Just for fun

Having fun with the periodic table of the elements, enjoy :)

Harvest Festivals

Fall is just around the corner, thank goodness, and here are a few ideas for harvest festivals for you that we've enjoyed in the past:

High Plains History Fest will be at the Centennial Village Museum in Greeley September 21st – 24^th There will be 30-35 living history demonstrations and hands-on activities. For more information, visit http://www.greeleygov.com/museums/HighPlainsHistoryFest.aspx

Miller Farms Harvest Festival This has been a favorite field trip for my kids. From the website: During the fall harvest, everyone takes a tractor ride to our fields with stops along the way to pick their own vegetables. They’ll get the fun and educational experience of putting their hands in the dirt, and the rewarding benefit of picking fresh produce to take home to their families. All of our activities and harvesting are included in the cost of admission. More information at http://www.millerfarms.net/events/fall-harvest-festival

Anderson Farms The fall festival at Anderson Farms includes a huge corn maze, pumpkin picking and more. For more information visit http://www.andersonfarms.com/

I found this on Craigslist. I know nothing about the photographer, but their website is very professional. Might be a great opportunity for your budding photographer!

7/28: Photography Workshop for Kids (Northern Colorado)

One Day Photography Workshop for Kids
Ages 12 to 18
$25 per person

We're a professional photography studio located in Greeley, CO. Workshop will be conducted by a professional photographer with a degree in photography. Photographer Tena Olson earned her degree in Los Angeles where she lived for 20 years before opening O Photography Studio in Colorado almost 2 years ago. She is a Fine Art Photographer who specializes in Fine Art and Wedding and Portrait photography. She has been conducting workshops for 10 years in Los Angeles where she has also had many exhibits of her work.

The one day workshop will give your kids the opportunity to learn some invaluable techniques in photography including learning to read light, understand how to use their camera, learn compositional techniques and more...not to mention just have a good time with other kids who are interested in photography and being outdoors. The workshop will take place in and around Masonville, Carter Lake and Horsetooth Reservoir. Classes limited to 10 people. Sign up soon. $25 per person - all day.

To sign up, visit www.ophotographystudio.com/workshops

Snack List

My kids were forever telling me they were hungry, asking for a snack and another snack and another snack...you get the idea. So I decided to make up a list of what they could have and get for themselves. So many people have told me they like that idea that I thought I'd share it here. Of course, you could modify it to your family's likes/dislikes.

Breakfast (pick 1)
2 pieces of toast with butter and jelly or peanut butter or cream cheese or 1 small spoonful of cinnamon sugar for both pieces	1 bowl of cereal w/milk	1 egg and 1 piece of toast
1 yogurt with 1 piece of fruit	Oatmeal or grits with 1 small squirt of syrup or 1 small spoonful of brown sugar
Snacks (between breakfast and lunch and again between lunch and dinner)
List 1 (pick 1)	List 2 (pick 2)	List 3 (as many as you need)
1 candy	20 Pretzels	Fruit
1 Granola bar or other bars	10 Crackers	Vegetables
1 cup chips or cheezy poofs	1 cup applesauce	Gum (only 2 pieces at a time)
1 muffin	½ cup of peanuts
1 popsicle	2 pieces of cheese
1 package of crackers with cheese or peanut butter in them	2 meat sticks
	½ cup of raisins
	4 dried apricots
	Yogurt or go-gurt
	½ bag popcorn
	15 small rice cakes
	1 big rice cake
	1 hard boiled egg
	1 cup cottage cheese
	½ cup hummus or bean dip
	1 tamale
	1 chicken leg

They do have access to cup and 1/2 cup bowls, so the measuring part was easy. They colors were to correspond to the food pyramid. While I may not agree with it 100%, it's a good starting point for the kids.

Mom, I'm bored!

In case your kids are telling you they are bored, as mine are doing, I thought I'd share my newest list. These are things my kids can do at home basically by themselves. Hopefully, this will spark some ideas for them!

