Summertime is almost here again and that means one thing: summer camp! Boulder and the surrounding areas offer a near limitless array of camps, programs, and activities for youth. There is something for everyone! Yellow Scene prides itself on providing the most up to date and thorough directory in Boulder County, but we suggest you contact camps and programs for individual schedules, availability, and safety precautions.

Don’t miss SuperKids Expo, April 26th in Lafayette, Co!

Animal Ecology

Butterfly Pavilion – Day camp
6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster | 303.469.5441 | butterflies.org

Denver Zoo Summer Safari – Day camp
2300 Steele St., Denver | 720.337.1400 | denverzoo.org

Dinosaur Ridge – Day camp
16831 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison | 303.697.3466 x101 |dinoridge.org

Downtown Aquarium Sea Safari – Day or Overnight camp
700 Water St., Denver | 303.561.4444 | aquariumrestaurants.com

Kids and Critters Longmont Humane Society – Day camp
9595 Nelson Rd., Longmont | 303.772.1232 | longmonthumane.org

Sunflower Farm – Day camp
11150 Prospect Rd., Longmont | 303.774.8001 |  sunflowerfarminfo.com

Wild Bear Mountain Ecology Center – Day camp
20 Lakeview Dr., Unit 107, Nederland | 303.258.0495 | wildbear.org

Arts & Performances

Afterbeat Drum School – Day camp
917 Front St., Louisville | 720.837.5410 | afterbeatdrumschool.com

Ah Haa School for the Arts Kids – Day camp
300 Townsend Ave., Telluride | 970.728.3886 | ahhaa.org

Airborne Gymnastics & Dance – Day camp
303.684.3716 | airbornecolorado.com

The Apollo Center – Day camp
2655 Industrial Lane, Broomfield | 720.479.8438 | www.theapollocenter.com

Arts HUB – Day camp
420 Courtney Way, Lafayette | 303.229.1127 | www.artshub.org (They have classes but not a camp)

Arvada Center Summer Art Camps – Day camp
6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada | 720.898.7200 | arvadacenter.org

Aspen Music Festival and School – Day camp
225 Music School Rd., Aspen | 970.205.5055 | aspenmusicfestival.com

Athena Project Arts at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design – Day camp
303.219.0882 | athenaprojectarts.org

BackStory Theatre Youth Classes & Camps – Day camp
720.263.0836 | info@backstorytheatre.org | backstorytheatre.org (They have a tab for camps but nothing is posted for the summer)

Boulder Opera Company – Day camp
303.731.2036 | boulderoperacompany.com | info@boulderoperacompany.com

Boulder Guitar Coach – Day camp
720.323.6424 | boulderguitarcoach.com | info@boulderguitarcoach.com

Boulder Performing Arts Co. – Day camp
4847 Pearl St. #B4, Boulder | 303.859.4195 | boulderperformingarts.com (They have classes not camps)

Boulder Suzuki Strings – Day camp
2705 Stanford Ave., Boulder | 720.295.5647 | bouldersuzukistrings.org (Classes not camps)

Camp Oonie Koonie Cha – Day camp
7520 S. Boulder Rd., Boulder | 303.413.1711 | campokc.com

Camp Telaphiba Summer Dance Retreat – Day and overnight camp
8820 W. 116th Circ., Broomfield | 720.580.2267 | camptelaphiba.com

CenterStage Theater Company – Day camp
901 Front St, Louisville | 303.529.2782 | centerstagetheatercompany.org (Classes not a camp)

Center for Musical Arts Camp – Day camp
200 E. Baseline Rd., Lafayette | 303.665.0699 | centerformusicalarts.org (Classes not a camp)

Centennial State Ballet – Day Camp
350 Terry St., Longmont 303.772.1335 | centennialstateballet.org (Classes not a camp)

Colorado Conservatory of Dance – Day camp
3001 Industrial LN. #12, Broomfield | 303.466.5685 | ccdance.org

Colorado Shakespeare Festival – Day camp
972 Broadway St., Boulder | 303.735.1181 | coloradoshakes.org

Dance Arts – Day camp
555 Burbank St., Unit N, Broomfield | 303.466.3212 | danceartsstudio.org (Classes not a camp)

Denver Center for the Performing Arts – Day camp
1101 13th St., Denver | 303.893.4100 | denvercenter.org/education (Classes not a camp)

Elite Dance Academy – Day Camp
8820 West 116th Cir., Ste. A, Broomfield | 303.466.8626 | elitedanceacademy.net

Encore Music & Children’s Music Academy – Day camp
698 Briggs St., Erie | 970.556.8315 | www.encoremusicerie.com

Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance Camps – Day camp
3022 E. Sterling Cir., Ste. 150, Boulder | 303.245.8272 | frequentflyers.org

Globalsound Music Academy Summer Camp – Day camp
555 Alter St. #19F, Broomfield | 303.439.7956 | globalsoundstudio.com

Kinesis Dance Camp – Day Camp
635 S. Broadway St. #D, Boulder | 720.515.6268 | kinesisdance.com

Kutandara Center Music Summer Camps – Day camp
5401 Western Ave., #B, Boulder | 303.443.2969 | kutandara.org (Classes not a camp)

Mojo’s Music Academy – Day Camp
350 Terry St., Longmont | 303.776.3373 | mojosmusicacademy.com

Parlando School of Musical Arts Summer Camp – Day camp
2305 Pierce St, Edgewater, CO 80214 | 303.442.0006 | parlando.org

Perry Mansfield Performing Arts School & Camp – Day Camp
40755 CR 36, Steamboat Springs | 970.879.7125 | perry-mansfield.org

Premier School of Dance – Day camp
12351 Grant St., Unit 360, Thornton | 303.457.2165 | danceatpremier.com (Classes not a camp)

Reel Kids Film & Theater Camps – Day camp
306 Sterling Circ., Unit 5, Boulder | 303.499.0125 | myreelkids.com

Rocky Mountain Fiddle – Overnight camp
453 E. Wonderview Ave., #194, Estes Park | 303.596.9870 | rmfiddle.com

Rocky Mountain Theatre For Kids – Day camp
5311 Western Ave., Ste. 135, Boulder | 303.245.8150 | theaterforkids.net

Rocky Ridge Music Center – Day camp
465 Longs Peak Rd., Estes Park | 970.586.4031 | rockyridge.org

School of Rock Camps – Day camp
3280 28th St. Unit 1, Boulder • 303.532.1201 |6500 West 120th Ave. Unit A & B, Broomfield | 303.325.3772 | schoolofrock.com

