YOUTH SPOTLIGHT | SCARLETT JONES | |
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A Big Comfort Zone - Scarlett Jones.
In Eagle, there is a girl wearing a pink helmet, commonly found on a skateboard or E-bike, and she might be the most impressive 7th grader in the county. She was the only woman SUP’er (stand up paddleboarder) in her age group at the GoPro games this year, led the organization of a community cleanup, and served as a youth advisor for Mountain Youth. In short - Scarlett can find herself out of her comfort zone pretty easily. Maybe she’s just got a big comfort zone?
Calling the Eagle Valley home for over half of her life, she moved here from Michigan when she was five. She recalls jumping off her counter for fun with her brother… and there sets the stage for this adventure-full smiley girl. As any middle schooler, Scarlett is exploring sports and found enjoyment in volleyball and soccer. Last year, Scarlett gave softball a try when her friend's team needed an extra player for the last couple of games. Stoked to jump in and help and try something new (as she totally does), she scored a home run in one of the games.
Scarlett’s dedication to her community and the environment is an inspiring example of youthful leadership. As a youth advisor for Mountain Youth, she spent the summer committing herself to her role, committing more work hours than any of her peers. One of her standout initiatives was spearheading a community cleanup project. With unwavering energy, she aimed to not only clean up the environment but also instill a sense of responsibility in fellow youth. Scarlett's creative approach involved combining fun and education through games and even a reusable water balloon fight, fostering an appreciation for a healthy, clean environment. Her passion for environmental activism isn't just a project; it's a genuine reflection of her values. She challenges her peers, asking them to consider why they would harm the very place that sustains their lives, and encourages treating the environment with the respect one would show to a mother.
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Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized? Nominate a Youth Spotlight Here
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DIFFERENCE MAKER | KEVIN ARMITAGE | |
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Impacting Youth Lives on the Field and in the Classroom
Kevin Armitage in every sense of the word is our Difference Maker. Kevin has put in countless volunteer hours and influenced hundreds of young people's lives in our community. Many of you know him as Coach Armitage from his 10+ years coaching almost every sport offered during his years as a volunteer coach for WECMRD/Mountain Rec from Wee Sports thru 5th grade. He then continued his coaching journey as the Eagle Valley Middle School Football coach, winning a championship trophy with each grade and finished his coaching career as assistant coach at Eagle Valley High School for one year. He was not only a coach to these youth but also a mentor, friend and a father to two. These coaching years were not just about winning and sport; they were about teaching, making connections, being a trusted adult, all enhanced by his strong sense of family values. Kevin has impacted our youths’ lives on the field and in the classroom. He has been part of Junior Achievement teaching financial literacy to over 50 classes, as well as being part of Guardian Scholars, a program mentoring first generation HS students in financial budgeting and career opportunities.
A little History of the how and why…Kevin moved to Vail in 1999 with the First Bank Management program, where he started his career in the Financial world. One thing this program encouraged is involvement in the community. It’s here where Kevin’s dedication to community service really flourished. He found a personal fulfillment of giving back to the community and the impact one person can have. Volunteering at numerous events often alongside his wife and children. Through the years he learned how he could also make a direct impact as a board member of local organizations. Kevin shared what it means to be an active board member and finding a board that aligns with personal interests, values and goals. Kevin has been on the Home Buyers Assistance Board for 15 years, guiding many first-time home buyers in our community. Additionally, he was part of the Shaw Outreach Fundraising Team. This board brought a lot of fulfillment to some of his altruistic goals and saw this board come full circle in meeting its goals and being dissolved.
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Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized? Nominate a Difference Maker Here
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YOUTHAPALOOZA 2023 A GREAT SUCCESS!!! | |
 |  | Youth-led and planned event: Youthapalooza- successfully returned for its third year… this time in the Jungle! Over 20 organizations came out to Edwards Freedom park on a beautiful early August day to celebrate youth in our valley! Among the palm trees, vines, and monkeys, there were over 150 youth and 250 community members coming together to learn more about their valley and how to become more knowledgeable in a lot of fields! Pit Vipers, a Bluetooth speaker, portable charger, LifeStraws, and more free prizes found their way out the door with lucky youth who completed the event scavenger hunt. Five food trucks kept event-goers fed, and free vouchers from Mountain Youth helped keep the food trucks happy! Thanks to Walking Mountains, Valley’s Voice was able to keep the event a zero-waste focused event and had a diversion rate (away from landfill, instead to recycling or compost) of over 90 percent! The event next year will be held on August 6th in Eagle we hope to see you there! To get your voice involved in the planning of next years’ Youthapalooza, email Cam at cdole@mountainyouth.org.
