Despite its dry climate, the Rocky Mountain region is home to a variety of flowers, shrubs, and trees, many of which provide lush foliage year-round. Xeriscaping is a landscaping method that harnesses the resilience of these drought-tolerant plants. Relying on well-planned irrigation systems and natural rainfall, xeriscaped gardens use significantly less water than traditional gardens.

Here’s a starter on the plants that work well with little water and lots of light:

Flowers

Xeriscaped gardens are much more than a scattering of rocks or a cluster of succulents. In fact, colorful flowers are abundant in Colorado, and these can be xeriscaped in all levels of sun and shade.

Penstemon // The Rocky Mountain penstemon flaunts a tall stalk of blue-purple flowers. Also known as the Beardtongue, Penstemons like full sun and can be harmed by too much fertilizer. As an added bonus, the flower is a first class choice for attracting hummingbirds.

Blanket Flower // These fiery orange and yellow flowers simply adore the heat, and grouping them in a designated area helps reveal their potential as a groundcover plant. You can also let the blanket flower grow across rock gardens and border fronts to brighten things up.

Bee Balm // Monarda, more commonly referred to as bee balm, is a vibrant high plains shrub sure to attract bees, butterflies and birds. The sun-loving flower has a tendency to grow aggressively, so plant it in the middle or back of a plot where is has room to flourish.

Shrubs

Many native shrub species are bursting with leaves, berries, and flowers. Shrubs commonly xeriscaped in Colorado include blue elderberry, fernbush and Mojave sage.

Yucca // Best when exposed to full sun, the yucca blooms a stalk of white flowers in summer and remains green year-round. This easygoing evergreen isn’t picky about light, but prefers well-draining soil. Keep in mind that the yucca’s leaves are sharp, so it’s best planted away from walking paths.

Apache Plume // Both showy and sturdy, Apache Plume is known for its strong roots and ability to withstand the elements. Its natural habitat is in the desert hills, so it fares well on slopes, and the dainty white flowers and feathery seeds make it a well-performing border plant.

Oregon Grape Holly // The fruitful Oregon Grape Holly is certain to diversify your shrub mix. The staple grows both flowers and berries — the latter being perfect for wine and jam. Oregon Grape Holly will also satisfy your privacy needs: Its fast growing nature makes it a robust hedge.

Trees

Trees are less common in dry landscapes because they require more water. However, this can be overcome by planting trees near one another, which increases humidity level and retains soil moisture.

Western Catalpa // The stately catalpa is one of the best oak varieties for dry climates, and often steals the spotlight anywhere its planted. Since it can grow up to 60 feet tall and have a spread of 30 feet, plant it away from full-sun plants that might suffer beneath its shade.

Chokecherry // These trees are popular in residential areas due to their white flowers, changing leaf colors and fruit-bearing nature. The chokecherry is a smaller tree, but it is strong and resilient in dry climates. It works best in woodland landscapes or alongside shrub borders.

Brandywine Crabapple // Among the many crabapple trees one can choose from, the Brandywine’s double blooms make it a superior option. This deciduous tree’s sweet-smelling spring flowers give way to green crabapples in the fall and it can thrive almost anywhere it’s planted — just be sure that falling fruit won’t damage a plant below.

Xeriscaping Resources

Garden in a Box // Known as “plant-by-number” gardens, these do-it-yourself xeriscaping kits can reduce water use by up to 60 percent. Garden in a Box plans are created by professional landscape designers and include a variety of drought-tolerant plants. The Center for ReSource Conservation offers garden and some local water providers offer discounts on the kits. [It appears these will be sold out by press time, but check out their website for ideas.]

Do it Yourself Irrigation Audit Kit // The Town of Erie wants to make irrigation easier by offering DIY audit kits for rent. The kits include tools for measuring water pressure, root depth and sprinkler output. Residents can check out kits from the Department of Public Works and use them for a week at a time.

Boulder County Native Plant Demonstration Garden // At 40 feet in diameter, this native plant garden provides an exemplary display of native flowers, shrubs and trees. The garden is an educational resource for those seeking more information on xeriscaping and native plants. Visit the garden at the Boulder County Extension any time of the day.

The Bees Needs // The Bees Needs is a citizen science project presented by CU Boulder’s Museum of Natural History. The Bees Needs online resource is a go-to if you want to learn more about how to xeriscape with bee-friendly plants.

The post Home and Hood: Xeriscaping 101: Climate-Savvy Landscaping appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Community planners consider community feedback and livability. Photo courtesy
of Trestle Strategy Group.

IF YOU LIVE OR WORK IN BOULDER, you probably don’t think twice about your daily driving woes. But gridlocked roadways and pricey parking aren’t meaningless frustrations. They indicate that our population and living costs are soaring — and that we’re divided on what to do next. So where do we go from here? It all starts with the Transportation Master Plan.

When the plan was first drafted in 1989, its core goals were to decrease single occupancy vehicle travel and increase citywide access to walking, biking, and public transit. Today, city bus ridership has more than doubled and 26 percent of Boulder residents live in walkable neighborhoods. The future envisioned by the transportation plan has in many ways come to life, but a number of challenges prevail.

Anyone commuting into Boulder for work can tell you, the city is full. A 2016 traffic study revealed that approximately 49,000 vehicles enter Boulder during the morning rush. And, the percentage of these people who drive alone is the same as it was 28 years ago. Besides causing congestion along the US 36 corridor, this exacerbates existing parking and air quality issues within the city limits. To manage this influx, the city’s Transportation Master Plan established an aggressive target: reduce the amount of single occupant trips by residents to 20 percent by 2035. That means putting more commuters on buses or in carpools.

incentives

Leading Boulder towards this goal is GO Boulder, a division that works to increase multi-modal travel. According to GO Boulder’s transportation planner, Randall Rutsch, the best way to change travel behavior is through transportation demand management (TDM). TDM is one of the five policy areas of focus in the master plan, and it includes strategies like the EcoPass, secure bike storage and flexible work hours. Paid parking is also considered a TDM program because it encourages alternative modes of travel. This hit-them-in-the-wallet method requires a building’s employees or residents to buy a space if they’d like to park there. “We do know that paid parking is a big disincentive, and part of what it does is make the cost of using the single-occupant vehicle more transparent,” said Rutsch.

