you haven’t seen or played it, the graphics remind me a little of Pac-Man. It is multiplayer, and in the game, one player is an imposter and out to kill the others, and it is up to the rest of the group to work together to determine the imposter.

The game is free and can be played on any device. The other day, my kids were laughing on the couch for hours while playing it. I joined in for a while — I was not very good at it.

Today I share advice gleaned from experts, parents, youth, research, and my experiences on how now during COVID, to effectively work with your kids to monitor video gaming and ensure they have other social time activities along with video games.

ONLINE EVENTS

Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER is so helpful for everyone during these stressful times. It is all about teaching kids, teens, and parents skills for managing stress, anxiety, and depression. For schools looking for social-emotional engagement tools, Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER is a terrific tool and we have a detailed guide to help lead discussions. Screenagers now has a way for people to host ONLINE events. Click here if you are interested in hosting an ONLINE screening for your community.

-Delaney Ruston

How Boulder’s mass shooting hits way too close to home for this Boulder mom

They were young and old, single and married, King Soopers customers and employees and an officer first on the scene. The youngest was 20; the oldest 65. And, according to Boulder mom Rachel Walker, Colorado’s latest mass shooting hits way too close to home.

“The thing is—King Soopers in Table Mesa wasn’t just a grocery store. For the past 18 years, it’s been my community center. It’s where we shop, where we run into friends and teachers and our doctors. It’s the equivalent of a small-town post office. And for someone as chatty as I am, a trip to the store was almost always guaranteed to be a super fun excursion where I’d see friends.”

She says before the pandemic, her kids would run through the store helping get stuff for their cart—as kids do in safe grocery stores.

“Although I am not intimately acquainted with the victims, I know two of them, and I am heartbroken at the senseless, violent deaths of them all. And although mass shootings in America are not shocking in the sense that we have all become numb to the epidemic of gun violence, to have this atrocity take place so close to home where everyone in my community goes is absolutely shocking and hard to process.

“I keep imagining the trauma everyone in that store went through, and it breaks my heart and feels incredibly hard to understand or accept.”

Remembering the Victims

Lynn Murray, 62, was a mother of two and had worked for several New York City magazines and was working as an Instacart employee when she was killed.

Kevin Mahoney, 61, was formerly the chief operating officer for a hotel development and hospitality management company.

Rikki Olds, 25, was a front-end manager at King Soopers in Boulder, Colo. and was remembered by her family as a loving, hard-working person.

Denny Stong, 20, went to Fairview High in Boulder and his dream was to be a commercial airline pilot.

Teri Leiker, 51, worked at King Soopers for 31 years before her death and was described by a friend as one of the most caring and loving individuals she had ever met.

Jody Waters, 65, was a mother, grandmother and longtime Boulder resident who worked at a clothing boutique on Pearl Street Mall.

Neven Stanisic, 23, was a Serbian refugee from Bosnia and attended Alameda International Junior/Senior High School in Lakewood. He was remembered as a man of faith.

-Photo: Boulder, Colorado

This Denver boy brought hope and healing after the Boulder shootings

The morning after the shooting, 11-year-old JJ Whitmer wanted to do something to honor those whose lives were lost. He proposed handing out flowers to employees at King Soopers stores in Brighton and Commerce City. He purchased dozens of carnations in a variety of bright colors and roses and paid for them with money he earned from dog-walking. When JJ told the florists his plan to give a flower to every store employee, he was offered a generous discount at both stores.

As he handed out over 70 flowers, he shared the same message to employees: “We just wanted to let you know you’re appreciated. Thank you for being here today. It must be hard.”

Gratitude was the response.

“It brought joy to a sad day,” his mom, Jody Witmer, said.

Even during the saddest of times, let’s remember to take care of each other.

Photos: Jody Witmer

Also Read:

How Boulder’s mass shooting hits way too close to home for this Boulder mom

The Boulder King Soopers Shooting and Our Hope for Change

Earth Day 2021: Family-Friendly Things to Do in Denver and Beyond

Spring is springing and now is the perfect time to find ways to celebrate Earth Day in Denver. There are lots of ways to gather safely in-person or online to discover ways to learn about and protect our beautiful planet earth.