Storycamp Summer Sessions – Day camp
6500 W. Drycreek Pkwy., Niwot | 303.652.0130 | storycampdangercamp.com (They have a camp but no info for 2025)

Summer Music Academy at CU Boulder College of Music – Day or overnight camp
University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder | 303.492.6352 | colorado.edu/music/summer-college-music

Swallow Hill Music Camps – Day camp
71 E. Yale Ave., Denver | 303.777.1003 | swallowhillmusic.org

American Dance Training Camps Boulder – Overnight camp
866.383.2382 | americandancetrainingcamp.com

NEW: Crimson Chalice Theater Academy – day camp
Erie Community Center Erie, Co 80516 | www.crimsonchalice.com

Arts – Visual & Multimedia

The Arts HUB – Day camp
Multiple camps available | 420 Courtney Way, Lafayette | 303.229.1127 | artshub.org Classes not a camp

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art – Day camp
1750 13th St., Boulder | 303.443.2122 | bmoca.org

Brickscape Cafe – Day camp
332 Main St, Unit A4, Longmont | 720-491-1947 | brickscape.cafe | Havefun@brickscape.cafe (Has a camp but no info for 2025)

Crackpots Creativity Camp – Day camp
505 Main St., Longmont | 303.776.2211 | ecrackpots.com

Colorado Photographic Arts Center – Day camp
1200 Lincoln St, Suite 111, Denver | meghan@cpacphoto.org | cpacphoto.org

Common Threads: Creative Lab Summer Camps
2707 Spruce St., Boulder | 303-449-5431 | www.shopcommonthreads.com/collections/creative-lab

Firehouse Art Center – Day Camp
667 4th Ave., Longmont | 303-651-2787 | www.firehouseart.org | info@firehouseart.org

Living Arts School – Day camp
6500 W Drycreek Pkwy, Niwot | 720.383.4406 | livingartsschool.com | info@livingartsschool.com

Longmont Museum – Day camp
400 Quail Rd., Longmont | 303.651.8374 | longmontcolorado.gov/museum/education/camp

Mudslingers Pottery School – Day camp
414 E. Simpson St., Lafayette | mudslingerspottery.com (Classes not a camp)

Open Window Studio – Day camp
7873 St Vrain Rd., Boulder | 720.400.1319 | openwindowstudio.org

pARTiculars Art Gallery and Teaching Studio – Day camp
401 S. Public Rd. #1, Lafayette | 720.890.7888 | particularsart.com (Classes not a camp)

Groundworks Art Lab Camp – Day camp
1010 Aurora Ave., Boulder | 720.379.6033 | www.groundworksartlab.org/camps

Sunflower Art Studio – Day camp
6545 Gunpark Dr., Boulder | 720.939.7545 | artsunflower.com

Tinker Art Studio – Day camp
693B S. Broadway, Boulder | 303.503.1902 | tinkerartstudio.com

New: YMCA Specialty Camps – Day camp
Lafayette, Boulder, Longmont, Johnstown and Loveland Ys | 303-443-4474 | ymcanoco.org

Education & Personal Development

NEW: Camp Comfort – Day camp
3081 Bergen Peak Dr., Evergreen | 303-674-6400 | mtevans.org/camp-comfort/

Adventure Montessori Learning Center – Day camp
250 S. Cherrywood Dr., Lafayette | 303.665.6789 | adventuremontessori.com

Food Lab Summer Camps – Day camp
1825 Pearl St. #A, | 303.952.8364 | foodlabboulder.com | events@foodlabboulder.com (Classes not a camp)

Integral Steps – Day camp
Various locations | 720.577.5441 | integralsteps.org | info@integralsteps.org (Classes not a camp)

Kiddie Academy Learning Center Camp – Day camp
Various locations | kiddieacademy.com

Learning Pathways Reading Camps – Day camp
2033 11th St., Boulder | 303.499.1941 | learningpathwayscolorado.com | lpboulder@gmail.com

Longmont Museum – Day camp
400 Quail Rd., Longmont | 303.651.8374 | longmontmuseum.org

Museum of Boulder – Day camp
Various Camps | 303.449.3464 | museumofboulder.org | chelsea@museumofboulder.org

PALS Chess Academy – Day camp
Various locations | 720.504.8765 | palschess.com

Play-Well – Lego Inspired Camps – Day camp
Various locations | 720-591-4380 | play.well.org

Summer at Rick’s: University of Denver – Day camp
2040 South York St., Denver | 303.871.2982 | morgridge.du.edu/ricks/summer

Summer Fun on the Urban Farm – Day camp
10200 Smith Rd., Denver | 720-414-6141 | theurbanfarm.org

The Owl Education Group Summer Learning Institute – Day camp
818 West South Boulder Rd. #201, | 303.551.0118 | owledgroup.com | crissy@owledgroup.com

Treehouse Learning – Day camp
175 N. 96th St, Louisville, CO | 303-666-1950 | admissions@treehouselearning.com | www.treehouselearning.com

Global Works Travel – Overnight camp
2575 N. Franklin Ave., Louisville | 303.545.2202 | globalworkstravel.com

NEW: Sunset Academy – Day camp
711 S Sunset St, Longmont | 303.651.660 | www.sunsetacademy.com/summer-camp-2

NEW: The Behavior Exchange – Day camp
500 Discovery Pkwy., #100, Superior | 972.312.8733 | behaviorexchange.com

New: YMCA Specialty Camps – Day camp
Lafayette, Boulder, Longmont, Johnstown and Loveland Ys | 303-443-4474 | ymcanoco.org

Equestrian

Academy Stables – Day camp
4277 N. 109th St., Lafayette | 303.665.4637 | academystables.com

All Abilities Riding Center – Day camp
11968 Mineral Rd., Longmont | 303.652.9131 | ctrcinc.org

Bear Creek Stables – Day camp
15600 W. Morrison Rd., Morrison | 303.697.9666 | bearcreekstablescolorado.com | office@bearcreekstablescolorado.com

Mounting Miracles Horse Camp – Day camp
11051 Jasper Rd., Lafayette | 720.971.0569 | facebook.com/equestrian-center-home-to-mourning

Running Wolf Riding Center – Day Camp
15589 Navajo St., Broomfield | 720.933.8301 | runningwolfridingcenter.com

Triple Creek Ranch Horse Camps – Day camp
Multiple program options | 4255 Nelson Rd., Longmont | 303.746.7379 | triplecreek-ranch.com

