The most up-to-date information for the Roaring Fork Valley

Aspen Art Museum offers a wide variety of fun and engaging week-long art workshops inspired by contemporary art for children ages 4 and up in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, drawing, video, photography, and creative writing. Summer classes run annually from June 21 through August 21. Winter 2009 classes begin December 21. Call the AAM Education Department at 970.925.8050, ext. 24 for more details, or visit online at www.aspenartmuseum.org

Summer: Aspen Center For Environmental Studies - Kids participate in ACES’ Naturalist Field School programs all summer. Courses are fun, educational and inspirational. Hourly, daily and weekly programs are offered at Hallam Lake Nature Preserve and Rock Bottom Ranch. (970) 925-5756 or www.aspennature.org
Winter: Stop, look, listen to the natural wonders of the Rocky Mountains while skiing or snowshoeing with a naturalist from ACES. Daily snowshoe walks leave from the top of Aspen and Snowmass Mountains and from the Ashcroft Ski Touring Center. Free downhill skiing tours are offered at Snowmass. Snowshoe walks and bird watching can be enjoyed at the center. Evening programs include the Potbelly Perspective Lecture Series and Naturalist Nights. Open daily, ACES is located on the 25-acre Hallam Lake Nature Preserve in the heart of Aspen.

The Aspen Historical Society provides great family winter activities with exhibits at the Wheeler/Stallard Museum, West End Victorian Homes and HISTORY COACH tours, weekly Time Travel Tuesdays programs, self-guided ghost town tours of Ashcroft and special Christmas and Easter children’s events. Call (970) 925-3721, ext. 107 or visit www.aspenhistory.org for more information.

The Pitkin County Library is open 7 days a week, Monday- Thursday 10am-9pm, Friday & Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday noon-6pm. Programs include storyhours and more for children, book discussions for young adults, adult reading initiatives and ongoing technology lessons called eThursdays. Visitors may apply for a temporary library card giving them access to a large and current collection of books, audiobooks, DVDs and more, for children, young adults and adults. Library card holders also have FREE access to public computers, an online reference collection and wireless Internet. For more information call (970) 429-1900 or visit www.pitcolib.org

The 113-acre Rock Bottom Ranch is located just outside of Basalt, along the banks of the Roaring Fork River. RBR serves as the mid-valley center for ACES environmental education programs as well as a sustainable farm complete with community gardens and a variety of farm animals. Stop by for a free farmyard tour and visit the chickens, goats, horses and cows this winter. Programs are available for adults and children all year round. Rock Bottom Ranch is open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

Wyly Community Art Center in Basalt fosters creative expression in the visual arts for all ages and abilities. The Wyly offers classes for children and adults, mentor and intern programs, teaching and volunteer opportunities, community collaborations, outreach programs and special events. Artists and educators present free slide presentations through the Wyly Art Talk Series. Professional, volunteer and student artists sell their work at the Annual Wyly Wares holiday bazaar each December and year-round at the Wyly in Basalt. Wyly Community Art Center is a Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For a full schedule of classes and events visit www.wylyarts.org or call (970) 927-4123.