Filled with more than a few transplants, it’s no secret that Colorado is an attractive place to live. For the lucky few born and raised in the Rockies, the opportunities are endless. They may be small now, but your little ones are the outdoor leaders, teachers and environmental advocates of tomorrow. Whether it’s wilderness mentorship, summer camp or just plain getting them outside, here are a few fun facts and stats about the various opportunities in Colorado for active, engaged youngsters.
$25 million
Dollars raised for Great Outdoors Colorado’s Inspire Initiative grant program aimed at getting more kids outdoors. The program works with 20 communities around the state to help develop trails, outdoor learning programs and recreational activities. To learn more about it visit: https://www.goco.org/grants/apply/inspire-initiative
13
Number of ski resorts in Colorado that offer ski-free deals for kids under a certain age.
3,000² feet
Size of Keystone’s Kidtopia Snow Fort. Located at the top of the River Run Gondola, this icy village rules as the world’s largest snow castle. It’s for kids of all ages, and free to enter with a lift ticket (don’t worry, parents are allowed too).
1,000
The number of youth Big City Mountaineers (BCM) is close to involving annually with its wilderness mentorship programs. BCM runs backpacking programs around the country for underserved youth. bigcitymountaineers.org
1,050
Number of kids who raced in the first Colorado High School Cycling League race of the season this past September.
250
Active students in the Colorado Young Leaders program. CYL partners with other nonprofits to get youth involved in their communities as well as inspire a sense of adventure at a young age. coloradoyoungleaders.org
3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
The time for Kids Happy Hour in Telluride. Featuring kid-friendly après ski activities such as candle making, collages, poems and stories, Kids Happy Hour is open to kids age 5-12 and any parents who want to join in on the fun.
Zero
Cost of the Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack for kids from kindergarten through fifth grade. The program includes four days of skiing at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone, as well as one free ski or ride lesson with equipment rental. Get it here: bit.ly/2ytRa6j
Twenty-Five
Feet across South Boulder Creek kids ages 5 to 10 will safely slackline at Jeff and Paige’s Science Adventure Program, where they learn outdoor awareness. jeffandpaige.org
18
The age limit to enter the Denver Art Museum for free. The Free for Kids program kicked off in 2015, aiming to increase the access to art education for kids from a younger age. Since then the museum has seen over a 50 percent increase in school visits. denverartmuseum.org
SEVEN
Different summer camps Woodward at Copper offers to get kids into mountain sports. The activities range from ski and snowboard camps, to mountain biking and cheer camps. It’s a great place for mini adrenaline junkies to get their fix in a safe and structured environment. Read all about the different camps here: woodwardcopper.com/summer-camp/rates-and-dates.html