Things to do when you are bored
Draw or color	Make an obstacle course	Knit, crochet or cross stitch	Work on 4H projects
Do a craft	Build with legos	Play with the dogs	Work on a Girl Scout Badge
read	Play hide & seek	Do your chores	Do jumping jacks
Go through magazines for fun ideas	School work	Collect leaves or flowers and press them	Make some bead necklaces
Write a story	Sing	Playdough	Make a tent with blankets
Pull weeds	Make a braided or tied bracelet	Put on a play	Do a puzzle
Listen to a book on cd	Collect seeds	Take a shower	Find cloud shapes
Start a nature journal	Play hopscotch	Write a letter	Watch bugs
Make a treasure map/treasure hunt	Plan a trip to another planet	Cut pictures from old magazines for a collage	Take a nap
Make rock pets	Play leappad	Play dressup	Play store
Make a fairy house outside	Make up a new word and what it means	Blow bubbles outside	Watch netflix
Memorize something like a poem or song	Change the sheets on your bed	Play library	Play computer games
Make popcorn	Work on a scrapbook	Play with balloons	Invent a new world
Create your own holiday	Watch library movies	Explore the backyard, take notes	Visit cakewrecks
Make up your own Bored list
Play Games		Cold Weather	Warm Weather
Twister Moves	War	Go sledding	Color with Chalk outside
Food Pyramid	Yahtzee	Build a snowman	Write on the sidewalk with ice cubes
Blockus (kitchen table only)		Build a snow fort	Play in the sprinkler
		Make a snow obstacle course	Play in the pool
		Make snow angels	Ride bikes
		Swing in the snow	Paint sidewalk with water
		Play soccer in snow!	Wash the car
		Snowshoe	Wash your bike

Fort Collins Natural Areas

Hooray!! Finally I've found the Ft Collins Natural Areas Catalog. Lots and lots of activities for families in there. Some require registration and others do not. I believe all are free. Be sure and check it out!

http://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/pdf/tracks-trails2010.pdf

More Movies for a Buck

Carmike & Cinema Saver 6 both have $1 movies. Carmike has $1 popcorn and soda too. Both are Tuesdays at 10am.:

http://www.carmike.com/promotions.aspx?id=80
2010 Summer Kid's Series

Wow! Cool off with us this Summer while you enjoy one of your favorite blockbuster films from the past on one of our large screens for only a buck. That's right kids, you can watch a film for only a buck with Carmike's Summer Kid's Series. Also, popcorn and drink are only a buck each. What better way to stay cool on these hot summer days. Series showing at select locations. Please contact the manager at your local Carmike theatre for more details.

http://www.amcentertainment.com/smc/

2010 Summer MovieCamp®

Looking for a cool getaway for gobs of kids this summer? Bring them to AMC Summer MovieCamp and enjoy the magic of movies! Summer MovieCamp will be offered at 10 a.m. each Tuesday morning this summer at participating theatres, from June 15 through August 10. At only $1 admission, it’s an affordable option for summer fun for families and groups. All admission and concession proceeds will benefit two AMC charities, Variety – The Children’s Charity and the Will Rogers Institute.

No outside food will be allowed during Summer MovieCamp but you can take advantage of our KidsPack™ concession combos for $4 – more than 30% off the regular price.*

Advance tickets will be on sale starting June 8 at 214 participating AMC theatre locations and online. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and shows will begin at 10 a.m. local time nationwide. See a list of participating theatres or search by zip code to get tickets. Tickets for each week will be on sale approximately one week prior to the scheduled show date.

{Shawn's note: if you look this up, it lists us under Denver. When I wen to the website for the theater here in town, it does list Shrek 3 for this coming Tues}

Summer Fun!

Looking for things to do this summer? Here's a non-inclusive list of fun things to do! (Note: some are free, others are not)

• Swimming:

  • City Park Pool

  • Greeley Funplex

  • Loveland Swim Beach

  • Windsor Lake Swim Beach

  • Horsetooth Reservior

  • Boyd Lake

  • Poudre River (Picnic Rock is great!)

