Grab some marshmallow Peeps and recreate a famous painting or sculpture to enter in DPL’s Peep Contest! Prizes include tickets to the Denver Zoo or Denver Art Museum. All dioramas must fit into a shoebox-sized space. Submissions accepted April 6-11 at various Denver Public Library locations. Info: 720-865-1111. denverlibrary.org
"O brave new world, That has such people in't!" – The Tempest. Be regaled with scenes and sonnets of The Bard at the 31st annual DPS Shakespeare Festival, held Fri., April 24, at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th & Curtis. It’s by far the oldest, largest student Shakespeare festival in the country – some 5,000 students take part. Centered in 2015 on The Tempest, with sonnets, drama and comedy scenes, vocal and instrumental music, and dance offerings true to the time. Festival opens with ceremonies at 10a.m. across from D & F Tower, 16th & Arapahoe, followed by a fantastic costume parade to the DCPA – spectators line the blocks to cheer on the parading throng. Performances last throughout the day on a dozen stages, and are free. shakespeare.dpsk12.org
Ever wondered what an Arduino is and what can be done with it? Find out at ideaLAB in the Community Technology Center of DPL Central library, 10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., Level 4, duringArduino Appreciation Month, Fridays, 4-6p.m.: April 10, Make Noise with Arduino; 17,Programming your Arduino. Also, Sat., 18, 1-4p.m.: Garden+Arduino=Garduino, Part I. Free, ages 12-19. Family ideaLAB: Saturdays, 11a.m.-1p.m., April 11, Simply Circuits, 25, Ardublocks. Also, Girls Only ideaLAB, free programs/projects fourth Saturdays (April 25), 11a.m.-1p.m. Ages 10-19. ideaLAB is a free digital media lab for teens, open Mon.-Fri., 3-6p.m. and Sat., 11a.m.-4p.m. Info: 720-865-1706.
teens.denverlibrary.org
Take a trip down the rabbit hole and play floppy flamingo croquet in the Children’s Pavilion at Denver Public Library Central branch, 10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. A Day in Wonderland, Sat., April 11, stop in 10a.m.-4p.m.: pin a grin on the Cheshire Cat and take a picture with Alice. Costumes welcome! (Note: all DPL branches will be closed Sun., April 5, for Easter.) Info:denverlibrary.org.
Central, 10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., weekly storytimes for kids, parents and caregivers in the Children’s Pavilion; all at 10:30a.m.: Mondays & Wednesdays, Tales for Twos; Tuesdays, Book Babies I: Pre-Walkers (lap babies); Thursdays, Preschool Storytime (3-5 yrs.); Fridays, Book Babies II: Early Walkers (up to 23 months).
Saturday kids programs: 10a.m.-4p.m.: Game Day, 4; Shadow Science, 18; LEGO Challenge, 25. Teens: The (Probably) Awesome Book Club, Sat., April 4 & May 2, 10a.m. Info: 720-865-1111.
Byers, 675 Santa Fe Dr.: Tuesdays, Storytime, 10:30a.m.; Wednesdays, Sleepy Storytime, 7p.m. Kids & Teens, Tuesdays at 4p.m.: Drum Circle, 7; Dinosaur Bones!, 14;Fossils, 21; Domino Magnets, 28. Also, Teen/Tween Hangout, Wednesdays, 3-5p.m. Info: 720-865-0160.
Decker, 1501 S. Logan St.: Storytime with Craft, Wednesdays, 10:15a.m.; Book Babies, on Wednesdays & Thursdays, 11:15a.m.; Tales for Twos with Craft, Thursdays, at 10:15a.m. Info: 720-865-0220.
Eugene Field, 810 S. University Blvd.: Storytime with Craft, Mondays & Tuesdays, 10:15a.m.; Book Babies I: Pre-Walkers, Mondays & Tuesdays, 11:15a.m. Kids: Family Craft Club, Thursdays at 3:30p.m.: Bubble Wrap Sheep, 9; Spring Yarn Cards, 23; Spring Cookies and Crafts, 30. Info: 720-865-0240.
Ross-Cherry Creek, 305 Milwaukee St., Book Babies, Thursdays, 10:30a.m. & 11:30a.m.;Tales for Twos with Craft, on Fridays, 10:30a.m. Info: 720-865-0120.