Health & Wellness

Babysitters Of Boulder – Day camp
(303) 749-1168 | babysittersofboulder.com | hello@babysittersofboulder.com

Eldorado Mountain Yoga Camp – Day camp
2875 County Rd. 67, Boulder | 303.249.1671 | eldoradoyoga.org

Little Princess Spa – Day camp
406 Center Drive Ste.G, Superior | 720-355-9547 | lps.superior@gmail.com | superior.littleprincessspa.com

The Little Gym of Westminster – Day camp
10141 Wadsworth Pkwy. #300, Westminster | 303.427.6688 | thelittlegym.com

Drala Mountain Center Family Camp – Overnight camp
151 Shambhala Way, Red Feather Lakes | 1.888.788.7221 | www.dralamountain.org

Uncorked Kids/Teens Summer Programs – Day camp
8171 South Chester St., Ste. A, Centennial | 720.907.3838 | uncorkedkitchen.com

Outdoors

ABLE To Sail Youth Empowerment Camp – Day camp
Union Res, Longmont | 720-233-8969 | www.abletosail.org | diane@abletosail.org

Adventure Unlimited Ranches – Overnight camp
P.O. Box 2036, Buena Vista | 888.416.7348 | adventureunlimited.org | linda@adventureunlimited.org

Adventure Experiences – Day and Overnight camp
#2 Illinois Creek, Almont | 970.641.4708 | aeibasecamp.com

Avid4Adventure – Day or overnight camp
P.O. Box 287 | 720.249.2412 | avid4.com

Bold Earth Adventures – Overnight camp
303.526.0806 | boldearth.com

Boulder Parks and Recreation – Day camp
1777 Broadway St., Boulder | 303.413.7441 | bprcamps.org

Boulder Rock Club and Colorado Mountain School – Day camp
2829 Mapleton Ave., Boulder | 303.447.2804 | boulderrockclub.com

Boy Scouts of America Camps Anderson Camps – Day and overnight camp
10455 W 6th Ave. #100., Denver | scoutingcolorado.org

Camp Invention – Day camp
Various programs and locations | 800.968.4332 | invent.org

Camp Kind – Day camp
4505 W 112th Ave., Westminster | 720.608.6099 | campkind.org

Camp Sunrise – Day camp
100 Sunrise Ranch Rd., Loveland | 970.679.4200 | sunriseranch.org

Cal-Wood – Overnight camp
2282 County Rd. 87, Jamestown | 303.449.0603 | calwood.org

Camp Granite Lake – Overnight camp
11902 Camp Eden Rd., Golden | 720.249.2997 | campgranitelake.com

Camp Santa Maria – Overnight camp
51321 US Hwy. 285, Grant | 303.838.7900 | ymcanoco.org/camp-santa-maria | shelby.sever@ymcanoco.org

Cheley Colorado Camps – Overnight camp
3960 Fish Creek Rd., Estes Park | 970.586.4244 | cheley.com

Colvig Silver Camps – Overnight camp
9665 CR 240., Durango | 970.247.2564 | colvigsilvercamps.com

Children’s Peace Garden – Day camp
1630 Hawthorn Ave., Boulder | 303.443.9952 | growinggardens.org

City of Lafayette – Day camp
303.665.0469 | cityoflafayette.com/camps

City of Longmont Summer Recreation – Day camp
700 Longs Peak Ave., Longmont | 303.651.8404 | longmontcolorado.gov | terri.calvin@longmontcolorado.gov

Colorado Mountain Ranch – Day Camp
10063 Gold Hill Rd., Boulder | 303.442.4557 |  coloradomountainranch.com

CycleErie Devo
Erie Community Center | www.cyclerie-devo.com/kidscamps

Deer Hill Summer Expeditions – Overnight camp
7850 Rd. 41, Mancos | 970.533.7492 | deerhillexpeditions.com

Erie Community Center – Day camp
Multiple programs | Erie Community Center, 450 Powers St., Erie | 303.926.2550 | erieco.gov

Gates Camp for Boys & Girls Clubs – Day camp
2017 West 9th Ave., Denver | 303.892.9200 | bgcmd.org

Keystone Discovery Camp – Day and overnight camp
1053 Soda Ridge Rd., Keystone | 970.468.2098 | keystonescienceschool.org

Louisville Rec Center – Day Camp
749 Main St., Louisville | 303.666.7400 | louisvilleco.gov

Northglenn Rec – Day Camp
1 E. Memorial Pkwy., Northglenn | 303.451.8326 | northglenn.org

Mountain Kids – Day Camp
419 E. Stuart St., Fort Collins | 970.235.1336 | 474 S. Taylor Ave., Louisville | 303.665.8287 | www.mountain-kids.com

Rocky Mountain Anglers Fly Fishing Camp – Day camp
1904 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder | 303.447.2400 | rockymtanglers.com | info@rockymtanglers.com

Singletrack Mountain Bike Adventures – Day camp
194 Taft Dr., Boulder | 303.447.8014 | ridesmba.org

Sanborn Western Camps – Overnight camp
2000 Old Stage Rd., Florissant | 719.748.3341 | sanbornwesterncamps.com

Steve and Kate’s Camp – Day camp
720-399-5622 | boulder@steveandkate.com | steveandkatescamp.com

TEENS Inc. – Day camp
151 East St., Nederland | 303.258.3821 | teensinc.org

Thorne Nature Experience Summer Camp – Day camp
1466 63rd St., Boulder | 303.499.3647 |  thornenature.org

Tri Velo Series – Day and overnight camp
303-931-6455 | triveloseries.com

Vail Recreation District – Day camp
Multiple programs available | 700 S. Frontage Rd., Ste. E, Vail | 970.479.2279 | vailrec.com

Westminster Camps – Day camp
4800 W. 92nd Ave., Westminster | 10470 Oak St., Westminster | 303.658.2219 | www.westminsterco.gov

Women’s Wilderness Day and overnight camp
Multiple Programs | 2845 Wilderness Pl., Ste. 211, Boulder | 303.938.9191 | womenswilderness.org

NEW: YMCA Camp Tumbleson Lake – day and overnight camp
Near Ward, CO | 303-443-4474 | ymcanoco.org

NEW: Camp Chief Ouray – Overnight camp
Po Box 648, Granby | 970-887-2648 | campchiefouray.org

Pre-School

NEW: Trailblazers & Camp Erie – Day camp
450 Powers St., Erie | 303-926-2797 | www.erieco.gov/833/Camp-Erie