Everyone benefits from programs that try to mitigate demand and offer more travel options. But as federal budgets shrink, Rutsch noted the importance of alternative funding sources. He said that more funding could come from a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax. This innovative tax charges drivers based on their travel frequency and promotes more sustainable behavior. CDOT has a small volunteer test program to see how such a tax would work. Colorado drivers currently pay a flat gas tax of 22 cents per gallon, but raising that tax requires legislative approval. Since raising a tax is unpopular politically, the gas tax has been left unchanged since 1991.

outsiders

A significant amount of Boulder traffic comes from inbound commutes, and for decades, roughly 80 percent of those have been single-occupant vehicles. It has been hard for planners to cut down on that number, especially since it requires coordinating with different municipalities.

Boulder County transportation director George Gerstle explained that when affordable housing decreases in Boulder, the county’s transportation challenges increase. “As people move further away to find an affordable place to live, the costs of commuting increase, often offsetting the benefits of the more affordable housing.”

For Boulder County, where driving is more common, transportation goals have focused on decreasing car use and increasing multi-modal transportation. Gerstle said one such success has been the expansion of bus services that make it easier to forgo driving. “We have worked with the city of Longmont to successfully implement the RideFree Longmont program that has tripled ridership on the local buses,” he said. “Similarly, we have worked with RTD to increase the BOLT bus service on the Diagonal, and the JUMP service connecting Erie, Lafayette
and Boulder.”

From further away, a new FLEX bus service also connects Boulder to Fort Collins, making it possible to take public transportation from CSU to CU.

City planners in smaller areas have tackled congestion problems by testing out universal passes for residents. In Nederland, an EcoPass pilot was so successful that voters supported taxing themselves to make it permanent. A community EcoPass has also seen success in Lyons, which is exploring additional funding options to sustain the program. Lafayette voters, already served by buses from Denver and Boulder, turned down an EcoPass initiative on the
November ballot.

the rent is high

Since much of the county’s roadway congestion is a side effect of the city’s high living costs, one solution is to create more affordable housing in Boulder. According to community advocate Eric Budd, this can be achieved by transforming existing homes into affordable rentals, like housing co-ops. “The idea behind the cooperative house is to make allowances within the existing framework of occupancy limits, which typically in residential neighborhoods, will not allow more than three unrelated people
living together.”

Budd has spent the last three years working to expand Boulder’s cooperative housing options. He explained that since co-ops often buy bulk food and cook together, they use less water and energy than single-family households. They also provide affordable, short-term living arrangements — but these too are challenged by zoning laws. Budd was a major proponent of the co-operative housing ordinance passed last January, which sought to increase Boulder’s occupancy limits for cooperative living. Having earned approval from city council, the ordinance now allows for around 10 co-ops to be licensed each year. In the community’s low-density zones, cooperative occupancy is capped at 12.

This win represents what can happen when we include more voices in important infrastructure decisions. Like Budd pointed out, many of the people most affected by affordable housing policies are absent from the conversation. “If you attend any of the public meetings, it’s very rare that you’re getting younger people or people that rent involved in the conversation — those are important voices that we need to be considering.”

Those who’d benefit from affordable housing policies should have a say in decisions that affect them. But this demographic is often comprised of people who are busy, hardworking and bootstrapped. Is it fair to expect them to show up at town hall and fight for their right to fairly-priced homes?

Danica Powell, owner of real estate consulting firm Trestle Strategy Group, doesn’t think so. That’s why when Powell works on an affordable housing project, she often visits these communities and gets to know them herself. “By walking the site with these people and talking with them in their neighborhood, I’m really trying to break apart these contentious, big community
meeting settings.”

Powell’s community approach coincides with a greater shift towards more inclusive city development. In Seattle, officials are battling a housing crisis by breaking down barriers to civic engagement. The city created a number of community commissions — which are comprised of low-income residents, renters, and the homeless — to advise neighborhood development.

Establishing a more inclusive planning strategy would ensure that the people who already work in Boulder still have a place to live. Powell stressed that it also reflects who we are as a community and who we want to become. “We all benefit from the teachers and the police officers and the people who work in the city. They’re part of our community. If we can’t retain employees or attract the wage earners, what happens?”

planned community

If you’re wondering what it looks like when housing is designed with transportation in mind, look no further than Boulder Junction. Built atop a neglected industrial site, Boulder Junction is transforming into a thriving mixed-use space and a prime example of what walkable, mixed-use developments should look like.

Here, all parking is paid and managed, and it’s the city’s only establishment with a parking maximum (one parking space per dwelling unit). The development also provides immediate access to bus services and the Goose Creek bike path.

Alongside designated commercial spaces and a number of market rate apartments, Boulder Junction also includes 71 permanently affordable housing units. Mixed-use spaces are a creative way to meet some of the city’s most pressing transportation and housing goals, but at the same time, land use codes, low density zoning laws and other policies halt further affordable housing progress.

Boulder’s high cost of living continues to force people out, causing an avalanche of transportation and housing obstacles. Now, it’s on the verge of becoming a place that’s open only to the most fortunate. That’s why we must ask ourselves: what do we as a community value most? If it’s equality that matters, we must better incorporate diverse needs and interests into city growth plans. Boulder’s ability to unite around its values will ultimately determine what kind of place it becomes.

The post Boulder’s Changing Infrastructure appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Composting daily food scraps, avoiding plastic bags and abstaining from pesticides are all common ways that Boulder area residents help preserve the mountains, parks and streams that make Colorado a sublime place to live.

