THORNTON —A roomful of toddlers and kindergartners crawled like spiders across a web made of blue tape on the floor at Anythink Huron Street during a program to teach the kids about arachnids and their place in nature.
“We did a butterfly program like this earlier this year,” said Julie Rice, the children’s guide at the Anythink Huron Street library in Thornton. “This is new, but it’s one of the different programs that we have geared toward outdoor education.”
Over the past few years, program specialists at Anythink Libraries in Adams County have been developing activities focused on outdoor education. Initiatives like Explore Outdoors — Anythink’s outdoor classrooms in Thornton, Brighton and Commerce City — were designed to encourage kids to spend time outside while improving their academic and critical thinking skills.
And this year, Anythink Brighton was picked as one of eight libraries statewide to participate in a pilot program called , which was launched last month by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Colorado State Library to create a culture of learning and literacy throughout Colorado, indoors and outdoors.
The eight libraries in the pilot program have two “Check Out State Parks” passes that come with a backpack filled with maps, brochures, binoculars, and other materials. At Anythink Brighton, visitors can check out one of the backpacks, each containing a seven-day parks pass that’s good for entrance into all 42 Colorado state parks.
“You can check out a park pass for one week, and it’s good for anyone in your vehicle,” Rice said. “I just put myself on the wait list — I’m number 17 to get it. And we think that it’s going to be on hold like that for the entire pilot program.”
The full program will launch at all 260 libraries in the state April 1.
“Everyone visits public libraries to explore their natural interests,” said Sharon Morris, director of library development for the Colorado State Library. “Our libraries offer outdoor programs, natural and wildlife educational programs and materials for all ages and encourage family discovery of the outdoors. We are excited to expand this focus in 2016.”
Morris said the eight libraries in the pilot were picked because they are in close proximity to state parks with robust winter programs and activities — like Barr Lake State Park in Brighton.
“So far, our packs and passes are checked out with many holds,” she said. “We envision this as a permanent program, which we will build on with other programs.”
For Anythink kids too far down on the wait list, the library system has another opportunity: All local fourth-graders can also visit any of the seven Anythink locations to get a free pass to more than 2,000 federally managed parks nationwide as part of the national Every Kid in a Park campaign. (Passes are also available at the program website, ) This pass admits the fourth-grader and any accompanying family members or passengers to the national parks through next August.
“These programs provide more opportunities at no charge for kids to play, discover and learn in the great outdoors,” said Ronnie Storey-Ewoldt, Anythink public services director. “Exploring our state and national parks gives young students and their families a healthy and fun way to engage with nature.”
For the kids who can’t get rides out to public parks at all, Anythink has its partnerships to bring the outdoor education indoors.
Susan Drobniak, the park ranger hosting the spider seminar in Thornton, is from Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Commerce City, which doesn’t charge admission. Drobniak said that the refuge is actively working to expand its own educational outreach by going to schools and libraries to bring outdoor education to the kids.
“We do offer a variety of nature programs that are free for the public at the refuge,” Drobniak said. “But we started going to different locations like the Anythink libraries this past year. We’ve done (off-site seminars) in the past, but now we’re really trying to get out into the community a lot more.”
Megan Mitchell: 303-954-2650, mmitchell@denverpost.com or @Mmitchelldp
participating check-out colorado state parks pilot libraries:
Aurora Public Library, Central Library
Anythink Libraries, Brighton Branch
Delta County Libraries, Paonia Branch
Denver Public Library, Green Valley Ranch Branch
Garfield County Public Library, Rifle Branch
Las Animas/Bent County Library
Mesa County Public Library, Grand Junction Main Library
Trinidad Public Library
