Boulder County Kids Magazine Winter 2025

JOY IN WINTERTIME JOY IN

As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, we’re finding joy in wintertime: in the glow of twinkle lights, the hush of new snow, and the cozy moments shared indoors In this issue, we’ve gathered stories, crafts, and local insights to help your family embrace the season in all its wonder.

Get creative with our Winter Solstice Crafts (page 10), simple projects kids can make to celebrate and prepare for the shortest day of the year Bring the magic of snow indoors with our Winter Recipes (page 16) that let little hands create snowy fun right in the kitchen

Our After School Directory and Child Care & Preschool Directory are full of great options for school day-off care, perfect for busy parents juggling shifting winter schedules.

Inside, you’ll also find Pam Martin of Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppe sharing playful ways to build literacy skills with I Spy, Julie Fernie’s local guide to sledding at Hidden Valley, and Oak Thorne II’s stories of how animals prepare for winter’s chill.

From all of us at Boulder County Kids, we wish your family a joyful, warm, and healthy winter season.

Isabella & Annie

(& our mascot Junie)

Paper Boy has been a BCK mascot for over 20 years!

BOULDER COUNTY KIDS is a division of Martin House Publications, Inc Published quarterly in February, May, August, and November Mailing address: 1464 E Easter Cir Centennial, CO 80122 Phone number: (303) 728-4798 Copyright 1995 to 2025 by Boulder County Kids All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission prohibited Boulder County Kids encourages your submission of articles, photographs, and ideas We reserve the right to edit all submitted material All submissions will be considered for publication Viewpoints of the articles are not necessarily the viewpoints of Boulder County Kids Materials will not be returned Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the publisher Please go to

for

SUPERSTAR front cover

Our Fall Cover, “Geneva the Tiger,” was created by 9-year-old Gray, who completed the piece when she was just 8. Gray drew and colored Geneva for her neighbor of the same name, gifting it to her during an art sale. She used pencil for sketching, felt-tip pens for outlining, and markers to bring the tiger to life in bold color.

A fourth grader, Gray says her favorite part about making art is sketching it’s satisfying, comforting, and helps her relax Art and writing are her favorite classes at school, and one day she hopes to combine both passions as an author and illustrator

Winter is Gray’s favorite season (“for a million reasons!” she says), especially Christmas, because she gets to spend time with family and exchange gifts Her favorite thing about Boulder County in the winter is the big Boulder Star that lights up on Flagstaff Mountain

Gray loves sushi (especially salmon avocado rolls) and her favorite restaurant is Yotsuba Sushi, which just opened and, luckily, has plenty of salmon options. When she’s not drawing, she enjoys swimming,snowboarding, and paddleboarding, and still remembers when the Colorado Avalanche visited her school for a field hockey event.

At home, Gray is an only child with no pets yet though she’s been asking for an Australian Shepherd for years Her favorite color is purple, her favorite show is Young Sheldon, and she loves Taylor Swift, especially 1989 and Life of a Showgirl Her favorite animal is the fox, because they’re adorable and smart, and they curl up in a little ball using their tail as a blanket

Thank you, Gray, for letting us feature “Geneva the Tiger” for the cover of Boulder County Kids Winter 2025! We hope you and your family have a lovely winter season.

Tinker Art Studio partners with us to provide each cover artist winner a $50 prize. Thank you, Tinker Art Studio, for supporting young local artists! For more information about Tinker Art Studio, please head to their listings in the After School and Birthday Party Directories “Geneva the Tiger”

CRAFTS

for the SHORTEst day of the year!

December 21 is the Winter Solstice: the day with the shortest day and longest night of the year Celebrate with these fun crafts from WineberryWoodpress com

YULE LOG WISHES

What you need:

A bowl

Natural materials for incense (birch bark, holly leaves, spruce resin, bayberry, etc )

Bay leaves (for writing wishes or intentions)

A log that fits in your firepit or fireplace

Drill with a paddle bit (1–2″)

Beeswax

Mason jar

Pot for boiling water

What you do:

2. Prepare the log: Choose a log that feels right to you and fits your firepit or fireplace. Drill several holes (1–2″ deep) into the top of the log using a paddle bit.

3 Fill with incense: Stuff your incense mixture into the drilled holes kids can help with this step!

1 Gather materials: Collect all your “fire incense” ingredients in a bowl Use materials that smell nice or hold special meaning Birch symbolizes new beginnings, holly is traditional for Yule, and spruce resin or bayberry add a festive scent Have each family member write wishes or intentions on bay leaves to include.