  • Oak St Plaza in FtC has their water park turned on (Fossil Creek and Spring Canyon will be OFF this year due to budget shortfalls)

• Camping

  • Colorado State Parks http://parks.state.co.us/Pages/HomePage.aspx

  • Colorado National Parks http://www.nps.gov/state/co/index.htm

  • Don't forget Junior Ranger Programs while you are there

  • Wyoming is close by for camping opportunities as well

• Various Summer Free Music

  • Ben & Jerry's FAC Concert Series, 7pm Fridays, May 28-Aug 6, downtown FtC

  • Noontime Notes, 11:30-1 Tuesdays, June 1-Aug 10, Oak St Plaza

  • Streetmosphere, 4-8pm Friday, 12-8pm Saturday, 1-5pm Sunday, June 4-Oct 17 (music, theater and performance art, downtown FtC)

  • CSU Concert Series, 6:30-8:30pm, July 7-Aug 11, CSU Lagoon

  • Foote Lagoon Concerts, 7-9pm, June 17-Aug 5, 500 E. 3^rd St, Loveland

• Live Theatrical Performances

  • Tuesday Theater for Kids at the Rialto http://www.ci.loveland.co.us/rialto/rialto.htm#June

  • Shakespeare at Sunset http://sota.colostate.edu/summer-theatre-shakespeare-at-sunset/

  • High Plains Chautauqua (Dr Seuss, Ben Franklin & more!) http://www.highplainschautauqua.org/hpc_description.html

• Sculpture Parks

  • Swetsville Zoo

  • Loveland Sculpture Park

  • Chapunga Sculpture Park at Centerra

• Area Festivals

  • Loveland Cherry Pie Festival http://www.ci.loveland.co.us/Cultural_Services/cultural_services_museum_specialevents_cherrypie.htm

  • Loveland Corn Roast Festival http://www.engagingloveland.org/events/cornroast

  • New West Fest in FtC

• Fort Collins Natural Areas Programs http://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/

• Gardens at Spring Creek

• CSU Demonstration Gardens at the Old Fort Collins High School (perfect thing to do before Shakespeare at Sunset

• Garbage Garage Programs

• Library Programs – reading programs, puppet shows and more!

• Drive-in Movies

• Fishing

• Train & Trolley Rides

• Discovery Science Center

Spring Break fun at FtC Natural Areas!

Mid-March2010
Naturally Yours


Spring Break is Here! Free Programs and Events

Bobcat Ridge Spring Break "Break" Looking for something to do outside during spring break? Bring your family to Bobcat Ridge Natural Area for hands-on nature explorations, pioneer games, and a fun hike. Arrive anytime between 9:30 a.m. and Noon on Thursday, March 18 or Thursday, April 1. Free--no reservations required. For more information, call 970-217-3075 or email dprice@fcgov.com.


Destination Fort Collins: Spring Break Passport: The Natural Areas Program is excited to be part of the Spring Break Passport program in 2010! Hop on your bike or the bus and spend each day of spring break taking advantage of unique natural areas, parks, museums and other fun destinations around town. The passport program is free, and if you get your passport book (available at all participating organizations) stamped, you are eligible for prizes like a bike and gift cards to local businesses! Pick up your passport at these and other locations:

* City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Program office
* The Farm at Lee Martinez Park
* Fort Collins Museum and Discovery Science Center
* Gardens on Spring Creek
* Lincoln Center
* Northside Aztlan Center
* CSU Environmental Learning Center

Birds and Bugs in Your Backyard March 31

Create a beautiful sanctuary for yourself and wildlife in your own backyard. As part of the City's Residential Environmental Program Series, local experts Dr. Boris Kondratieff, CSU, and Dave Leatherman, retired Colorado State Forest Service, will provide tips to welcome and observe a variety of birds and beneficial insects in your yard. Discover how to assess your current landscape, modify it or plan a brand new one. Wed. March 31, 7-9 p.m. Details >>>
Natural Areas Annual Report

Each year, the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Program reports to the community about its accomplishments, revenue and expenditures. Highlights of 2009 included the opening of Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and more. Read the 2009 Annual Report (pdf) >>> The printed version will be available soon.

Friday Night Astronomy

Join knowledgeable and friendly volunteers from the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society for a free evening of star gazing at Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space.

* Friday, March 19, 6:30-10 p.m.
* Friday, April 16, 7-10 p.m.
* Friday, May 21, 8-10 p.m.

*This program may be canceled due to cloudy skies or high winds so check the Natural Areas homepage for updates.

Details >>


Thanks for reading! Newsletter comments are welcome. Please contact Zoe Whyman, Natural Areas Community Relations Manager, 970-221-6311 or zwhyman@fcgov.com