There’s plenty of programming to keep kids captivated all summer long. This list — gleaned from advertisers and others among our contacts — isn’t comprehensive, but contains a wide variety of free and paid opportunities for youngsters whether they want to spend a night at the movies or a month practicing dance.
Arts/performance
The Art Base
Summer Art Camps are all-day/week-long programs designed to explore art fundamentals and community participation through hands-on art-making, gallery visits, and a final exhibition or event. Highlighted camps include The Wizarding Art of Harry Potter July 16-20 (grades 2-7), Paw Prints July 23-27 (grades 1-6) and Fantastic Fashion July 30 – Aug. 3 (grades 2-6). $275 for members; $325 for non members. Register for all classes at 927-4123, theartbase.org or 99 Midland Spur, Basalt.
Aspen Music Festival and School
- Maroon Bel Canto Children’s Chorus Festival: July 16-20 at Christ Episcopal Church
- Walt Disney Animation Studios “A Decade in Concert”: July 30 at Benedict Music Tent
- Saint Saëns’s The Carnival of the Animals: Aug. 16 at Harris Concert Hall.
Carbondale Arts / Rosybelle Mobile Makerspace
- DJing & Audio Production with Diego Felix aka DJ Full Metal: June 18- 22
- Rock and Roll Academy with Chris Harrison (ages 8-18): July 16-20
- Miksang Photography with Nanette Weinhold (ages 15-25): Aug. 7-10
- Animal Art Extravaganza with Marge Dye (ages 13-16): Aug. 13-16
Details and registration at carbondalearts.com/classes/
Crystal River Ballet School
- Summer session runs June 11 through Aug. 23 at The Launchpad (76 S. Fourth St.).
- Creative dance (ages 3 to 4): Mondays; $65/mo
- Pre-ballet (ages 4 ½ to 6): Thursdays; $65/mo
- Ballet 1 (7+): Mondays; $70/mo
- Ballet 2/3 (8-10): Thursdays; $70/mo
- Beginning ballet (adult/teen): Mondays; $70/mo
- Intermediate ballet (adult/teen): Thursdays; $70/mo
Handmakery
- Dollhouse Camp (ages 6 and up): June 11-14
- Creature Creations (ages 9-12): June 18-22 at Anderson Ranch
- Artistic iEye for the Ornate (ages 7 and up): July 16-20
- Unicorns and Rainbows (ages 6 and up): July 30- Aug 2
- Summer Craft Nights (ages 6 and up): First Fridays
More info and registration at handmakery.com.
Mermaid Art and Swim Camps
Kids ages 6-9 are invited to art teacher Pam Porter of Creative Flow Kids, or small, imaginative camps in River Valley Ranch. Do delightful mermaid art projects in the mornings at Pam’s sweet home studio, and then go to the RVR pool in the afternoons for water play, and some basic synchronized swimming instruction. More information and registration at thecreativeflowstudio.com.
The School of Aspen
Santa Fe Ballet
Cinderella Suite Ballet Immersion with locations in Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale, and Glenwood Springs start June 11 for ages 3 and up. Information and registration at aspensantafeballet.com or 925-7175 ext. 106.
Theatre Aspen
Young actors get the chance to explore the endless bounds of their imagination through creative play, productions, and outdoor team building. With programs for rising K-12, there is something for everyone! Actors in 7-12 grade can build collaborative skills in Triple Threat, while actors in K-2 grade can build large-scale puppets or dance the morning away. More at theatreaspen.org.
Waldorf School
Classes for parents and children 0-1.5 on Wednesdays June 20 thorugh July 25 and parents and children 1.5 to 3 on Thursdays June 21 through July 26; siblings up to kindergarten age welcome. Also, catch free music and puppetry at the Carbondale Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays. Info and sign up at waldorfschoolrf.org.