Alaya Preschool
3340 19th St., Boulder | 303.449.5248 | alayapreschool.org

Bal Swan Children’s Center
1145 E. 13th Ave., Broomfield | 303.466.6308 | balswan.org

Blossom French Bilingual Preschool
303.819.4084 | blossominternationalpreschool.com

Boulder Montessori School
3300 Redstone Rd., Boulder | 303.494.5814 | bouldermontessori.org

Boulder Valley Waldorf School
6500 W. Drycreek Pkwy., Niwot | 303.652.0130 | bvwaldorf.org

Bright Horizons School
Multiple Locations | brighthorizons.com

Dream Makers Summer Camp
1345 28th St., Bldg. C, Boulder | 720.274.0101 | dreammakerspreschool.com

Exploring Minds Academy
4051 NE County Line Rd., Erie | 303.828.3452 | exploringmindsacademy.com

Friends School Summer Programs
Multiple Locations | 303.449.1999 ext. 229 | friendssummercamp.org

Goddard School
Multiple camps available | goddardschool.com

Hope Montessori Academy – Day Camp
12121 Pennsylvania St., Thornton • 303.255.8151 | 4401 W. Main St., Westminster • 303.404.9770 | montessorichild.com

Off Broadway Preschool Summer Camp – Day camp
1235 Pine St., Boulder 303.800.0324 | offbroadwaypreschool.org | emily@offbroadwaypreschool.org

Patchwork School Parent Co-Op – Day camp
1428 Main St., Louisville | 720.271.6729 | thepatchworkschool.com

Primrose School – Day camp
Multiple locations | primroseschools.com

Right Start Preschool Character Clubs – Day camp
2325 Eagleview Ct., Erie | 303.931.4221 | rightstarterie.com (Has a camp but it is not updated for the new new year)

Sunflower Preschool Summer Camp – Day camp
3340 Dartmouth Ave., Boulder | 303.494.2012 | sunflowerpreschoolboulder@gmail.com | sunflowerpreschoolboulder.com (Has a camp but not yet updated)

Wee Folk Forest Kindergarten – – Day camp
720.383.4406 | weefolkforestkindergarten.com/summer-camp | info@livingartsschool.com

Ziji Early Elementary – Day Camp
6390 Jay Rd., Boulder | 303.530.0844 | zijiearlyelementary.org

Religious

AR Workshop
1361 Forest Park Circ., #107 Boulder | 877.486.3266 | boulder@arworkshop.com | arworkshop.com

Belleview Christian School
3455 W. 83rd Ave., Westminster | 303.427.5459 | belleviewchristian.com (School no camp)

Cherryville Day Camp Boulder JCC
6007 Oreg Ave., Boulder | 303.998.1900 | boulderjcc.org

Camp Gan Izzy of the Rockies
4505 W. 112th Ave., Westminster | 303.429.5177 | jewishkidscamp.com

Camp Har HaShem
3950 Baseline Rd., Boulder | 303.499.7077 | harhashem.org

Camp Timberline
430 Canyon Ave., Fort Collins | 970.484.8462 | camptimberline.com

Camp Wojtyla
P.O. Box 116, Erie | 303.586.1799 | camp-w.com

A Child’s Touch
9141 Poze Blvd., Thornton | 303.286.8460 | achildstouch.com

Eagle Lake
PO Box 6819, Colorado Springs | 719.272.7453 | eaglelakecamps.com

Highlands Presbyterian Camp & Retreat Center
1306 Business Hwy. 7, Allenspark | 800.678.5102 | highlandscamp.org

IdRaHaJe Camp
571 County Rd. 43, Bailey | 303.838.5668 | idrahaje.org/summer-camps/

Rocky Mountain Conference
Glacier View Youth Summer Camp, Glacier View Ranch, 8748 Overland Rd., Ward | 303.282.3664 | rmcyouth.org

Shwayder Camp of Temple Emanuel
51 Grape St., Denver | 303.388.4023 | shwayder.com

Upon the Rock
P.O. Box 1007, La Veta | 719.742.6777 |  upontherock.com

NEW: Ramah in the Rockies – Overnight camp
303.261.8214 | www.ramahoutdoors.org

School & District Camps

Bixby School – Day camp
4760 Table Mesa Dr., Boulder | 303.494.7508 |  bixbyschool.org/programs/summer

Boulder Parks & Rec – Day camp
1777 Broadway St., Boulder | 303.413.7125 | bprcamps.org

Boulder Valley School District – Day camp
Summer Programs | 6500 Arapahoe Rd., Boulder | 303.447.1010 | bvsd.org/summerlearning

Camp Explorer
555 Aspen Creek Dr., Broomfield | 303.460.6941 | broomfield.org

Dawson School Arts, Sports and Education Camps – Day camp
10455 Dawson Dr., Lafayette | 303.665.6679 | dawsonschool.org (School)

Friends’ School – Day camp
Multiple Locations | 303.499.1999 ext. 229 | friendssummercamp.org

Montessori Academy – Day camp
303.926.8321 | montessoriacademylafayette.com | montessori.academy@mac.com

Rocky Mountain – Day Camp
Multiple Locations | 303.495.5204 | rockymtndaycamp.com

Science, Technology & Gaming

Boulder Digital Arts Web Development- Day camp
1600 Range St., Ste.100, Boulder | boulderdigitalarts.com Classes not a camp

Coding with Kids Lafayette Arts Hub- Day camp
420 Courtney Way, Lafayette | info.denver@codingwithkids.com | codingwithkids.com

Code Ninjas Louisville – Day camp
1387 E. South Boulder Rd Units E&F, Louisville | (720) 379-7638 | codeninjas.com

CU Science Discovery – Day camp
1560 30th Street., Boulder | 303.492.7188 | sciencediscovery.colorado.edu

Denver Museum of Nature and Science
2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver | 303.370.6000 | dmns.org

Space Voyage – Day camp
Coronado Elementary School, 7922 S Carr St, Littleton | 303.985.3143 | spacevoyage.com/spacecamp

Thorne Natural Science School – Day camp
1466 N. 63rd St., Boulder | 303.499.3647 | thornenature.org

Walking Mountains Science Center – Day or overnight camp
318 Walking Mountains Ln., Avon | 970.754.4675 | walkingmountains.org/camps

Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Camp – Day camp
7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver | 303.360.5360 | wingsmuseum.org/education/camp/

WOW! Children’s Museum Science Classes – Day camp
110 N. Harrison Ave., Lafayette | 303.604.2424 | wowchildrensmuseum.org/museum-programs