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September Eat Chat Connect:
Is technology and social media use impacting your family, friends, and relationships? Are you a teenager who has trouble disconnecting from social media, games, or your phone? Do you want to learn from a psychotherapist and parenting expert on the connection between the overuse of devices and the growing mental health crisis? If you answered yes to any of the above, join Mountain Youth with presenter and author, Tom Kersting, for a discussion on how social media use and technology impact our behaviors, mental health, and connection with others.
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Tom Kersting is a nationally renowned psychotherapist, author and television contributor. He is the author of the bestselling book, Disconnected: How to Protect Your Kids From the Harmful Effects of Device Dependency and the newly released bestseller, Raising Healthy Teenagers: Equipping Your Child to Navigate the Pitfalls and Dangers of Teen Life.
Tom is regular, guest expert on many national television news and talk shows where he offers insight and advice about parenting, relationships and wellness. He lectures throughout the country.
When: Tuesday, September 26 @ Edwards Early Learning Center from 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm. Dinner, childcare, and interpretation provided.
Are you a youth-serving professional, coach, counselor, teacher, or peer support person and interested in learning more about device dependency and its impact on youth mental health? Join us for a deep-dive discussion with Tom Kersting, psychotherapist and parenting expert.
When: Wednesday, September 27 @ Edwards Early Learning Center from 11:30 am- 1:30 pm. Lunch and interpretation provided.
Purchase your own copy of Tom Kersting’s books, Disconnected and Raising Healthy Teenagers, from The Bookworm, who will be on site and both events.
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If you have any questions or ideas on topics or speakers you would like to hear from, please contact Stevi Bratschie, Community Education Manager at sbratschie@mountainyouth.org. We look forward to seeing you! | |
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The coalition has been working to develop a regular meeting schedule and are piloting the 4th Wednesday of each month from 6:00-7:30pm. Save the date for our next meeting: September 27th 6:00-7:30pm. Location TBD.
Watch for exciting strategy updates coming soon!
We are excited to welcome Hannah Conoley as the new Community Mobilizer! Please read Hannah’s bio below, and join us in welcoming her to the Mountain Youth Team!
Interested in learning more or getting involved with Communities That Care? Please contact Samantha Sorensen, Ssorensen@mountainyouth.org.
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If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Cameron Dole, Youth Engagement Coordinator, at cdole@mountainyouth.org
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Welcome to the Mountain Youth Team! | |
Hannah Conoley joined Mountain Youth as a Community Mobilizer in the summer of 2023. Through this role, Hannah supports Communities That Care by engaging local leaders and community agencies through strategic partnerships. She will help guide long- standing policy and systems- level change. Hannah is a graduate of Colorado Mountain College with a degree in Environmental Sustainability. Previously, she worked with various Eagle River Valley organizations to support fundraising, volunteer engagement, program development and marketing. Hannah is passionate about connecting diverse voices to create healthy, happy and safe communities. Mountain Youth is eager to engage Hannah’s enthusiastic outlook and commitment for community engagement in this role. | | |
 | Ariana joined Mountain Youth in July 2023 as the Youth Liaison to continue empowering and advocating for youth in Eagle County. After she graduated from Battle Mountain High School in 2021, she continued her education by majoring in Business Administration while simultaneously working and volunteering at organizations that were community and youth focused. She returned to Battle Mountain after graduating to serve as an AmeriCorps- Peak Pathfinder for 2 years working mostly with High School students and in the summer would work with Middle and Elementary Students. Growing up in Eagle County has driven her to find new avenues and opportunities to provide youth a safe place to be seen, heard, and uplifted. As a local who grew up in the valley, Ariana is aware of the needs youth face first-hand and understands the disparities minority students/ youth endure, and is energized with new ideas on how to show up for our youth and community. She is excited for the impact Mountain Youth has had on the youth and families of our community and is honored to be a part of that positive impact now. | | |
You Can Join the Mountain Youth Team Too! | |
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The primary role of a Community Liaison is to build connections between diverse community members and Mountain Youth to enhance and strengthen community voice in driving positive youth prevention efforts throughout Eagle County. This position will have the skills necessary to facilitate a wide range of conversations, while supporting agency and systems-level changes. Mountain Youth is invested in creating sustainable community changes that reduce youth access to and use of substances, promote positive health behaviors, address community norms and risk factors, enhance protective factors, elevate diverse community voices, and create equitable systems of support for youth and families.