STAR LANTERNS

What you need:

10 long sticks (for the stars)

Several shorter sticks (for spacers)

Rubber bands

Glue (hot glue or craft glue)

Decorative paper or tissue paper

Scissors

LED lights (battery-powered or remotecontrolled)

Wire or string (for hanging)

4 Melt the beeswax: Boil a few inches of water in a pot, then reduce to a simmer Place beeswax in a mason jar and set the jar into the simmering water Allow the wax to fully melt

5 Seal the log: Carefully pour the melted wax over the log, filling gaps and holes to hold everything in place Let the wax cool and set completely

6 Enjoy your Yule fire: Add your finished log to the fire on the Winter Solstice and enjoy the scents and wishes for the season ahead.

What you do:

1 Build two “V” shapes: Attach two sticks together at one end with a rubber band to form a V shape Repeat to make a second V

2. Form the first star: Lay the two V shapes on a flat surface. Connect them with a fifth stick to create a five-pointed star. Secure each point with rubber bands.

(continued on page 12)

WINTER SOLSTICE CRAFTS (CONTINUED)

Star Lanterns Continued:

3. Make a second star: Repeat Steps 1 and 2 to make another five-pointed star.

4 Connect the stars: Stack the two stars on top of each other, lining up the points as best you can Use rubber bands to attach the points together

5 Add spacers: Insert shorter sticks between the two stars at the center hexagon to push them apart Once everything looks even, glue all the joints (both spacer and rubber band connections) to reinforce the structure

6 Cover with paper: Glue decorative paper or tissue paper around each section of the star You can cover the sticks completely (faster) or leave them visible (takes longer but looks nice). Trim off any extra paper.

7. Add lights: Before covering the back, place your LED lights inside. Glue or tape the battery pack to the edge of a stick for easy access.

8 Seal and hang: Cover the back with paper Wrap a piece of wire or string around the top point for carrying or hanging

9 Light it up! Turn on your LED lights and enjoy your glowing winter star!

SCENTED WINDOW STARS

What you need:

8 pieces of tissue paper (one for each star point)

Glue stick

Tape or a little glue (for hanging)

Small spray bottle (mister)

Water Essential oil of your choice

What you do:

1 Fold the paper: Take one piece of tissue paper and fold it in half Fold it in half again the other way so it’s divided into quarters Open it back up

2 Fold the corners: Bring one corner into the center crease. Repeat with the other three corners to form a smaller square.

3. Shape the star point: Turn the paper so it looks like a diamond. Fold the right edge toward the center line. Fold the left edge toward the center line to form a long, pointed shape. This is one point of your star.

4 Repeat: Repeat the same folds with the remaining seven pieces of tissue paper

5 Assemble the star: Lay the folded pieces so the smooth side faces forward and the folded flaps face back Glue each point to the next using a glue stick, forming a circular star shape

6 Hang your star: Once all eight points are attached, hang your star in a window using a small piece of tape or a dab of glue

7 Add scent: Mix about 1 tablespoon of water with a few drops of essential oil in a spray bottle. Lightly spritz your stars every day or so for a gentle scent.

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Wintertime Happenings

I grew up in the 1920s and 1930s in East Islip, NY, on the South Shore of Long Island, about 40 miles from New York City. We had woods, meadows, streams (which we called brooks), and even a lake In fact, our place was called “Brookwood ”

In those days, the winters were much colder than they are today As a result, our lake would freeze over and the ice would become several inches thick, so we could ice skate safely on it. People who lived in town would come and skate on our lake. They were always welcome. Somebody would usually build a small campfire by the edge of the lake, so if you got cold from skating, you could come and warm yourself by the fire and even roast marshmallows!

It sometimes got so cold that even the Great South Bay, close to where we lived, would freeze over, even though the Bay was a mixtur of fresh water and ocean salt water. My Dad h what he called an “ice boat.” It had skids couple of bucket seats, and a small sail to ca the breeze, so we would glide over the ice w ease It is interesting to note that neither these bodies of water freeze over anymore, d to the warming created by climate change

At high altitude in the Rocky Mountains, have Snowshoe Hares, large members of rabbit family. Their brown summer coats chan to white in the winter to match the snow. T makes good camouflage. When I lived for 18

years at Valley Ranch in northwest Wyoming, we had a Chinook climate, similar to Boulder, so on most winter days the ground was bare and brown. Yet the fur of the weasels who lived there would turn white in winter It made me laugh to see white weasels (called Ermine) against the brown snow-free background In that case, they did not have good camouflage!