Walking Mountains Science Center – Day or overnight camp
318 Walking Mountains Ln., Avon | 970.754.4675 |www.walkingmountains.org/things-to-do

Special Needs

Adam’s Camp – Day or overnight camp
56 Inverness Dr. E. Ste. 250, Englewood | 303.563.8290 | adamscamp.org

Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center – Day or overnight camp
P.O. Box 697, Breckenridge | 970.453.6422 |  boec.org

Camp Paha – Day camp
200 Kipling St., Lakewood | 303.987.4866 | lakewood.org/paha

Colorado Lions Camp – Overnight camp
28541 CO-67 N., Woodland Park | 719.687.2087 | coloradolionscamp.org

Easter Seals Colorado Yay! – Day or overnight camp
8780 Venneford Ranch Rd., Highlands Ranch | 720.339.7202 | easterseals.com

Roundup River Ranch – Overnight camp
8333 Colorado River Rd., Gypsum | 970.524.2267 | roundupriverranch.org

Temple Grandin – Day camp
6446 Jay Rd., Boulder | 303.554.7363 | templegrandinschool.org

NEW: Wheelchair Tennis Camp at Rocky Mountain Tennis Center – Day camp
1345 28th St., Boulder | 303.443.3172 | rmtenniscenter.com

Sports

NEW: Got Game Sports – Day Camp
Multiple Locations | (310) 975-8524 | gotgamecamp.com/louisville-erie-co-summer-camps/

NEW: Streetside Dance – Day Camp
6681 Arapahoe Road. Boulder, | (303) 449-6789 | www.streetsidedance.com/summer-camp

ABC Kids Climbing – Day camp
1960 32nd St., Boulder | 303.443.5437 | abckidsclimbing.com

Air Force Academy Sports Camps – Day camp
2169 Field House Dr., Colorado Springs | 719.333.2116 | goairforcefalcons.com/camps

Airborne Gymnastics & Dance Camp – Day camp
1816 Boston Ave., Longmont | 303.684.3717 | airbornegym.com Classes not a camp

Altitude Youth Ultimate Frisbee Camps – Day camp
1360 Gillaspie Dr., Boulder | 303.907.0703 | altitudeyouthultimate.org

Avid4Adventure – Day or overnight camp
700 S Franklin St., Denver | 720.249.2412 | avid4.com

Beaver Creek Kids Ski School – Day camp Resort no camp
970.754.5464 | beavercreek.com

Boulder Indoor Soccer Camp – Day camp
3203 Pearl St., Boulder | 303.440.0809 | boulderindoorsoccer.com No 2025 Data

Boulder Parks & Rec Sports Camps – Day camp
303.441.3388 | bouldercolorado.gov

Boulder Rock Club Climbing Camps – Day camp
2829 Mapleton Ave., Boulder | 303.447.2804 | boulderrockclub.com

Woodward Copper – Day camp
209 Ten Mile Circ., Frisco | 866.677.1689 | campwoodward.com

Camp Timberline Sports and Mountain Adventure Camps – Day or overnight camp
1207 Longs Peak Rd., Estes Park | 970.484.8462. | camptimberline.com

CATS Gymnastics – Day camp
2400 30th St., Boulder | 303.939.9699 | catsgym.com No 2025 dates

Champions Summer Programs – Day camp
Multiple Locations • 720.375.4875 | 9050 Field St., Westminster • 800.350.5034 | discoverchampions.com

Community Sailing Camps – Day camp
5565 N 51st St., Boulder | 303.757.7718 | communitysailing.org

Easton Training Center Martial Arts – Day camp
Multiple locations and programs | 2005 32nd St., Boulder • 303.938.1275 | 1305 S Santa Fe Dr., Denver • 303.623.1715 | eastonbjj.com

The Spot – Day camp
Various locations | 303.317.3770 | thespotgym.com

EYG Basketball Skills Training – Day camp
720.580.9552 | eygbball.com | galen@eygbball.com

Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls – Day camp
PO Box 633, Lafayette CO | 720.893.2386 | gameonsports4girlsboulder.com

Gonzo Tennis Academy – Day camp
5660 Sioux Dr., Boulder | 720.480.0249 | gonzotennis.com Lessons not a camp

i9 Sports- Day camp
Multiple locations | i9sports.com Teams not a camp

Junior Tennis Program at Rocky Mountain Tennis Center – Day camp
1345 28th St., Boulder | 303.443.3172 | rmtenniscenter.com Basic Tennis coaching

Longmont Active Camps – Day camp
700 Longs Peak Ave., Longmont | 303.774.3770 | longmontcolorado.gov

NEW: Warrior Playground – Day Camp
33 S Pratt Pkwy, Longmont | 303.485.1000 | www.warriorplayground.com

Mountain Kids – Day Camp
474 S Taylor Ave #1, Louisville | 303.963.9475 | mountainkidslouisville.com

Nike Summer Sports Camps – Day camp
800.NIKE.CAMP | ussportscamps.com

Northern Colorado Fencers – Day camp
1949 33rd St., Boulder | 303.443.6557 | ncfencers.org

Pedalheads Bike Camps – Day camp
1.888.886.6464 | pedalheads.com

Pedaling Minds – Day camp
1528 Washington Ave. Louisville | 720.828.5936 |  www.pedalingminds.org

Regis Basketball Camp – Day camp
303.964.6311 | www.therepbasketball.com

NEW: The Kung Fu Academy – Overnight camp
210 East Midland Ave,. Woodland Park | 720.775.2839 | www.thekungfuacademy.org Has a camp but no dates or times for the new year

Singletrack Mountain Bike Adventures – Day or overnight camp
303.447.8014 | smba.lertprograms.com | heather@lertprograms.com

Skyhawks Sports Camps – Day camp
Multiple sports programs in different locations | 303-222-8039 | skyhawks.com/colorado

Shredder (Flyfishing/Ski/Snowboard) Camp – Day camp
3640 Walnut St #C, Boulder | 303.396.1754 | shredderski.com

Square State Skate Skateboard Camp – Day camp
Multiple Locations | 720.441.4047 | squarestateskate.com

Summer Day Camp @ The Sports Stable – Day camp
303.467.2288 | myimpactsports.com | danielle@myimpactsports.com

University of Colorado Camps Day or overnight camp
303.492.0632 | outreach.colorado.edu | cubuffs.com/sports/2010/3/7/volleyball-summer-camps

Xtreme Altitude Gymnastics – Day camp
1405 S. Public Rd., Lafayette | 720.887.6752 | xtremealtitude.com