Check out our list of activities including in-person events and volunteering and online events, with options for kids, families, and parents. Participate in everything from tree planting and cleanups, to art projects and wildlife viewing, to interactive online events.

Please note: Most in-person events listed require advance reservations. Wear a mask, follow social distancing protocols, and adhere to safety guidelines for each event. Contributor: Joan Gregerson, Green Team Academy.

Earth Day 2021 Events in Denver

School Tree-Planting Events

April 17 & 24, 2021 (In-person)

Tree-Plenish is working with ten schools throughout Denver and beyond to host tree-planting events. Student eco-clubs are coordinating the events to plant trees at homes in their communities. Contact the individual school to volunteer to help plant trees on April 17 or April 24. Can’t volunteer? Donate $5 to help plant a tree.

https://www.tree-plenish.org/colorado

“The Lorax” Earth Day Art

April 17, 2021, 5 pm – 8 pm (In-person)

Neighborhood Art Studio invites kids ages 5-11 to Celebrate Earth Day using “The Lorax” as the go-to text. Using upcycled items, create a Truffula forest, along with characters from the story in an interactive diorama set.

https://neighborhoodartstudio.com/workshops%2Fdate-nights

Indigenous Wisdom

April 17, 2021, 4 pm – 5:45 pm (Online)

Denver Permaculture Guild is hosting a workshop featuring Michael Alcazar. This workshop as an exploration of shifting patterns and adaptations to climate change from an indigenous permaculturalist perspective.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/indigenous-wisdom-tickets-147141282537

Every Child in a Garden: A Virtual Dinner Party

Garden to Table

April 22, 6:30 pm (Online plus In-Person dinner specials)

Garden to Table invites you to celebrate their 15th Anniversary and Earth Day 2021. Listen in as community leaders discuss equity in health, education and the environment. Event includes polls, prizes, and silent auction. Dinner specials will be available from local Boulder area restaurants.

https://www.facebook.com/events/443369356978846

Golden Earth Week Festival

Golden Residents (and Friends) Eco-Action Team

April 19-23, 6 – 9 pm (Online)

Team GREAT is hosting a week-long virtual festival with sessions on Going Zero Waste, Renewable Energy, Earth Day Clean up, Zero Waste Pop Up, Networking and more.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-earth-week-virtual-festival-tickets-146506116739

Edu-tainment Earth Expo

April 20, 11 am – 11 pm (In-person and Online)

This one’s for the mamas! OH Zone is hosting a private celebration of Mother Earth and Plant Medicines featuring yoga, brunch, live music and featured speakers including Brigitte Mars, herbalist. Reserve a spot for one of three socially-distanced seatings. Virtual streaming also available. Age 21 and over.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/edu-tainmenttm-earth-expo-tickets-145743102543

2021 Earth Week Summit

April 17-24, 2021 (Online)

Green Team Academy invites one and all to the 3rd Annual Earth Week Summit. Get in on live workshops to show you how to take your own idea for an eco-initiative and go from passion to action in 90 days. Join happy hours and a month-long pop-up group for networking and collaboration. Help meet the 1000-tree goal with Mabinju Power House Youth Group in Kenya.

https://www.earthweeksummit.com

Wild Earth Day

April 22, 2021, 9 am – sunset (In-person)

Visit the Wild Animal Sanctuary to help Mother Earth, and the animals and humans that inhabit this wonderful planet! Plan to celebrate your “Wild Earth Day” with more than 520 of the wildest friends you could ever have! The sanctuary and its supporters care for rescued wildlife by giving them a place to be wild again. Bring a tree for free admission.

https://www.wildearthday.org/

Golden Earth Week Festival

April 19-23, 6 – 9 pm (Online)

Golden Residents (and Friends) Eco-Action Team is hosting a week-long virtual festival with sessions on Going Zero Waste, Renewable Energy, Earth Day Clean up, Zero Waste Pop Up, Networking and more. Join Team GREAT for Earth Week fun and inspiration!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-earth-week-virtual-festival-tickets-146506116739

eTown’s 30th B’earthday

April 22, 6:30 pm (Online)

Celebrate 30 years of eTown’s work promoting sustainability, conversation, and music as eTown is inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. The livestream event will also feature music and conversation with artists Lyle Lovett, Sam Bush, Los Lobos and others.