In theory, it makes sense to uphold these same ethical standards in every aspect of our lives. But in practice, many people make exceptions when it comes to their pets. And while one single act of negligence may not seem like a big deal, it’s when we all start to make exceptions that a more serious picture emerges.

Let’s say you sometimes leave your dog’s waste in a certain park. Not so catastrophic, right? Now, consider what would happen if this exception was made for each of the 30,000 dogs that reside in the city of Boulder. Not only would the park would be unfit for humans and other animals, it would also pose a serious risks to the surrounding land, air and water. And if we don’t start taking responsibility for our pets’ ecological footprint, this is the reality we’re destined for.

To avoid further ecological degradation, we must address two of the largest environmental threats posed by pet ownership: commercial pet food and mismanaged waste.

Realigning the moral compass in regards to our pets starts by acknowledging and respecting the fundamental differences between humans and animals. As explained by Anthony Bennie, founder and chief nutrition officer at all natural pet nutrition company Clear Conscience Pet, this requires that we become educated about which foods serve our pet’s needs according to science. “It means not being “grossed out” by organ meats, which are excellent for dogs, and not being squeamish about giving them rugged treats made from connective tissue like trachea, tendons and cartilage that satisfy their instinctive urge to chew” said Bennie, whose company specializes in food that mimics the diets of wild canines.

PC: Steve Rumizen

Clear Conscience pets is among a growing number of natural animal nutrition companies seeking to improve transparency and nutrition education in the pet food industry. An important part of this effort is helping consumers see beyond the traditional marketing tactics used to persuade pet owners to buy foods that are unhealthful for animals. Desserts and carbohydrate-rich foods, for example, won’t cause major damage in humans when enjoyed in moderation. Alternatively, giving our animals pupcakes, cookies, and other processed foods high in grains goes against their biological needs.

According to Dr. Lesli Groshong, DVM, Chief Shelter Veterinarian at Humane Society of Boulder Valley, feeding pets sweets and other inappropriate foods can cause a variety of health risks, including obesity. “Obesity can cause many long-term health hazards for pets, ranging from orthopedic conditions (joint deterioration, exercise intolerance, soreness) to heart and liver disease.”

Understanding our pet’s nutritional needs is at the forefront of responsible pet ownership. Beyond this, we must also seek to understand where the ingredients in pet food come from. The majority of commercial pet food contains byproducts from industrial farms, a leading source of the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. According to The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock production accounts for 35 percent of total anthropogenic methane emissions.

But since dogs and cats are carnivores, we can’t stop feeding them meat all together. The best way to overcome these dilemmas while also meeting the nutritional needs of our pets is choosing food made from local companies and humane farms. Anderson’s Natural Pet Food is a perfect example — the company raises beef, elk and lamb on a low-impact farm in Montrose, Colorado. In addition to supporting local economies and avoiding factory farm byproducts, buying pet food and treats from small-batch manufacturers makes it much easier to understand what’s in the food and where it comes from.

Beyond making healthy, eco-conscious food choices, pet owners seeking greater moral responsibility must also address one of the largest environmental side effects of pet ownership — abandoned waste.

According to the Keep it Clean Partnership, a group of communities on the front range that addresses stormwater pollution issues — the average dog produces approximately three-quarters of a pound of poop every day. With roughly 90,000 dogs in Boulder county, that equates to 11,700 tons of waste per year.

This wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if our pets could use septic systems and dispose of waste like humans do. When hundreds of people don’t pick up after their dogs on a daily basis, however, waste contaminants leach into nearby rivers and streams. “This can be a serious health hazard for our community, as dog waste harbors parasites that are infectious to other dogs,” said Groshong.

Parasites like Giardia, whipworms, and coccidia can cause diarrhea and vomiting in dogs, and hookworms can cause the same or severe anemia in puppies.

What’s more, intestinal parasites like Giardia are zoonotic, meaning that they can infect people. “People can be infected when these parasites contact our bare skin, most often when we walk barefoot on contaminated beaches or soils,” said Groshong.

Routine fecal tests and heartworm preventatives can keep some parasites at bay, while instances of Giardia and coccidia in dogs require veterinary treatment.

Beyond these health risks, dog waste poses serious environmental threats. Whether left on hiking trails, grass, or nonporous surfaces like streets and sidewalks, dog waste eventually washes into stormwater systems, where it’s then deposited into nearby rivers and streams. Here, the high levels of phosphorous and nitrogen found in dog feces severely impacts water quality. According to the EPA, excess nutrients can cause algae blooms, which use up vital oxygen that fish, plants, and other forms of aquatic life need to survive.

Like a dog to water… PC: Steve Rumizen

Boulder area parks already suffer the consequences of irresponsible dog owners and some have been forced to close indefinitely. Among the shuttered spaces is Evergreen’s Elk Meadow Dog Park, a 107-acre stretch of land that has been enjoyed by humans and pets for 15 years. Elk Meadow Dog Park accumulated up to 80 pounds of waste some weeks, and the land simply couldn’t keep up.

Park closures prompt dog owners to navigate to new parks, and it’s only a matter of time before they face the same fate as Elk Meadow. Perhaps the most viable solution to this problem — and one that’s largely untapped by Colorado municipalities — is dog waste composting.

Leading the way in this effort is Envirowagg, a local company that creates potting soil from composted Boulder and Denver dog waste. Envirowagg combines high heat, a carbon source, and naturally-occurring microorganisms to create compost that meets EPA standards for growing edible crops. Each batch is also tested to make sure it’s free of pathogens that can be potentially harmful to humans and pets.

Envirowagg partners with Pet Scoop, a Colorado-owned pet waste management company, to collect dog waste for compost. Boulder supplies certified compostable bags (ASTM D6400) and Pet Scoop provides designated bins at parks, trails and other public spaces. Such facilities make composting extremely easy; however, Envirowagg owner and operator Rose Seemann pointed out that many people still decline to use them. (Others use them, but not properly: plastic bags and pieces of garbage unsuitable for compost still appear in the bins despite clearly marked labels.)