NEW: YMCA Sportopia Camp
Loveland, Longmont, Johnstown and Lafayette Ys | 303-443-4474 | ymcanoco.org

Traditional

Lafayette Recreation Center Summer Camps – Day camp
111 W. Baseline Rd., Lafayette | 303.665.0469 | cityoflafayette.com

Blue Mountain Ranch Youth Camp – Overnight camp
11227 Co Rd 98, Florissant | 719.748.3279 | bluemountainranch.com

Boulder Country Day School – Day camp
4820 Nautilus Ct N, Boulder | (303) 527-4931 | demerson@bouldercountryday.org | www.bouldercountryday.org/programs/summer-camp

La Petite School – Day camp
380 S. McCaslin Blvd., Louisville | 303.673.933 | lapetite.com

NEW: Kidz Kamp Sports Camp – Day camp
303.441.3388 | bouldercolorado.gov

NEW: YMCA Ultimate Adventure Camp – Day camp
Lafayette, Boulder, Johnstown and Longmont Ys | 303-443-4474 | ymcanoco.org
Specifically for middler schoolers

Unique Adventure

Adventure Education Company’s Sword Camp – Day camp
900 Baseline Rd | 720.934.6890 | swordcamp.com

Challenge Island Denver – Day camp
303.997.6809 | challenge-island.com/denver

Renaissance Adventures – Day camp
5717 Arapahoe Ave. #100, Boulder | 303.786.9216 | renaissanceadventures.com

Skate Start Skate Camp – Day camp
Multiple Locations| 541.350.9296 | skatestart.com

Writing

Lighthouse Writers Workshop – Day camp
3844 York St., Denver | 303.297.1185 | lighthousewriters.org

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The post SuperKids Camp Guide 2025 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

According to NPR, “1 in four students missed 10% of the academic school year” due to struggles with mental health. Statistics have continuously proven that a student’s mental health and well-being drastically impact their school performance. As today’s younger generation has experienced some of the most chaotic of events in the past four years, from circumstances of COVID-19 to the endless harrowing fear of school shootings that still haunt our school hallways today, children’s mental health is at risk every day.

The city of Boulder and the North Metro area in general, is no stranger to mass shootings, as the senseless tragedy of the King Soopers shooting that occurred on March 22, 2021, claiming the lives of 10 people, still stands as a firm reminder of the need for stringent gun reform laws. The worry inevitably extends to schools and universities across the county, which are at risk daily. Parents and guardians sending their children to school carry endless concerns and fears for their children’s well-being and safety. Many parents wonder what the Boulder Valley and St. Vrain Valley School Districts are doing to ensure that their students’ physical and emotional safety is their top concern. The bigger question is, how do these students feel when they attend their classes? The everyday reality of anticipating the worst outcome and being reminded of it through the use of gun safety drills can be emotionally draining to a lot of students.

Unfortunately, in today’s world, students must understand how to respond to an emergency, such as a school shooting. Using these precautions can ensure the protection and safety of many lives. These gun safety drills help students practice for real-life emergencies if a senseless tragedy occurs.

When it comes to school safety drills, the St. Vrain Valley School District follows a method called “SRP” which stands for Standard Response Protocol. This method involves four pivotal actions during an emergency. The first action is “lockout” when the danger is outside of the school, or “lockdown” which is used for when the threat is inside the school. “Evacuate,” which is to move the students from the school to another safer location and then “shelter” is moving the students to a safer main level room in the building. This is all being communicated between staff and law enforcement during the event.

Back in 2022, the Longmont Leader stated that the St. Vrain Valley School District voted unanimously to let law enforcement store guns and rifles in Lyons and Niwot High schools. This vote took place in October of 2022, without any input from the students or their families in the district. This raised concern in the city of Longmont, particularly from one student by the name of Carly Davis. Davis, a senior at Skyline High school at the time, stood in front of the court demanding that this new vote be terminated as it did not involve student input, “(We’re) tired of gun violence, tired of school shootings and tired of not being included in decisions that will affect us. I wanted to communicate that student input on this issue is vital, as well as teacher input,” Davis says. At the start of 2023, the city of Longmont released a statement stating that Boulder County and three other municipalities were being met with lawsuits pertaining to public safety and gun reform laws.

The Boulder Valley School District, on the other hand, has been working on partnering with law enforcement by offering their buildings for multi-jurisdictional exercises. This is intended to help law enforcement familiarize themselves with the different school districts as well as the design of their buildings and help them understand how to react to immediate situations across the campuses. These officers ensure that they practice the best safety methods for responding to an active shooter.

An article published in September by a student intern at the Communications department at the Boulder Valley School District detailed the active shooting scenario training at these buildings during the summer before the start of the fall sessions. She discusses the dedication that the BVSD has committed to ensuring that school shooting drills are taken seriously, training seasoned officers who would be prepared for an emergency like this, “As part of their training, emergency responders run into a school they knew had a threat inside and risk their own lives.” The student illuminates detail after detail of how the police reacted to a scenario, “There was an order for who would show up to the school first; in this scenario, it was a park ranger and two police officers. Following them were more police officers and firefighters and swat.”

There is an organized student and staff training that is also being administered through many classrooms which follows two protocols: secure and all clear. Students translate “secure” as a reaction to danger outside, which requires students and staff to stay inside classrooms and lock doors at all times. Students and staff remain in their classrooms until the “all clear” is announced by law enforcement, which would signify that the danger has been neutralized.

According to a Pew Research survey, 57% of students have expressed worry and fear about attending school due to the possibility of a school shooting. There has been lots of conversation and debate about how school safety drills should be administered and how traumatic they are to many students who don’t want to think about the possibility of enduring such a horrifying experience. While the urgent need for school shooting drills is dark, ensuring that law enforcement is on hand and thoroughly trained to respond to these scenarios is very calming for a lot of students who may struggle with those internal fears.

Anxiety and depression are constantly increasing throughout high school. The Mission of Harbor and Behavioral Health says that “By 18, up to 15%” of teens experience anxiety. Many of these cases are linked to environmental stressors, which can include an uncomfortable and intense environment for a student who may not feel comfortable when attending school. So what options can students take to navigate these fears and traumas that are inevitable at this point?