The very first article that I wrote for Boulder County Kids, over 25 years ago, was about seeing your own tracks in the snow, as well as the tracks of other animals. Have you ever looked for animal tracks in the snow? It’s fun. Some are as large as a horse’s hoof, and some are as small as a mouse or shrew foot On a rare occasion, you might see mouse tracks suddenly interrupted by the print of a hawk’s wingtips in the snow. What story does that tell you?

Up in the alpine tundra above timberline lives an animal called the Pika These are fascinating animals They are about the size of a very small squirrel. They live in rock piles inside of which they build cozy nests for themselves to stay warm in the winter. Pikas even cut blades of green grass in the summer, dry them in the sun, and then store them in their rock piles for winter food So they indeed “make hay!”

Wild animals prepare themselves for winter in various ways Bears, for example, eat lots of berries in the fall and build up good fat reserves, which carry them over the winter while they are hibernating in their dens. Bats hibernate in caves, hanging from the ceiling. Animals that hibernate have slower heartbeats, which also slows down their overall metabolism.

Maybe you can think of other examples of animals that prepare themselves for winter It is amazing how so many of them do this. Because of all these examples, the animal kingdom is certainly very special. Don’t you agree? from top: Winter Weasel (Ermine), Snowshoe Hare, Pika

Dr Thorne is the founder and honorary president of Thorne Nature Experience (formerly Thorne Ecological Institute), a nonprofit organization, now headquartered in Lafayette For 71 years they have helped “connect youth to nature!” For information about their programs, please check their website at www thornenature org or email info@thornenature org or call (303) 499-3647, ext 100

WINTER RECIPES:

What you do:

COCONUT ENERGY SNOWBALLS

from mindivine co

What you need:

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup mini white chocolate chips

1/4 cup shredded coconut

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut (for rolling)

1 Combine rolled oats, peanut butter, honey, mini white chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl

2 Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined

3 Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the mixture to firm up and become easier to handle

4 Remove the mixture from the refrigerator Roll the mixture into small balls about 1 inch in diameter using your hands.

5.Place the additional shredded coconut in a shallow dish.

6.Roll each ball in the coconut until completely covered.

SNOWFLAKE DONUTS snowstorm in the kitchen

What you need:

Snowflake cookie cutter

Oil for frying

1 tube Pillsbury Recipe Creations Seamless

Dough Sheet*

Powdered sugar

*You can also use your favorite doughnut or Beignet recipe; or use Pillsbury Pizza Dough or Biscuits.

7.Place the finished snowball energy bites on a parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set

What you do:

1 Heat oil to 350 degrees F

2 Un-roll crescent dough

7.Let cool slightly before serving. from hungryhappenings com

3 Use snowflake cookie cutters to cut out snowflake doughnuts

4.Fry, flipping as needed, until golden brown.

5.Remove and allow oil to drain onto a paper towel.

6.Sprinkle immediately with powdered sugar.

INCLUSION CORNER with Miss Katie

Winter can be a tough stretch for a lot of families. Schedules slow down, the days get darker, and keeping kids entertained (and adults sane) indoors for long stretches is no easy task. For families of children with disabilities, the season can also come with extra sensory challenges, routine disruptions, or accessibility barriers. Winter time is also a great time to slow down, unwind, and be creative!

sensory Help

Routine, routine, routine: When the weather outside makes spontaneous outings harder, having a few predictable rituals can help anchor the day especially for kids who thrive on structure. Try building in simple, sensory-friendly routines like:

Morning candle lighting or soft music to start the day gently.

A "snow day bin" filled with favorite puzzles, textures, or calming tools. Check out this link for ideas: LittleBinsForLittleHands.com/kidswinter-activities-science-sensory

A family wind-down time after dinner with warm drinks and audiobooks These don't need to be complicated It's about creating rhythm and safety

Low-Stress Inclusive Outings: Not every winter activity needs to be big or overstimulating. Some local libraries and museums offer adaptive programming or quiet hours during school breaks. Malls often host sensory-friendly Santa visits, too

Tip: Check smaller community centers and local nonprofits for hidden gems You’d be surprised how many offer inclusive crafts, swim nights, or winter break respite options

Resources for Families

Here are a few local and statewide groups that can help you navigate winter breaks, IEP meetings, and everything in between:

Family Voices Colorado: Helps families of children with disabilities or special health care needs connect with systems of care. They can help you prepare for upcoming medical or school meetings. Website: FamilyVoicesCO.org

Colorado Respite Coalition: Offers a statewide respite locator to help you find temporary care so you can take care of those holiday chores or errands Website: ColoradoRespiteCoalition org

However your family does winter, whether it’s snowball fights or cozy movie nights, know that there’s no “right way” to make it through the season Rest counts Flexibility counts Connection counts most of all

Wishing you warmth, comfort, and a gentle end to the year See you in the spring!!