Another barrier complicating the issue is a growing trend around the term “biodegradable” to market certain dog waste bags. A bag labeled as biodegradable or compostable still doesn’t break down on its own, and heaving these bags into the woods further exacerbates the issue.

“There are bags now that are called biodegradable, and all they do is come apart — the basic strips of plastic remain intact and they get into the environment,” Seemann said. Even when compostable, biodegradable, and plastic bags are thrown in the garbage, she said, they end up in landfills where they remain “mummified” and produce dangerous methane gasses.

To change these habits — and divert plastics and dog waste from the landfill — owners need to realize that composting translates into a tangible product that can greenify spaces. “It would help if people knew that there’s a product at the end of it. Buying product (Envirowagg’s compost) facilitates programs everywhere. It’s difficult for people to get over the ick factor even though the products are really good.“

The presence of pet waste compost bins at area trails does put Boulder ahead of other cities in the nation. On a global scale, Seemann said, there’s still much work to do. “In Canada, local governments and districts pay for pickup and composting. People can throw dog waste in with their food scraps and it gets picked up curbside and its composted well.”

Whether due to sheer neglect, lack of knowledge, or both, it’s clear that Boulder residents aren’t taking enough responsibility for the ecological footprint of their pets. If we want to continue enjoying the physical and psychological benefits of pet ownership, we need to stop making exceptions for the animals we love. By protecting the earth now, we can ensure that people and pets continue enjoying one another’s company for generations to come.

Pet Stats and Resources

• Nearly 75% of U.S. households own pets, totaling to 218 million pets.
• Each of these households spends $500 annually on pets. (Sources: Chapman University)
• In the U.S., five pet food vendors account for 70% of retail sales. These vendors include Nestlé, Mars, Colgate, Big Heart and Blue Buffalo. Source: Statista
• Dog waste harbors parasites like Giardia and E. coli, which can comprise as much as 20% of the pollution in public waterways.
• There are 90,000 dogs in Boulder county, which accounts for 11,700 tons of poop per year.
  (Sources: Keep it Clean Partnership)
• Today, U.S. dogs generate more solid waste than the U.S. human population did in 1959. (Source: Envirowagg)

Natural Pet Food Makers

Boulder Dog Food Company
303.443.3801

I and Love and You
855.459.5683

Andersons Natural Pet Food
303.881.9603

Clear Conscience Pet
239.984.2705

Natural Pet Food Stores

Only Natural Pet
888.937.6677

Whole Pets Holistic
303.444.4733

The Happy Beast
303.604.1300

Pet Waste Management

Pet Scoop
303.781.7667

Envirowagg
303.617.7049

The post Eco Pawprint: Confronting the ethical responsibilities of pets appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Puzzah’s escape rooms make for fun, team-building exercises.

Imagine you’re trapped in a dark room on an alien spaceship. As the ship hurtles through the galaxy, a mysterious voice suddenly beams down with terrible news: you have just one hour to escape the holding cell, fuel the ship and navigate it safely back to earth.

This is the premise of Specimen, one of two games at Puzzah’s new location in Broomfield’s Flatiron Mall. Puzzah is an interactive experience that challenges teams of two-to-six guests with a number of puzzles based on a certain theme.

Since Puzzah first opened its doors in downtown Denver, the puzzle business has challenged players with mind-bending mysteries about magicians, composers, high-profile heist, and more. Now set up in a busy mall location, Puzzah has benefited from improved security, convenience and more foot traffic than they could have imagined. But this new address also required Puzzah to rethink the logistics of game play.

“Moving into a mall setting, we knew we would get an even more diverse range of groups, from families, to kids’ birthday parties, to hardcore gamers, so we needed to really make our rooms more adaptable to each group,” said Ryan Pachmayer, co-founder of Puzzah.

To better accommodate that broader pool of ages and abilities, Puzzah crafted individual puzzles that can adapt to a team’s progress. So if a team of children struggled with the first puzzle in a room, the next puzzle might adapt to their skill level by presenting itself in a more simple way.

Puzzah’s games also provide sequential vocal cues that guide teams toward success throughout the mission. This promotes deliberate team collaboration, something that isn’t always present in the disorganized mad dash of other escape room games.

“The actual interaction is what groups value most. You’re working together to beat an exciting mission, rather than passively watching a game or a movie. We don’t pair teams with strangers, it’s always a private booking.”

Another of Puzzah’s room riddles waiting to be solved.

In addition to improving its software, Puzzah has also made great strides in the physical composition of its games. All puzzles at the Flatiron Mall location are reset-free, meaning that they naturally end in the same position they started in. This eliminates need for cleanup and re-positioning, which saves employees time while allowing Puzzah to maximize its bookings.

“It has taken a lot of planning and technology to achieve reset-free, but it gives users a more consistent experience and allows us to offer more booking slot options to our customers,” Pachmayer explained.

Moving forward, the team plans to expand its one-of-a-kind puzzle room experience in a number of ways. They’ll debut two more games at the Flatiron Mall this year: a bee-themed mission called Hive Mind and a story about superheroes. Puzzah also plans to extend its community involvement initiatives, which have previously included setting up puzzle hunts at the CU Block Party and the Mile-High Sci-Fi Convention.

Businesses will send co-workers to partake in the a bit teamwork away from office, while other guests come simply for a rewarding hour of cerebral synergy. No matter the motivation, the changing puzzle rooms should inspire return visits. After all, everyone loves a good mystery.

The post Riddled With Fun appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Boulder schools lead the nation in equitable learning, but can social and political turbulence endanger such progress?