www.etown.org/events/30/

Soil Health 101: Bringing Nutrients Back to Your Yard

Hugelrado Farms & Alliance Center

April 23, 11 am (Online)

Join Nick and Shannon from Hugelrado Farms for an overview of the science of soil health and how you can increase soil nutrients in your own backyard and community. Hosted by the Alliance Center, in this talk you’ll discover techniques to use that can increase carbon sequestration, increase the nutritional density, and deliver larger overall yield. Find out how to boost soil health just in time for gardening season!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soil-health-101-bringing-nutrients-back-to-your-yard-tickets-140868612813

Sanderson Gulch Stewardship

Greenway Leadership Corps, The Greenway Foundation

April 24, 2021, 12 – 2 pm (In-person)

Join Greenway Leadership Corps youth in cleaning up trash from Sanderson Gulch. The gulch connects to the South Platte River, so you’ll be helping prevent harmful trash from polluting our city’s aquatic habitats! After the cleanup, stay for burritos and guest speakers about taking care of ourselves and the planet.

https://www.thegreenwayfoundation.org/greenway-leadership-corps.html

Longmont Earth Day Celebration

April 24, 12 – 4 pm (Online)

Co-presented with the City of Longmont’s Sustainability Program, KGNU Community Radio, The Longmont Leader, and Sustainable Resilient Longmont. Join for a day of conversation in celebration of Earth Day 2021 with a special focus on youth, education, and equitable climate action.

https://www.facebook.com/events/788198625387549

Birding by Ear

April 29, 6 pm (Online)

Denver Audubon invites you to learn a new language, bird song! With close examination, one can quickly come to recognize several vocalizations and thus the presence of a bird species. In this free webinar led by Community Naturalist Keith Bruno, we’ll not only listen to soundbite recordings, but also look at visual representations of songs and calls, allowing for various means of understanding. Get ready to identify spring bird songs in this free workshop.

https://rockies.audubon.org/events/birding-ear-101

Denver-Boulder City Nature Challenge

April 30 – May 9 (Online)

Join the 2021 City Nature Challenge, and compete against over 250 cities around the world to see which can document the most wild nature in only 4 days! This challenge is organized locally by: Denver Audubon, Denver Botanic Gardens, Metro Denver Nature Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, and the WILD Foundation.

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021-denver-boulder-metro

Mulch Giveaway & Compost Sale

May 1 (In-person)

Denver Recycles is hosting the annual Mulch Giveaway & Compost Sale to provide Denver residents a way to save money on landscaping and to use recycled materials locally. Denver residents may pick up free mulch and buy compost at a reduced price. Check out new social distancing requirements and other changes in 2021. ** For Denver Residents Only **

https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Departments/Recycle-Compost-Trash/Seasonal-Programs/Mulch-Giveaway-Compost-Sale

General Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer at a Local Farm

In times of social distancing, what better way to get out than by volunteering at a local farm! Check the list from Mile High Farmers to find a nearby farm. Reach out and see if you can volunteer for a day or longer. Schedule your visit for individuals or small groups prior to visiting the farm to ensure safe social-distancing protocols.

https://www.milehighfarmers.com/

Volunteer at a School Garden

Make a difference and make new friends! Help students and teachers with a local school garden. Reach out to Chris Woodburn, DPS Gardens Specialist, to get matched up with a school that has requested help with their garden.

https://sustainability.dpsk12.org/gardens/

Organize a Cleanup

Keep America Beautiful and EARTHDAY.ORG invite you to participate in the 23rd Annual Great American Cleanup. Organize or join a volunteer cleanup anytime between March 20 and June 20. Find out how to safely bring your community together by organizing or participating in a cleanup.

https://kab.org/programs/great-american-cleanup/event/

Start a Team

Do you have an idea of how to make a difference in your community? Get a couple of people together and start working on it. Forming a team is the best way to make a big eco-impact fast! Find out more with free resources from Green Team Academy.

https://www.greenteamacademy.com

Green Team Academy was founded in 2018 by Joan Gregerson, Eco-Nut. The mission is to help people get together, make a difference, and feel better by starting and growing thriving green teams in their communities. Green Team Academy offers a free weekly podcast and annual Earth Week Summit, plus courses, coaching, and an International Climate Action Challenge.