Katie Buckley is a high school special education teacher who teaches in a program for students with cognitive disabilities. She was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, before going to Texas to get her Bachelor‘s and Master’s in Special Education from Texas Christian University.

WINTER RECIPES (CONTINUED)

VEGAN SNOWBALL COOKIES

What you need:

½ cup vegan butter , slightly softened at room temp for about 10 minutes

¼ cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon almond extract (*optional)

⅛ teaspoon salt

1 cup all-purpose flour

½ cup pecans , finely chopped (sub walnuts or almonds)

½ cup powdered sugar , for rolling (more if needed)

from veganhuggs com

What you do:

1.Preheat oven to 350 °F (177 °C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.Using a hand or stand mixer, cream together the butter and ¼ cup of powdered sugar on medhigh speed. Now beat in the salt, vanilla and almond extract until combined

3 On low speed, slowly add the flour and mix until just combined, scraping down sides as needed Now add the pecans and mix to combine The dough will look slightly moist and somewhat crumbly It should easily form when lightly pressed together though

4 Using a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon measuring spoon, scoop out the dough and roll into balls Place on the baking sheet and repeat until all the cookie dough is gone

5 Bake for 14-16 minutes until the bottom of the cookies are slightly golden You don't want to overbake these Remove from heat and let cool for 5-8 minutes.

6. Roll the cookies in powdered sugar while they are slightly warm. Now let them cool completely before rolling them again in powdered sugar or dust the tops with a mesh strainer for a snowy look

Sledding at Hidden Valley

By Julie Fernie

Winter is sometimes seen as a more subdued season, with shortened days and muffled sounds in the snow However, outdoor winter activities can be filled with effervescent glee in the sparkling snow Despite the colder weather, winter can be a wonderful time to get outside with young children Many of our local hiking trails at lower elevations remain snow-free and open to hiking through much of the winter, but it can also be fun to transition to more seasonal adventures.

This change of seasons can bring a transformation to our favorite areas and activities. Spring runoff leads to summer wildflowers, and green summer leaves transform into brilliant golden aspen in the autumn In the summertime, Hidden Valley in Rocky Mountain National Park has an idyllic nature trail with interpretive signs for young children Hidden Valley is also home to the Junior Ranger Program within Rocky Mountain National Park Once snow blankets the ground

at Hidden Valley, the area transforms into a winter playground Two gentle hills just beyond the ranger station are ideal for sledding with young children On winter weekends, expect a busy parking lot and many groups enjoying the sledding hills

Hidden Valley has a long history as a hub of winter fun Ski runs were first established in the area in 1934 After World War II, surplus army vehicles drove intrepid skiers farther up Trail Ridge Road to access skiing down the slopes back to Hidden Valley. A large ski lodge welcomed visitors and an ice skating rink was created. Eventually, Hidden Valley grew to include a rope tow and even a chairlift. The ice skating rink, chairlift and ski infrastructure were deconstructed throughout the 1970s to 1990s, but pieces of the ski lodge were re-used in the creation of the current ranger station and restrooms Backcountry skiing and sledding remain popular activities at Hidden Valley

A few practical considerations for sledding with toddlers and preschool-aged children:

Three-ish pounds of snow boots and snow gear might not feel like much to an adult, but this added weight of snow gear can be more than 10% of a young child’s body weight! This makes walking in snow gear much harder for a young child than for an adult You may find your child tiring more easily than in summer gear Or you may find them so enthralled by sledding that they don’t realize how tired they are!

Keeping hands, feet and faces both warm and dry goes a long way to helping kids have more fun while outside. Consider bringing

backup items in case any layers get wet

Having a dry change of clothes for the drive home can also be helpful

Sunburns can happen even in the winter, particularly when the sunshine reflects off snow Use sun protection

Winter air can be even drier than usual for the Front Range, so be sure to stay hydrated I find it hard to beat a thermos of hot chocolate when out sledding – it’s warm, it’s liquid, and it’s full of energy!