One prominent resource option for many students struggling with mental health in school facilities is the use of wellness centers. Monarch High School had the first wellness center established in the Boulder Valley School District in 2022.  There have now been an array of school districts like Monarch High School dedicated to providing spaces to ensure the health and wellness of students. These districts include, but are not limited to, Monarch High, Boulder High, Fairview High, Centaurus High, Nederland Middle-Senior, and New Vista High. The space is intended to be a calm and safe area for students to ease their stress, talk about their anxiety, relax, confide in a mental health professional or counselor, and a way for them to get involved with sensory activities. The use of sensory activities helps a student fall back into their awareness, easing their fears and worries. Many students report that these wellness centers have really helped them during many difficult periods throughout high school.

When going on the BVSD website, students rave about the results they’ve seen with the presence of the wellness centers in their schools. One mental health advocate says, “It feels special to me. They are torn between telling everyone how awesome it feels to relax in the room and wanting to keep it a secret.” It’s the perfect place for students to just have a moment for themselves.

Another important factor is for students to have access to mental health professionals who can provide them with a space for them to express their conflicting feelings and find solutions. These mental health professionals are intended to help students by providing them with social, behavioral, and mental growth, providing a safe space for them to navigate their experiences throughout their high school career. A great extended benefit is these mental health professionals are also intended to provide external resources for families to help them navigate and understand their child’s mental health.

The St. Vrain Valley School website states that mental and emotional health is heavily intertwined with your child’s learning development. Their vision states that the district intends to, “…cultivate a school experience that will inspire every student to effectively face the challenges of heart and mind so that they may become joyful, lifelong learners in a diverse world.” Through this vision, the SEL programs list key standards for emotional and learning capabilities for students from kindergarten through -high school. This program was created in order to help develop transparency and awareness for parents when it comes to your child’s growth and journey through social and emotional development.

Alpine Elementary School is an example of a school that has incorporated family and child counseling, as well as a student support team to ensure students are meeting school standards and are being open about their emotional and mental health. The school also provides a list of prominent mental health resources for parents and families pertaining to difficult matters. The intention is to provide parental guidance and navigation to further understand their children’s needs.

While mental health professionals focus on behavioral health, school counselors can also be of benefit, as they can help students with their individual growth as well as their learning capabilities in school. If a child is struggling with a class or with maintaining good grades in general, there are resources provided that can help them get back on track, and mental health is the place to start. These professionals also encourage them to join student groups as a way to immerse themselves more in school activities and find a community for themselves. 

Clinica Family Health & Wellness is a great mental health resource at BVSD, intended to provide crisis intervention as well as cooperation with families and parents by providing them with resources for their child’s needs. Health partners are a great resource for really difficult situations where short-term counseling can be provided to help the child get back on track.

LaunchEd Virtual Academy at SVVD provides a series of prominent online services especially during times of emergency. The district ensures that crisis services and hotlines are accessible to anyone in the virtual academy. The site provides a list of hospitals such as Centennial Peaks Hospital, career and youth centers, housing, food banks, programs for children struggling with addiction, anxiety, depression, and other essential resources that also extend to psychiatric help.

BCH (Boulder Community Health) is a service provided by the Boulder Valley School District with a focus more on inpatient behavioral health as well as psychiatric evaluations and treatment. The service also offers a treatment facility by the name of Della Cava Family Medical Pavilion for students in need.

Drug use is also prevalent among many teenagers with depression and anxiety. NAMI Boulder County and is the perfect resource for students and teenagers who are battling with drug use. They provide drug-use programs, support groups, as well as resources for families and teens battling struggling with drug use.

Following the pandemic, students took a while to adjust to coming back to in-person classes. Getting used to staying home and doing remote work quickly became the norm, and students had to figure out a way to adjust to it just as quickly. COVID caused constant disruptions for many students’ learning, so in order to bring back students’ focus, many districts have turned to specific learning models, such as personalized learning models. This is a type of learning mechanism that focuses solely on individual needs. It is a dynamic technique that is able to focus on multiple individualistic learning techniques and styles that benefit students who may have had learning disruptions or may have an inability to stay focused. This has led to a lack of motivation to want to attend class to begin with.

The Boulder Valley School District and St Vrain Valley School Districts noticed the lack of attendance from many students post-COVID, as many were still accustomed to the “remote life-style” that COVID pushed us into.

Both districts took absenteeism very seriously and wanted to really dive into the root of the cause of why students were increasingly becoming absent from classes. A great worry amongst parents and families is the lack of attendance from their students, who may fear attending school due to environmental stressors, lack of motivation, early stages of anxiety or depression, or bullying.

Following increases in anxiety and depression, more students are lacking the motivation to attend school. Developing a strong relationship with an attendance advocate can help students have that resource when they feel they need a day to stay home and recharge or a moment to work on their mental health if they aren’t feeling like attending school that day. At the same time, it emphasizes the importance of attending classes for an end result of success, as graduation is the ultimate goal for all of these students.

The St Vrain Valley and Boulder Valley School District have taken initiative with the use of attendance advocates who not only ensure that students are attending classes but also check in on their mental health and ensure that they have the right resources that are accessible to them. St Vrain Valley has two main attendance advocates, Lili Arroyo and Francisco Hernandez.

These resources are provided to elementary school students and middle school students as well. Mental health professionals and counselors are individually provided to help with each child’s needs. If you’re a parent in this district, the Boulder Valley and St Vrain School District’s website discusses many topics and themes that you or your child may experience. It helps provide the appropriate resources to help families navigate through difficult times. If you or your child is struggling with any of the listed things, ensure that you are reaching out to a mental health professional to better sustain your child’s needs.

Both the St. Vrain and Boulder Valley School Districts have proven how abundant its mental health options are throughout every district. As parents, the most important thing is to ensure that you are having these conversations with your children at home. Check in on them and see how they feel. Ensure that you are tuning into current events at their schools. Attend their events and ensure that you develop relationships with their educators and mental health professionals who can provide greater insight into their wants and needs, especially at home. It is essential to use these mental health options when necessary to ensure that the stability of your child’s mental health is maintained as much as it can be throughout their high school career.

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The post Mental Health Options in Education appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Halle Thomas, an early childhood educator, embraces a student. Photo courtesy of Zoe Jennings

Working nights as a bartender, days as a master’s-educated teacher

A typical week for Halle Thomas looks like teaching her toddler class from 7 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and heading straight to her bartending or serving job, which runs until 10 p.m. Weekends are her days off from both jobs, but Thomas usually picks up extra babysitting gigs or extra bartending or serving shifts. Stretches without a day off usually go for several weeks in a row.

“I don’t really have time for friends,” said the early child educator. “I don’t really have time for family. I don’t have time to take a vacation to Minnesota to see my family. It’s tough to live as a teacher here. I’m surrounded by so many teachers, my master cohort, and friends who live here, and they’re doing the same thing as me. They’re picking up babysitting jobs, odd jobs, whatever they can do just to make sure that they’re able to pay rent on time, which is crazy.”