As many Americans struggled to cope with the reality of the 2016 presidential election results, a disturbing plague began to spread in our nation’s schools. Halls suddenly echoed with hate speech; property became smeared with tyrannical symbolism; and students experienced verbal and physical harassment unlike ever before.

Now entrenched in what many education experts already referred to as “The Trump Effect,” such discrimination puts all students at risk. What’s most at stake is every student’s right to a supportive and equitable school environment regardless of income status, race, sexual identity, gender or disability.

When the right to an equal education is under threat, what can be done to protect and maintain the social progress we’ve worked so hard to attain?

To answer this question, we must consider two factors: how we evaluate schools, and how we define student success. In recent years, a rising chorus of voices has grown more active in its opposition of standardized testing, which serves as the traditional school evaluation model. Educators, students and parents are challenging standardized tests due to their negative impact on school climate.

“What schools get recognized for they put their intentions toward. If a school is being held only accountable for its English language arts scores and its math scores, that’s what everyone is going to narrow the curriculum to,” said Michelle Renée Valladares, Associate Director of the National Education Policy Center, housed in the CU-Boulder School of Education.

This parallels what might happen if we evaluate schools based on nonacademic factors, like the social and emotional wellbeing of students.

In response to this pressure, new requirements for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the primary bill guiding federal K-12 policies, will make it easier to quantify factors that determine student success. The reformed accountability system gives policymakers freedom to choose one or more of the indicators used to evaluate schools alongside the traditional academic indicators.

To guide states in choosing the right nonacademic indicators, Elizabeth Meyer, Michelle Renée Valladares, and William Penuel of the CU-Boulder School of Education recently co-authored a policy memo titled Making the Most of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) – Helping States Focus on School Equity, Quality and Climate. Published by the National Education Policy Center, this set of guidelines informs state policymakers on how to choose indicators that evaluate the equity and opportunity of school climates. By equipping states with a broadened curriculum encapsulating safety and equity, this is intended to more aptly measure the educational opportunity gaps that exist between well-funded, affluent students, and those who have been chronically underserved.

Meanwhile, as influencers and policymakers seek to redefine school success and performance on the state level, another project from the National Education Policy Center already recognizes schools with innovative approaches to inclusive, equitable learning.

Schools of Opportunity is an effort to move beyond the traditional methods of school recognition, which typically award schools with inherent advantages due to affluence or selectivity. In particular, Schools of Opportunity awards schools that use research-proven practices to resolve the gap between resources and opportunities. Valladares, project associate director, said “We’re trying to show that it is possible to have equitable schools. There are examples all over the country of schools doing right by low-income kids, by kids of color.”

Schools of Opportunity, which awarded its first recognitions for the 2014-2015 school year, selects high-performing schools based on a series of criteria. These include a school’s ability to create and maintain a culture free of bullying, harassment and discrimination, support the professional needs of teachers, and build upon the strengths of language minority students, among a number of other nuanced benchmarks.

For the 2015-2016 school year, Boulder Valley School District’s New Vista High School earned a silver recognition for its alternative high school model. New Vista has a variety of nontraditional programs that empower students with a customized education shaped around their needs and interests. One New Vista’s most notable efforts is its Restorative Justice program — a student-run organization that collaborates with staff, administrators and community members to devise more constructive solutions to disciplinary matters.

Elsewhere in Boulder, school administrators at Boulder Valley School District and St. Vrain Valley School District have worked to achieve a more equitable school climate through teacher training programs like A Queer Endeavor. Led by Bethy Leonardi and Sara Staley and housed in the CU-Boulder School of Education, A Queer Endeavor provides professional development workshops and institutes that help teachers, administrators and staff focus on knowledge building, critical self-reflection, dialogue and practice to create safer schools that are more affirming of LGBTQ and gender expansive youth.

At Douglass Elementary in Boulder Valley School District, Jonathan Wolfer said he’s proud of his school district for its efforts in gender diversity, including its work with A Queer Endeavor. Wolfer noted that the program shed light on sobering issues facing the LGBTQ student community — like the fact that suicide rates and suicide attempt rates for students who identify as LGBTQ are often 10 times the national average for all youth. That such issues begin in kindergarten, when most students are just five years old.

Wolfer noted that the students in his elementary school have the option to use a boys restroom, a girls restroom, or a gender-neutral restroom. He also explained that this is just one of many ways in which schools can promote safety and acceptance. “There are things that every school can do to help all kids feel safe and included in their community — it’s not just about restrooms.”

St. Vrain Valley School District superintendent, Don Haddad, said that his district works hard to create and maintain an equitable, high-quality culture within every school. SVVSD has implemented positive behavior, speciality training and intervention programs, such as Rachel’s Challenge. This nonreligious, nonprofit, nonpolitical intervention program was founded in memory of Rachel Scott, the first murder victim of the Columbine High school shooting in 1999. Led by Rachel’s parents, the program seeks to eliminate bullying in schools through practices that promote kindness and respect.

Haddad also said that SVVSD pays special attention to hiring teachers and staff that are well-equipped to handle instances of discrimination. “We have counselors in our building from elementary school through high school, and we also have interventionists, school psychologists and a host of people who are there to promote the wellbeing of children.” Hiring qualified staff is an exemplary step towards achieving an equitable school climate, but as Haddad points out, SVVSD has access to the resources that make such a workforce possible.

When one assesses the resources available to each of the 178 school districts across Colorado, a high level of disparity exists. For many schools, lack of funding prevents the implementation of programs that would address the dynamic needs of students from different backgrounds. Now faced with the implications of Governor John Hickenlooper’s proposed $45 million dollar budget cut to school districts statewide, educators are left scratching their heads. If schools can’t afford to update course material, improve aging infrastructures and maintain qualified teachers in an increasingly underpaid profession, how can they be expected to dedicate additional resources towards anything else?