La función principal de un enlace comunitario es crear conexiones entre diversos miembros de la comunidad y Mountain Youth para mejorar y fortalecer los esfuerzos impulsados por la comunidad en todo el condado de Eagle. Este puesto tendrá las habilidades necesarias para facilitar una amplia gama de conversaciones, mientras apoya los cambios a nivel de agencia y sistema. Mountain Youth está comprometido con la creación de cambios comunitarios sostenibles que reduzcan el acceso y el uso de sustancias por parte de los jóvenes, promuevan comportamientos de salud positivos, aborden las normas comunitarias y los factores de riesgo, mejoren los factores de protección, eleven las diversas voces de la comunidad y creen sistemas equitativos de apoyo para los jóvenes y las familias.
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This position supports the mission of Mountain Youth, “to continuously and collaboratively improve the lives of youth in the most powerful ways possible". The focus of this role is to build community awareness of Mountain Youth’s programs, initiatives, and efforts and encourage participation through diverse marketing strategies. This role will support the execution of Mountain Youth events and coordinate promotion of Mountain Youth at partner events.
Mountain Youth Team Member Expectations:
• Be a champion for youth and advocate for policies, practices, and efforts that support their overall healthy development
• Leverage opportunities to develop impactful partnerships
• Ensure youth are recognized as valued partners in our work and in the community
• Ensure community members are recognized as valued partners in our work and in the community
• Maintain positive staff and board relations
• Support fundraising efforts and sustainability strategies to maintain the work of the overall organization
• Participate in regular one-on-one, team, and committee meetings to align different efforts and resources across the organization
• Represent Mountain Youth through collaborative projects as needed
• Willingness and commitment to prevention specialist training and professional development
• Maintain Mountain Youth internal database, contact management, and tracking systems
• Support with other Mountain Youth projects, communication strategies, and events as needed
• Perform general office duties and other duties as assigned
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Mountain Youth and Vail Valley Foundation Offer FREE ECO Tickets!!! | |
MOUNTAIN YOUTH IS PROUD TO OFFER FREE ECO BUS RIDES TO AND FROM ALL HOT SUMMER NIGHTS CONCERTS!!!
Thanks to our partnership with Vail Valley Foundation, free ECO bus transit is available to and from all 2023 Hot Summer Nights concerts. All you need to do is follow the link below to print the tickets. Present one ticket for each ride. Visit eaglecounty.us to see the bus schedule.
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September Calendar of Events | |
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Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI)
Family Leadership Training Institute taking applications for 2023/2024 session. FLTI is a free community leadership program for adults that focuses on training individuals to develop civic skills needed to make a difference in the community, making it a better place to live. FLTI is a program to help learn about and support community problem-solving, leadership styles, socio-economic trends, systemic changes, building networks, working with the media, fiscal policy and much more.
Location: Miller Ranch Community Center
Date: Saturday, October 21st and then Monday evenings 5:00 - 9:00pm, October 23 - April 15 (excluding holidays)
Time: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Contact info: Glenda Wentworth, 970-471-1097
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Contact info: Josh Auten (jauten@avon.org) | |
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MVPeewees
Parents and their children will be able to try out football, basketball, soccer, and baseball. Have them learn the ins and outs of America's most popular sports while burning off some of that never ending energy! MVPeewees will meet once a week for 45 minutes for four weeks. $25 for 4 Saturdays
Location: Avon Elementary School Gymnasium
Date: September 9th (Every Saturday in September)
Time: Saturdays 9:00AM-9:45AM
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3v3 Outdoor Basketball Tournament
One Day Tournament September 9th, at 10:00am. Registration closes on September 7th at 9:00am.Must be 16 years of age or older. Round Robin for seeding followed by a single elimination playoff bracket. Each Round Robin game is played to 7. Playoff games are played to 11.