Colorado educators make 35.9 percent less compared to other educated professionals, according to the Economic Policy Institute. As of 2022, the average Colorado educator is paid about $60,000 a year. “Low pay” was the second cited reason for leaving the profession, after “high workload.”

Thomas works at a preschool serving children of teen mothers in Boulder County. Thomas pays about $1,200 for living expenses, not including her car payment and health insurance payment, as most early childhood providers do not pay for employee health insurance benefits.

Colorado educators make 35.9% less compared to other educated professionals, according to the Economic Policy Institute. As of 2022, the average Colorado educator is paid about $60,000 a year. “Low pay” was the second reason for leaving the profession after “high workload.”

While earning her master’s degree in early childhood education, Thomas worked for a private school, which connected highly with the educational philosophy she studied during her time in graduate school. Although the school fit well with her teaching philosophy, Thomas wasn’t able to pay the bills with the $40,000 a year salary they offered. Thomas found work at another school but is still having difficulty making ends meet.

“I’m struggling to pay the bills right now,” Thomas said. “It’s hard to do that when it’s something that very much opposes my educational philosophy. It seems like I’m selling my soul to work at this place, so I can earn some money.”

Now Thomas is searching for other options, which include leaving the teaching profession to do something adjacent like administrative work. The reason for possibly making the switch is purely financial.

“[Teaching] is my passion,” Thomas said. “It is what I was meant to do, which is why it’s been really tough for me trying to figure out what my options are here. I’ve dedicated the past six or seven years of my life to this now. It’s really what I was born to do. I am a teacher of little humans through and through. I would really like to stay. It’s my last resort to leave the teaching profession. Keeping up with all the different things I need to do to sustain my own mental health and sustain a living here is hard to figure out.”

Thomas sees small change in her community but still notices many people don’t understand that she is an early childhood educator, rather than “just a babysitter.”

“I surround myself with people who hold the same beliefs as me,” Thomas said. “Within my own personal teaching community, yes I do believe it’s getting better. The places I’ve worked at I’ve seen it get better and actually listen to

what we say and give better pay — not great pay — but better than we were getting. I see small community change, but until there’s legislature written about early childhood and pay, I don’t think it’s going to get much better.”

Teachers salary barely covers the bills

Katy Mathes and son Jaxson in Mathes’ classroom on Valentine’s Day. Jaxson attends the school where Mathes teaches. Both are wearing Widespread Love shirts. Photo courtesy of Katy Mathes.

Katy Mathes started teaching elementary art at Peak to Peak Charter School in Lafayette in 2008. She provided consulting services and sold Osborne books on the side. Around 2016 Mathes began her own business, Widespread Love, designing and printing t-shirts and home decor items. Doing the work out of her home with a heat press and laser for engraving, the extra money was useful to pay for childcare for her then 18-month-old son, Mathes said.

Mathes grew her design skills on the computer after undergoing a mastectomy and oophorectomy, which left her bedridden for nine months. Beyond working for her own business, Mathes is the chief design officer for MOJO Health, an organization offering a holistic approach to healing cancer and does design work for a mycologist.

“I pick up any extra work that I can,” Mathes said.

Mathes doesn’t think that teachers living solely on their teacher salary in Colorado can do much beyond just paying the bills.

“I don’t personally think it is [possible to live on a teaching salary], unless you’re willing to not have an adventurous life at all,” Mathes said. “I live in Colorado because I love to explore. I love the outdoors. It costs money to go do those things. It costs money to travel. I love traveling. It’s not something I’m willing to go without. If I didn’t have the second or third job, I would not have enough money coming into savings to do vacations.”

The places I’ve worked at I’ve seen it get better and actually listen to what we say and give better pay—not great pay—but better than we were getting. I see small community change, but until there’s legislature written about early childhood and pay I don’t think it’s going to get much better.”

Katy Mathes and founder of MOJO Health enjoy Panic en la Playa this January. Photo courtesy of Katy Mathes.

Mathes and her husband were only able to afford their first vacation six years into their marriage.

“If I don’t do the side jobs, I have a hard time saving any money at all,” Mathes said. “I pay off all my credit cards every month. I don’t have any debt. After the bills and credit cards and stuff, I have nothing in my savings. I have $200 right now.”

This year Mathes dedicated much of her free time to MOJO Health, which is a startup that is not yet paying her for her work, leaving less time promoting Widespread Love. With the holidays, Mathes hopes selling ornaments will generate some money for her savings.

“I live in Colorado because I love to explore. I love the outdoors. It costs money to go do those things. It costs money to travel. I love traveling. It’s not something I’m willing to go without. If I didn’t have the second or third job, I would not have enough money coming into savings to do vacations.”

Mathes has what she calls “golden handcuffs,” which make it a risky decision to leave the teaching field: Over her career Mathes has invested in the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association. After 20 years of work, public employees start receiving retirement benefits at age 55.

“I don’t really have a choice unless I totally want to ditch my retirement fund,” Mathes said. “I have to stay teaching or doing a job that is a PERA job for at least four years, and then I wouldn’t get paid out until I’m 55. There aren’t a lot of choices.”

Mathes spends lunch breaks in virtual MOJO Health team meetings and sometimes uses her teaching planning time at the end of the school day to make it to the post office to send off orders for Widespread Love. That pushes her school planning time into night.

Mathes likes teaching at the same school as her son and having mostly the same time off as he does, aside from professional development days when she must find childcare for him.

“I’m really good at [teaching],” Mathes said. “It’s something I know. It’s the only thing I know that I can get a steady paycheck. My side jobs have a flux to them. Right now I’m selling a ton because of the holiday season. Come January there might be nothing. It really depends on how much I have to put into it, how much I want to do social media.”

Mathes isn’t alone in her frustrations with the field. She’s seen many teachers quit in the past few years.

“These teachers are responsible for making sure that all of the children in the community learn and that they become responsible humans,” Mathes said. “We’re in charge of making sure that they are progressing. We’re not paid for the amount of work we do. Most elementary teachers spend lots of time in the summer working. They stay at school and work a lot of nights. I know my first couple of years I worked every other weekend the entire weekend on curriculum. We are not really paid proportionally for the work we are doing, the importance of the work we’re doing, and the volume of work we are doing.”

The post Living Off Side Jobs: Boulder County Educators Struggle to Pay Bills with Teaching Salary appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.