This is perhaps the biggest challenge facing Colorado schools today. But as Sara Staley of A Queer Endeavor pointed out, there are crucial things that teachers can do to address gender diversity without added money or resources. In its teacher support programs, A Queer Endeavor helps teachers and education staff consider entry points where more diverse perspectives and viewpoints can easily be incorporated. When teaching a lesson or telling a story, for example, Staley notes that teachers can ask themselves a set of questions, such as: “Whose voices are privileged?” “Whose voices are left out, and what does that mean?” “What happens when we add a new voice or a new identity to this story?”

Staley also explained the importance of more subtle actions, like hanging a rainbow flag in the classroom. Some students may overlook such a gesture, but it might be a key instrument in helping other students feel more safe and included. It also has the potential to generate critical conversations and answer difficult questions that students can’t ask elsewhere.

Valladares agreed that a more diverse curriculum is achievable with little to no resources. “Sitting down and choosing books that are more diverse doesn’t cost you any extra money.” Valladares also noted the importance of free teacher resources such as tolerance.org — which provides resources for incorporating diversity, equity and justice into lesson plans — and the Anti-Defamation League’s booklist, a database of multicultural books designed to expose children in grades K-6 to new perspectives and experiences.

While there aren’t many examples for how to best create equitable school climates, Staley said that A Queer Endeavor’s achievements in Boulder schools do serve as a model for the rest of the country to follow. Seeking out programs that implement lasting, systemic change is invaluable not only to schools and students, but to the American society as a whole.

As explained by Elizabeth Meyer, co-author of the aforementioned ESSA policy memo and Associate Dean for Teacher Education and Undergraduate Programs at the University of Colorado, Boulder, “schools perform an important normalizing function on our society. They teach students the behaviors that are acceptable, and which ones are unacceptable, in public settings and professional environments.”

When we reflect upon our own upbringings, we can agree that school played a primary role in defining how we interact with people who think, look, love and believe differently than ourselves. And while a recent surge in discriminatory behavior at schools paints a dismal, disheartening future, Meyer maintains exactly the kind of unwavering optimism needed during such turbulent times.

“Increased attention on incidents of bias and harassment in schools and nationwide is a painful learning opportunity for the state of our nation. We can turn crisis into opportunity by surfacing all of these issues that have been under the surface; we can more explicitly address some of the challenges head on,” added Meyer.

As education experts, policymakers and teachers work together to make schools more equitable, instances of discrimination should be viewed as opportunities to remind students how to practice kindness, empathy, and tolerance — because the willingness to uphold these values amidst adversity is what has always made America great.

Resources and Programs for Equitable Learning

Teaching Tolerance

A project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Teaching Tolerance provides educators with free classroom resources for tackling critical justice topics like immigration, gender, religion, and more. tolerance.org

A Queer Endeavor
Find out more information on A Queer Endeavor’s teacher training and community support programs, plus access resources on LGBTQ-themed texts and lessons, which are also available in Spanish. aqueerendeavor.org

The Anti-Defamation League Booklist
Teachers and librarians can use this website to find both classic literature and new texts that help children better understand and respect justice and social diversity. http://www.adl.org/education-outreach/books-matter

Schools of Opportunity
Educators can view past recipients to learn about exemplary school programs across the country, or fill out the Schools of Opportunity application, available in January. opportunitygap.org

The post Equitable School Environments: The Key to Student Success appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Winter is a time when many people retreat indoors; turning to board games, books, and other leisurely activities that offer protection from the elements. Others feel a distinct urge for adventure at the first sign of snowfall — staying indoors simply isn’t an option. Luckily for the latter group, Colorado is the perfect place for trying unconventional snow sports and trekking through the frozen wild, all while having a blast with friends new and old.

Broomball

Six Pack Sports League offers freshman, jv, and varsity-level broomball clubs at the ice rink in downtown Louisville. Whether you sign up as an individual or start your own team, broomball combines the social aspect of organized sports with the adrenaline rush of running on ice to keep you warm all winter.

Curling

For $15, Nederland Curling Club teaches two-hour Learn to Curl (LTC) classes that cover the essential rules, drills and techniques of curling. Held on Saturdays in the winter, LTC lessons require a minimum of 6 people, so you’re pretty much obligated to invite your adventurous friends — or remind the less adventurous that it’s an indoor sport.

Cross Country Skiing

Boulder Nordic Club focuses on grooming Boulder’s city parks and public spaces to make cross country skiing more accessible. Becoming a member costs only $25 and includes a partner pass, which makes it easy to bring friends along.

Winter Running

Ranging from leisurely beer runs to Olympian-led training groups, Boulder is home to dozens of run clubs in the warmer months. Runners who lose their training partners in the winter, however, can turn to all-inclusive, year-round running groups like Boulder Road Runners, Boulder Track Club and the Erie-based Mile High Runners.

Dog Sledding

Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park brings the thrill of the iditarod to everyday people. While dog sleds typically fit two people, those who try it alone will still be among a loyal pack.

Old Man Winter rally

Not for the faint of heart, the Lyons-based Old Man Winter Rally aprovides three options for cardio enthusiasts: a 50km bike ride, a 100km bike ride, and a 5-mile run through Red Rock Canyon. Participants can join fellow ralliers at the after-party to guzzle local beer, listen to live music and bask in eternal glory.

Backcountry Camping

While your unadventurous friends stay cooped up in the city, you and your most daring comrades can head to nearby State Forest State Park for an easy, yet primitive experience. Groups small and large can find the perfect accommodations with Never Summer Nordic’s sprawling yurt system, which is comprised of one cabin and a dozen yurts.

Full Moon Snowshoeing

Led by the rangers of Rocky Mountain National Park, these full-moon snowshoe tours provide a rare opportunity to explore Estes Park at night. Hikes are offered November through March and reservations can only be made one week in advance, making it an excellent option for friends who want to escape ski town crowds but still enjoy a winter wonderland.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Eldora Mountain Resort is just 40 minutes from Boulder and boasts a variety of terrains for all levels, making it an easy and affordable day trip for groups. Loveland is another great option and is one of the best places to learn, so friend groups with mixed abilities will find their sweet spot here.