Location: Nottingham Park Basketball Courts
Date: Saturday,
September 9th
Time: 10:00AM-4:00PM
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Avon Afterschool Care
The Avon Recreation Center offers an After School Enrichment Program out of Avon Elementary School for children ages 5 -11 years old. This Colorado state licensed program is open to all Eagle County students. Students will enjoy time playing inside and out with structured and unstructured activities, time to work on homework, and an afternoon snack.
Location: Avon Elementary School Gymnasium
Date: August 21st- May 30th
Time: 2:30Pm-5:30PM (Monday through Friday)
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2023 Memorial Ceremony
A chance for suicide loss survivors, their friends and family, and anyone in our community who has been touched by suicide to come together. Guests will enjoy a delicious brunch, learn from keynote speaker Jay Valusek, honor loved ones lost during the memorial ceremony, and have time for reflection at beautiful 4 Eagle Ranch. Registration is free & required by Sept 1.
Location: 4 Eagle Ranch, Wolcott
Date: Sunday, September 10Time: 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Contact info: info@speakupreachout.org
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E-Sports FIFA '23 Tournament
We’ll be hosting a tournament for any and all ages 7+. There will be pizza, prizes, along with use of the sport court, turf field, and climbing wall during tournament. All levels welcome!
Location: Edwards Field House
Date: Friday, September 15
Time: 5-8pm
Contact info: Watts Austen, WAusten@MountainRec.org
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Fiesta Americas
Celebrate Eagle County’s Latino community at this free family festival!
Location: Lundgren Amphitheater, Gypsum, CO
Date: Sunday, September 17
Time: 1pm-6pm
Contact info: Lizzy Owens at Lowens@MountainRec.org
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Eagle Ice Rink Opens for the Season
Get your skates on! The Eagle Ice Rink officially opens for the 2023-2024 season. Come to Open Skate, Learn-to-Skate, Sticks & Puck, and so much more!
Location: Eagle Ice Rink
Date: Monday, September 18
Contact info: Sheryl Staten at SStaten@MountainRec.org
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Eagle Field Weeding & Seeding
Come make our town a more beautiful place! Remove the Eagle Field’s weeds to get it ready for October planting of native grasses!
Location: Field by BMX track/pump track/tennis courts
Date: Wednesday, September 27, 5pm
Contact info: Lizzy Owens at Lowens@MountainRec.org
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Steamaster Golf
Location: Red Sky Ranch
Date: September 1, 2023
Time: 11:00 am
In the last 17 years, SteamMaster Golf has raised over $550,000 for various charities in the Vail Valley. Their annual golf tournament and other fund-raising activities have benefitted many local non-profits. This year’s tournament will benefit Vail Alliance for Purposeful Living, Eagle County Emergency Responders Fund, and Vail Valley Charitable Fund.
Location: Red Sky Ranch
Date: September 1, 2023
Time: 11:00 am
Contact info: Reach out to Tournament Administrator Raj Manickam with questions. raj@steammaster.com
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Colorado Grand
2023 marks the 34th anniversary year of The Colorado Grand, which has contributed more than $8.3 million to Colorado charities. These beautiful automobiles finish in Lionshead - Vail, Colorado, on the afternoon of Friday, September 15. Keep your eyes open for volunteer opportunities; we are so grateful for this group's generosity.
Location: Lionshead, Vail, Colorado
Date: September 15, 2023
Time: 2:00 pm
Contact info: terri@vvcf.org
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Vail Concours
The Vail Concours is a three-day, annual automotive event hosted in Vail, Colorado. Since 2009, the Vail Concours has drawn a diverse group of automotive enthusiasts from across the United States and Canada. Entries range from contemporary supercars and sports cars to vintage collector cars and motorcycles. More than a car show, the Vail Concours offers two days of driving and social events leading up to the concours.
Location: Vail, Colorado
Date: September 15-17
Time: various
Contact info: terri@vvcf.org
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Board Service Basics
Location: Colorado Mountain College (Edwards)
Date: Thursday, September 28th OR Friday, September 29th
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Contact info: Anna Robinson
Are you looking for ways to serve the local community? Does board service sound appealing, but a little intimidating too? Are you new to a board of directors and aren’t quite sure what role you play? Join us for Board Service Basics – an introduction to appointed & elected board service. This course is designed to give you the knowledge and framework to effectively serve on a wide range of local boards – from non-profits to special districts and everything in between! No experience required.