Ross-University Hills, 4310 E. Amherst Ave., offerings at 10:30a.m.: Book Babies, Mondays; Art Works! Preschool Crafts, Wednesdays; Tales for Twos, Fridays. Kids: LEGO Time!, Thursdays, 4-6p.m; Teen After Hours Party, Fri., 10, 6p.m. Information: 720-865-0955.
Schlessman, 100 Poplar St., offerings at 10:30a.m.: Tales for Twos, Tuesdays; Preschool Storytime, Thursdays; Little University all ages storytime, Saturdays. Kids: Pajama Storytime, Mondays, 6:30p.m.; Time Gaming Time, Thursdays, 3:30p.m.; Chess Club for Kids (K-6th grade), fourth Sunday, 26, 1:30p.m. Info: 720-865-0000.
Virginia Village, 1500 S. Dahlia St.: Book Babies II: Walkers, Tuesdays, 10:30a.m.; Book Babies I: Pre-Walkers, Thursdays, 11:30a.m.; All Ages Storytime, Thursdays & Fridays, 10:30a.m. Information: 720-865-0940.
Discover art that explores the world and lets the imagination soar at Children’s Art School classes, held in Carriage House of Fitzroy Mansion, Accelerated Schools, 2160 S. Cook St., Saturdays:
A is for Art, April 11- May 2, 12:30-2:30p.m. – young artists discover art from abstract to ziggurat, increasing their art literacy, ages 5+, $100; Paint Palette Brushes, April 11- May 2, 10a.m.-noon – create an oil painting self-portrait, ages 8+, $125; Sketchbook in Spring, April 11-May 16, 3-5p.m. – celebrate spring sunlight with sketching trips to University Park, ages 7+, $150.
Also, Sweet Peas, at Washington Street Community Center, 809 S. Washington St., Mondays, April 6-27, 10-11:30a.m. – for parent and very young artist, $80.
To pre-register (required) and for information, call 303-369-7956.
Research shows that abundant experiences in nature are essential for healthy growth. Tap into the findings at Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Café Botanique: How to Raise a Wild Child, Wed., April 15, 6:30p.m. Children currently spend seven hours a day staring at screens vs. seven minutes playing outdoors; Scott Sampson’s new book offers timely guidance for nurturing a strong bond between children and nature, $5 donation suggested.
Drop in the Mordecai Children’s Garden, atop DBG’s parking structure. Learn about plants and animals, hunt for bugs, hear stories and take informative walks.
Other DBG offerings: Seedlings Classes, 9:30a.m & 10:45a.m.: Tuesdays, 18-24 months old; Wednesdays, 3-6 years old; Thursdays: 24-36 months old. Hands-on way for young children to explore and appreciate the plant world. $11-$13 for adult/child combo, per class. Information/register: 720-865-3580, botanicgardens.org/calendar.
Huzzah! Kids 18 and under now get in FREE every day at the Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. Free for Kids also funds school field trips and other youth group visits, supports a transportation fund for school bus trips and offers $5 youth pricing for special ticketed exhibitions.
Miró, Magic & the Night, Sat., April 25, 9:30 & 10:30a.m., enter into Joan Miró’s artistic journey through an engaging, family-friendly play with Buntport Theater. Included in museum admission, advance tickets suggested.
Día del Niño Celebration, Sun., April 26, 11a.m.-4p.m., free family friendly programing celebrating children from around the world with hands-on activities, live music and dance. Performances on Acoma Plaza begin at 11a.m. with Opening Ceremony at noon. Events take place at the DAM complex, Denver Public Library, Clyfford Still Museum, History Colorado Center and Byers-Evans House Museum.
Kids under 18 free, (closed Mondays). Free adult admission first Saturdays for Denver residents (April 4 & May 2). Info: 720-913-0130.
denverartmuseum.org
Get up close with the orchestra, when kids are seated on the floor and surrounded by professional musicians for Tiny Tots, presented by Inside the Orchestra, at Temple Emanuel, 51 Grape St., Tues., April 28 – two shows, 9:30 & 10:45a.m. – kids ages 6 and under (and families) can interact with conductor and musicians to learn about the instruments. Collaborative performance with orchestra, opera singers from Central City Opera and dancers from Kim Robards Dance. Tickets: $9.95; discounted or complimentary admission for those in need. Info: 303-355-7855, insidetheorchestra.org
A school auction can only be as successful as the support of its community, staff, and families. On March 6 all those contributions shone through, as the McKinley-Thatcher Auction, at 1230 S. Grant St. was a huge success because of the broad-based support. McKinley-Thatcher Elementary extends gratitude to the community – who sponsored numerous auction items, provided food and beverages for the event, and helped spread the word. A special thanks to Adelitas for commitment to neighborhood families by generously donating tacos, Schlessman YMCA for providing free childcare, and Sexy Pizza for feeding the kids. Many thanks to McKinley-Thatcher staff and families for donating auction items and for packaging items; and to everyone who attended the evening with deep pockets. It cannot be done without the support of the parents, staff, and community! Thank you!