Winter Outdoor Groups

Boulder Chaos
An informal outdoor adventure group focused on bringing together people to appreciate nature and enjoy a sense of community.

Colorado Mountain Club
The club offers multiple trips throughout the winter, including ice cave exploration and cross-country skiing.

Where to Get Active:

Snowshoeing
Brainard Lake
Lost Lake (Winter Route)
Walker Ranch

Cross Country Skiing
Moffat Road
Devil’s Thumb Ranch
Frisco Nordic Center

Sledding
Foothills Community Park
Scott Carpenter Park
Tantra Park

The post The Social Snow Scene appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Riverdale Road stretches along the picturesque, hilly farmland between Thornton and Brighton, making for a seemingly pleasant country drive by light of day. But according to Colorado legend, those who traverse the road after nightfall are sure to encounter something dark and evil.

From evidence of satanic cult worship, to a wandering lady in white, or the eerie feeling of being watched though no one is there, local lore is filled with paranormal experiences on Riverdale Road. But of all the stories detailing haunted activity there, reports of a ghost vehicle, or phantom headlights, are perhaps the most commonly reported. The tale describes a truck with a revving engine that tailgates drivers late at night, trying to run them off the banks of the road’s sharp curves.

One detailed account of the ghoulish truck comes from Krystal Leandra, a paranormal investigator and former contestant on The Travel Channel’s Paranormal Challenge. Leandra explained that she was the only car driving on Riverdale Road when a truck suddenly appeared behind her. At first, Leandra assumed it was a local teen playing a joke on her and her two friends. But as the vehicle neared dangerously closer and its headlights blinding, Leandra’s friends alerted her that something was seriously wrong: not only was the truck missing a license plate, but it was also missing a driver. The sightings by Leandra’s friends confirmed to her that she was indeed being followed by the ghost truck many locals had claimed to encounter. The vehicle eventually turned around and headed in the opposite direction, while its taillights disappeared in the darkness far too suddenly for comfort.

Another haunted truck encounter is detailed by a woman who goes by the online alias Princess Spooky. She went to Riverdale Road with her boyfriend to see what eerie experiences the duo might find. Princess Spooky explains that she, too, was dangerously followed by a pair of bright headlights that appeared suddenly, and when her boyfriend pulled off to let the follower pass, the vehicle had vanished. The couple left the road feeling that something was lingering in their back seat, watching them. The encounter reportedly plagued Princess Spooky with nightmares and headaches for weeks, and the experience was so unnerving that she fiercely warned others to stay far away from Riverdale Road.

Such tales may be too tall for some to take seriously. However, there’s one piece of Riverdale’s history that is undeniably mysterious: Riverdale Road is home to one of Adams County’s most unexplained cold cases. On Dec. 23, 1987, 18-year old Heiderose Ursula McGuire left her job at the Circle K convenience store in Denver and was never seen again. Heiderose’s car was found in a ditch alongside Riverdale Road several days later, and on Valentine’s Day, her body was recovered in the snow nearby. The case remains unsolved to this day, but many claim that Heiderose’s spirit still roams the area.

Despite the number of tragic events and unexplained experiences having occurred on Riverdale Road, it has grown safer over the years. The gravel path with limited visibility has since been transformed into a paved road, and increased suburban developments offer the comfort of civilization in the distance. Those still unconvinced of Riverdale Road’s hauntings may have to take the night drive for themselves, but only at their own risk.

The post Halloween Scene: Haunted Riverdale Road appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Mike Lewis at the Zeal Optics counter.

Plenty of Colorado-based companies commit to some sort of environmental philanthropy and community giving — it’s almost a requirement in a state that adores its wild spaces so much. But if any local company embodies environmental stewardship from the inside out, it’s Zeal Optics. The sunglasses and goggle company created the first technologically-advanced,100-percent plant-based sports-eyewear — and it’s completely biodegradable.According to Mike Lewis, the company’s brand activation and digital strategy director, Zeal’s dual commitment to high-quality optical design and low-impact materials make it a perfect fit for Boulder’s conscious consumerism. “There’s a chance to do well by doing good — people are rallying around brands that are responsible and it’s a good opportunity to reach people and inspire them,” he explained.

And there’s no doubt that Zeal has already done well: the company was acquired by the brand Maui Jim 5 years ago. Acquisition by a profitable company is certainly a sign of prosperity, but it can sometimes leave mission-driven businesses struggling to maintain their goals and value systems.

Luckily for Zeal, this has never been a problem.

“Maui Jim acquired Zeal based on values and products, so they are supportive of continuing to keep Zeal in Boulder and rallying around the messaging” Lewis said. In fact, working with Maui Jim offers critical resources and knowledge that give Zeal the upper hand while allowing them to remain small and mission-driven. “Maui Jim is known for having one of the best products on the market. Zeal is able to capitalize on that knowledge base, access a large research and development center, and work with factories outside economies of scale for a company our size.”

Having a strong relationship with its parent company helps Zeal focus on key components of its mission, such as using eco-friendly materials. While this requires the company to work with different suppliers around the world and vet its partners very strongly, Lewis notes Zeal’s dedication to all-natural materials as a key point of differentiation. The companies Zeal works with certainly are unique — among its suppliers are a group in Switzerland that provides raw materials for lenses and frames, and the Mazzucchelli family in Italy, which provides biodegradable wood pulp used in a certain line of sunglasses.

Zeal optics doesn’t just incorporate its eco-friendly mission into its products; they also play a part in preserving the shared outdoor spaces that make Boulder a great place to live. “We work with Boulder County Parks and Open Space to sponsor Betasso Preserve on a quarterly basis, and we also work with the climbing community to support trail maintenance around the flatirons.”