This winter, embrace the change of seasons and try to get out for an invigorating winter adventure.

getting there other practicalities

While timed entry is not required into Rocky Mountain National Park in the winter, park users must still pay the entrance fee. From the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station, proceed straight on Trail Ridge Road for approximately 9.5 miles to a hairpin turn. This portion of Trail Ridge Road is regularly plowed, but wintry conditions can still exist The turn-off to Hidden Valley has a sign to indicate where to turn Turn right to enter the Hidden Valley parking area Follow the trails from the parking lot past the restrooms The sledding hills are a short walk beyond the restrooms on the left Wooden fences indicate the areas for sledding

The restroom facilities have running water yearround. There are no sleds available onsite, so bring your own sleds. The Junior Ranger Station is open for limited hours on the weekends to serve as a warming hut. Dogs are not allowed outside of parking lots in Rocky Mountain National Park. The National Park Service posts status updates on the Rocky Mountain National Park website regarding the snow conditions at Hidden Valley at the beginning of the season so you can know when there is full snow coverage

HAPPY TRAILS!

Julie Fernie has a master’s degree in Health and Exercise Science from Colorado State University and works as a pediatric clinical exercise physiologist. She has hiked all but a handful of trails in Rocky Mountain National Park, the Indian Peaks Wilderness and Boulder County. Julie enjoys countless trail giggles and snacks while out hiking with her husband and young son.

literacy building with by

I SPY

and Other Special Seek-and-Find Books

Why Kids Love Them

Most seek-and-find books include double-page spreads that present like a treasure hunt, so each read is both an adventure, and, if shared with an adult, a fun, cuddle-time game for two. They also pack a lot of literacybuilding along with their entertainment value.

Pam Martin

Some of these important skills

include

Vocabulary Building

Seek-and-find books are wonderfully interactive, encouraging young learners to locate objects within a range of scenes – from animals in woodland habitats (Rachel Piercey’s If You Go Down to the Woods Today, is a good example) to the turtles, pinecones, and airplanes in Jean Marzollo’s I Spy School Days (among others in this long-selling, popular series) Each page of these books offers a terrific tool for helping to grow a child’s everexpanding vocabulary word bank.*

Activity: Look at photographs and have your child describe what’s happening in them to you. Ask follow-up questions, giving your child plenty of time to respond.

*This article draws from the Scholastic website article, 3 Literacy Lessons Hidden in “I Spy” Look & Find Books

Enhancing Focus and Concentration

According to the journal Frontiers for Young Minds, attention refers to the ability to focus on one thing while ignoring all others, a fundamental skill in reading Easily one of the brain’s superpowers, a reader’s attention shifts from one word to the next, while filtering out all the rest on the page Kids do the same when looking at any of the books in Martin Handford’s Where’s Waldo series, shifting attention from one character to the next until finally zeroing in on the well-hidden hero, and the search is over.

Activity: Coloring and drawing enhance focus, as well as classic games such as Simon Says (improving listening and focus), and Hide and Seek (building patience and observation skills)

Counting, Letter Recognition, and Rhyme

Many seek-and-find titles support the development of specific learning concepts, such as counting, letters of the alphabet, and identifying whole words. Many of them also feature rhyming schemes, which have been linked to phonological awareness, or the ability to hear and manipulate sounds that make up words The ability to hear the b-sound, a-sound, and t-sound in the word “bat,” for example, means you’re using phonological awareness (according to Samantha Engel, an instructor in the Fairleigh Dickinson School of Education)

Activity: Sing songs together kids love music! Have fun while sneaking in a powerful literacybuilding skill, or read other charmingly raucous picture books that feature rhymes, such as Julia Donaldson’s Room on the Broom, or Nancy Shaw’s Sheep in a Jeep

Pam Martin is a book specialist at Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppe in Boulder. To browse the store’s curated collection of books, toys, and games, please visit grtoys.com.

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PC: Olia Danilevich

kids zone

winter 2. snow 3. snowflake 4. snowball 5. blizzard 6. holidays 7. cold 8 iceskating 9 skiing 10 snowboarding 11 snowballfight 12 traditions 13 frosty 14 icy 15 boots 16 scarf 17 festive 18 snowday 19 slushy 20 sleet 21. earmuffs 22. mittens 23. candycanes 24. ornaments 25. gingerbread 26. wreath

sleigh 28. lights 29. shovel 30. chimney 31. fireplace 32. hotcocoa