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Contact info:
Renata / Estefania 970-376-5587
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Harvesting DIA DE COSECHA
Socios / Partners: New Roots and The Community Market
Location: Grand Junction
Date: 2 de Septiembre / September 2nd
Time: 6:30am – 3pm
GRATIS. Para todas las edades. Transporte gratis desde el Community Market en Gypsum! We will be picking fruit and any other produce that will be available. We will be provided tools and go out into the orchard to harvest ripe fruit to be taken back to the community market. Nothing is guaranteed, but we usually have loads of produce to bring back via community market vans and/or volunteers' vehicles. We had roughly 2000 to 4000lbs of produce over different years. Alguna vez has visitado una huerta? Únete a esta experiencia realmente única donde podrás venir a pizcar/cosechar frutas y verduras para el mercado comunitario. Este viaje a la huerta es para todas las edades. En el pasado a los niños les fascina la experiencia de estar en el campo e investigar de donde realmente proviene la comida. *Everyone MUST bring a hat, sunglasses, tough shoes and water. Also bring lunch if you would like to have one before we head back to Gypsum.
Restoration: Litter Clean-Up
Socios/Partners: Eagle Valley Land Trust
Location: Duck Pond Open Space, Gypsum
Date: 9 de Septiembre / September 9th
Time: 9m –12pm
GRATIS. Para todas las edades. Duck Pond Open Space is a beautiful and easily accessible open space, and includes access to the Eagle River, the bike path, and some hunting opportunities. In recent years usage has increased, leading to many impacts, such as increased trash. As a result, Eagle Valley Land Trust (EVLT) and Eagle County Open Space are working together on this project to help solve these issues.
Duck Pond Open Space es un espacio abierto hermoso y de fácil acceso, e incluye acceso al río Eagle, el carril bici y algunas oportunidades de caza. En los últimos años, su uso ha aumentado, lo que ha provocado muchos impactos, como el aumento de la basura. Como resultado, Eagle Valley Land Trust (EVLT) y Eagle County Open Space están trabajando juntos en este proyecto para ayudar a resolver estos problemas.
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Farmer’s Market and Creekside Tour
Socios / Partners: Walking Mountains Science Center
Location: Vail Farmers' Market
Date: 3 de Septiembre / September 3rd
Time: 11am – 1:30pm
GRATIS. Para todas las edades. Transporte gratis desde Walking Mountains (para las primeras 13 personas que se registren). Vamos a explorar el farmers market and take a tour through the Gore Creek Path
Explora las maravillas de Vail como nunca antes. Únete a un recorrido privado con uno de nuestros guías especializados. En este recorrido visitaremos el mercado de agricultores de Vail y tendremos la oportunidad de explorar uno de los arroyos más bonitos de Vail. no te lo pierdas, los recorridos son de espacio limitado.
Cupos / Spots: 20
Día de Habilidades de Remo / Paddling Skills Day
Socio / Partner: Diversify Whitewater, Colorado Rocky Mountain School, and Roaring Fork Kayaking Club
Ubicación/ Location: Nottingham Lake, Avon
Fecha/ Date: 16 de Septiembre / September 16th
Hora/ Time: 9:30am – 2pm
FREE. To 7-year-old and older people. Participants will learn the basics of water safety and paddling technique for kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, rafting and more. No experience or equipment is necessary to participate! Refreshments will be provided for participants along with a chance to win some awesome prizes.
¿Alguna vez has usado una tabla de remo en el lago? ¿Has intentado usar un kayak? No te pierdas de esta super fiesta en el agua donde tendremos tablas de remo, kayaks, canoas, rafting y más. ¡No se necesita experiencia ni equipo para participar! Tendremos comida y guías especializados en este divertido evento. Se proporcionarán refrigerios a los participantes junto con la oportunidad de ganar increíbles premios.
Cupos / Spots: 80
Registration in Spanish: HERE
Registration in English: HERE
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Mountain Youth works to make the community we live in a stronger, more vibrant place for youth and families through education, advocacy, and connections.
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