When asked what plans Zeal has for future growth, Lewis explained that the company has its sights set on further improving the transparency of its products. “We’re always looking for ways to improve our commitment to the quality of our product and find ways to reduce our impact.”

The post The Plant-Based Eyewear Company That’s Quintessentially Colorado appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

A cerulean-skied homestead, third-generation farmers and vast fields of organic food — these are all images that come to mind when buying produce from the Boulder Farmer’s Market or a local CSA. But this is a story that only reigns true for fresh fruits and vegetables; when we think of packaged food, the image is much hazier.

Quinn Snacks‘ co-founder and farm-to-bag pioneer Kristy Lewis is on a mission to make packaged food just as transparent as farm-fresh produce. “People are still reaching for snacks — whether it’s for a movie night, a sports game or a day at the park” Lewis explained. That’s the reason she co-founded Quinn snacks: a new kind of snack company that connects consumers with the farmers that grew their food.

Quinn snacks began with a simple desire to clean up microwave popcorn, which is traditionally brimming with preservatives and hard-to-pronounce ingredients. That dream came to life in an unheated Boston attic in 2011, and ever since, the conscious snack company has expanded to five different flavors of microwave popcorn. Quinn Snacks has also broadened its product line to include pre-popped popcorn, pop at home kernels, and most recently, gluten-free pretzels. The latter is especially notable because it’s the first Non-GMO Project verified, whole grain, ancient grain pretzel on the market that maintains a traditional pretzel taste.

Staying transparent in its operations requires Quinn Snacks to be extremely fastidious when choosing suppliers, and the company sources in the U.S. whenever possible. “We push very hard on our growers and farmers so we can have a positive impact on the environment,” Lewis said.

The farm-to-bag page on Quinn Snacks’ website offers detailed information about all of their eco-friendly farms, which provide ingredients like Philippine fair-trade coconut oil, Chinese monk fruit, and rbgh-free butter from Kentucky. The time and money required to uphold such standards may contradict traditional business standards, but Lewis stands by the company’s mission. “It’s this kind of radical transparency that will transform the industry and help to rebuild a food system that people can trust,” she explained. Lewis also maintains the conviction that reforming our food system won’t happen without a unified effort. “We all have to believe that we can change the industry in order to do so.”

It’s that reason Boulder is so important to upholding the mission of Quinn Snacks. Lewis credits local residents for helping the company overcome challenges and achieve its goals. “We have a right to know where our food comes from. That’s what we’re doing at Quinn, and the Boulder community is one of our biggest supporters,” Lewis said. Quinn Snacks’ modestly-sized team of seven is rooted in what Colorado has to offer. “Every single person that works here loves the natural foods industry, our special community and our mountains. We live and breathe Colorado.”

Although the change-driven food company hasn’t yet reached profitability, Lewis is quick to assure that their mission will always come first, no matter what the future holds. “I will tell you this: when that time comes, we will never sacrifice our mission for more pennies.”

The post Lighting Up the Dark World of Packaged Food appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Michael Rush fights food waste and improves local health one bike ride at a time.

Michael Rush enjoys cycling for all the normal reasons: it’s a chance to enjoy the great outdoors, reap the benefits of physical exercise and bask in the Colorado sunshine. But if you happen to catch him during one of his volunteer shifts for Boulder Food Rescue, you’ll notice him pulling a trailer heaping with healthy food and produce — and that is far from ordinary.

At first glance, transporting hundreds of pounds of food on a bicycle trailer seems intense. But for socially-conscious CU graduate student Michael Rush, his decision to volunteer with Boulder Food Rescue just made sense. “It was a perfect union of my need for exercise and my passion for trying to combat food waste.”

And when it comes to the latter, he’s certainly made a difference.

Since Rush started volunteering at Boulder Food Rescue one year ago, he’s biked through heat, rain and snow to rescue over 16,000 pounds of food. The nonprofit group collects unwanted food from over 28 area grocery stores and restaurants and redistributes it to those in need.

This means that selfless volunteers like Rush are critical to improving health equity in a city that’s historically struggled with income inequality. Although riding in extreme conditions requires a deep level of perseverance, Rush admitted cheers of encouragement from local Boulder residents help keep him going. “I get quite a bit of support, especially if it’s super snowy out,” he said.

Most of Rush’s shifts have gone quite smoothly, albeit for one particular incident when his overzealous commitment to the cause ended in a serious spill. After piling a 6-foot stack of food onto his trailer, Rush rode around a corner too quickly and sent the entirety of his load tumbling across the road. “I was taking on shifts excessively, spending about 10-15 hours a week volunteering, and that was kind of a wake-up call that I had to take a step back.”

Rush’s strong passion for the group’s mission is undoubtedly furthered by the personal interactions with those he’s able to help. His weekly delivery routes connect him to the same donors and donees, offering a chance to form special bonds with community members he might not otherwise interact with. “It’s really fun to form relationships with these recipients,” said Rush.

One recipient Rush is especially passionate about visiting is Boulder’s Attention Homes, a group that works to alleviate youth homelessness. Here Rush can learn about other social justice efforts in the city of Boulder while at the same time increasing access to healthy food across the city. Rush added, “there’s also been in the news a new plan with housing units for homeless youth, and getting to know Attention Homes’ story and mission helps me voice my support for that.”

Boulder Food Rescue’s efforts may seem like just a tiny step towards reducing food waste in a country that wastes 133 billion pounds of food annually, but Rush believes this type of work can help raise awareness of an issue that’s becoming increasingly problematic. “This also serves to draw attention to how inefficient the food system is,” he said. “There’s something cool about getting out on a bike and just showing everyone how to save all this food that would otherwise be wasted.”

So the next time you see a Boulder Food Rescue volunteer in action, give them a few words of encouragement. If Boulder has learned anything from this food rescue movement, it’s that a little bit goes a long way.

The post Pedaling the Road to Food Equity    appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.