Sports/outdoors
Ascendigo
Rewarding, challenging outdoor experiences with positive, autism specific support for all levels of ability, behavior, and functioning ages 7 and up. Camp activities include wakeboarding, rafting, climbing, horseback riding, skiing, snowboarding and more. To sign up and learn more visit ascendigo.org/adventures-camps.
Aspen Center for
Environmental Studies
ACES is abuzz with children’s voices and laughter from June through August with kids’ camps at Hallam Lake in Aspen and Rock Bottom Ranch in Basalt. Featuring a mix of environmental science education and outdoor exploration, drop-in, daily, weekly, and overnight options make for an exciting and memorable summer! To register for a class or view a full schedule by age group, visit aspennature.org.
Camp Chip-a-Tooth
CCAT is an out of school time summer camp program located at Basalt Elementary School, catering to local and visitors alike since 1997 with a weekly theme based calendar which includes, but is never limited to, biking, hiking, cooking, camping, swimming, art, sports, manners just to name a few. Contracted rate of $44 per day (June 11 – Aug. 17) and/or a drop-in rate of $50 per day. Info and registration at 927-0169.
Garden Boot and Paint Brushes
Kids ages 5-12 will experience the joy of gardening, basic food prep skills and menu planning, and garden-inspired art in the Garden of Yum at Carbondale Community School. Each participant will have at least one day in the kitchen to prepare fresh, creative and delicious meals with food from the garden or a local organic farm. The last day will include a youth farm stand, which will give the participants a chance to develop real life skills. June 18-22 and 25-29. $325 for a full day including lunch and a snack; $150 for a half day.
Marble Charter School
Summer Program – Adventure camp for kids ages 5-12 offering art, history, cultural education, and many outdoor activities in the Crystal River Valley and beyond. Weekly program runs Monday through Thursday from 8 until 4. Daily bus service in the Marble/Carbondale area. Contact Karly for more info: kanderson@gunnisonschools.net or
970-456-2994.
Pathfinders
Grief and loss programs for kids of all ages and a three-day raft trip for kids around resiliency are being mulled. Contact 379-5276 or 379-3110 for more information and to show your interest.
Roaring Fork Football
RFHS presents a football camp for grades 9-12 June 25-through 27 with no cost and no equipment needed. Contact David close at 949-8034 for more info.
Roaring Fork
Outdoor Volunteers
Young Stewards Initiative fosters a sense of stewardship among our youngest generations. RFOV takes groups of second through twelfth graders out on local trails for hands-on service learning experiences. Winter class curriculum is based on Leave No Trace and age appropriate survival skills. For more information, contact Lizz Bailey at ebailey@rfov.org or 927-8241.
Strang Ranch
A complete riding and horsemanship camp for kids from 7-14 with some horse experience runs Mondays June 11 through August. $75 per day includes the horse; bring your own lunch. Reservations required at strangranch.com or 963-2319.
Reading/film
Basalt Regional Library
The library’s Summer Reading Program provides students of all ages the opportunity to earn prizes for reading (or listening to) books throughout the summer, as well as attend weekly events. The library will also offer free lunch to anyone under the age of 18 every Tuesday and Thursday through August. The Summer Reading Program kicks off with a community cookout at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 8. More info at basaltlibrary.org or 927-4311.
Basalt Summer Cinema Series
Sponsored by the Basalt Chamber of Commerce, Town of Basalt and Alpine Bank. Lions Park opens at 7 p.m. and the movies start at sundown.
June 16: “True Grit” (with John Wayne)
July 21: “Coco” (with live music, pinatas a prize drawing for a guitar)
August 4: “Wonder Woman” (with a costume contest for kids)
Carbondale Branch Library
Free summer reading programs for all ages feature singing and dancing, magic, puppets and the Denver Zoo through July 31. Register at any of the six Garfield County Libraries or online at www.gcpld.org and get your bookmarks to record your reading each week and earn book bucks, coupons, books, and other great prizes.
Also, teens are invited for World Beats at the Carbondale Branch Library at 4 p.m. Wendesdays in June and July for a musical tour around the world; more info at 963-2889.