Hark! A theater camp that encourages kids to think critically and make creative choices. Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids offers camps in Denver beginning in June for ages 5-18. Each camp, from Mary Poppins to Les Miserables, has a unique focus, providing a professional theatre staff with an 8:1 student ratio, a professional performance venue and a daily curriculum. Info: 303-245-8150 or theaterforkids.net.
Sign up for an interfaith camp to build relationships and respect among world religions at the Kirk of Bonnie Brae United Church of Christ, 1201 S. Steele St., Peace Village, July 6-10, 9a.m.-12:30p.m. Children learn about other faiths, communication and conflict management skills, work on social service projects, and practice yoga! Activities include leaders from Jewish, Buddhist, progressive Christian and Taoist faiths, $60/child. Info at 303-777-0343 orkirkofbonniebrae.org
Eagle Lake Camp is coming to the Platt Park Neighborhood! – at Hope Community Church, 1801 S. Logan St., Mon.-Fri., Aug. 3-7, 9a.m.-4p.m. Kids experience camp while learning about the love of God; includes a climbing wall, bungee trampoline and inflatable water slide. Sponsored by Platt Park Church, First Christian Reformed Church and Hope Community Church. For children ages 6-12, $150. Scholarships are available; registration is now open. Info: 303-744-1026 ext. 304 or eaglelakecamps.com/hope.
The best kindergartens are filled with abundant materials where real-life problem solving among peers occurs. Find this and more at Iliff Preschool, 4140 E. Iliff Ave. – a kindergarten classroom in a real DC7 airplane! Register now for 2015-16 academic half- and full-day kindergarten programs with enrichment classes in art, dance, music, STEM and foreign language. Begin application process online or call 303-757-3551. Summer Camp applications for post-kindergarteners and school-age children also available for download.
iliffpreschool.com
Looking for a preschool with a loving environment where children learn through hands-on experience? Qualistar 3-rated Washington Street Community Center Preschool, 809 S. Washington St., Children’s Program has just opened a new Denver preschool program classroom for children 2-1/2 to 5 years, with many wonders for children to explore and a challenging curriculum. Program has part-day, full-day and extended care options. Each week children are engaged within the community through service projects and giving, and the program also hosts a wide variety of enrichment programs such as yoga, soccer andHola Amigos (a Meso-American cultural experience).
Enroll now for Summerville Day Camp – kids explore the community with hands-on experiences, weekly themes and field trips – for children entering grades 1-5; offered in flexible blocks, June 5-Aug. 19. For details or to schedule tour, call 303-733-4643. wscc-denver.org
Searching for a preschool with small classes, nurturing and caring teachers? Emmanuel Methodist Preschool, at New City Church, 2700 S. Downing St., has been offering quality early childhood education to the community for 42 years. Classes, 9a.m.-1p.m., include hands-on experiences through play, music, literacy, art, dramatics, science, cooking, outdoor play, special events and global learning for ages 2-1/2 (potty trained) to 5 years. EMP is a 4-star Qualistar rated preschool and participates in the Denver Preschool Program which allows Denver residents with four-year-olds to apply for tuition credits. Open enrollment is now underway for fall classes. Info/tour: 303-758-1697.
empdenver.com
For all single parents – Families First offers a free ongoing Circle of Parents support group just for you. Discover proven methods for reducing frustrations of single parenting in today’s challenging world. Unlock knowledge you already hold and share your wisdom, create a support network and rebuild your self-esteem. Circle of Parents meets first, third and fifth Thursdays, 6:30-8p.m., at Evanston Center for Spiritual Wholeness & Healing, 2122 S. Lafayette St. Free children’s group provided. Come build upon your strengths in a safe and nurturing environment. Do you need immediate help? Call 1-800-CHILDREN. For other assistance and info, call the Family Support Line: 303-695-7996 for English speakers; 866-527-3264 for Spanish speakers. Visit the website for quick links to parenting classes, other Circle of Parents groups and more.
familiesfirstcolorado.org
