Editorís note: The following is the information available as of May 29. Be sure to check websites for updates.The summer is near and what it will look like is not quite clear. The coronavirus has shuttered or postponed activities and delayed the reopening of many popular venues.Rachel Wright,†public relations and social media manager at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, said they did not have an opening date at the time of the interview. However, updates are provided on the zooís website. They are still planning to have summer camps for kindergarten through ninth grade, Wright said. The zoo will also host some events originally scheduled, such as Silent Night; Tails, Tunes and Tastes; Run to the Shrine and Moonlight on the Mountain. Again, check the website for any changes. Social media videos, at home conservation activities, science experiments, keeper talks and animal demonstrations in a series called ìAbnormally Normalî are just some of their online programs, she said. The zoo also offers virtual experiences, including video shout-outs and live virtual interviews with animals and keepers. For updates, check Facebook and visit https://cmzoo.org/.Vanessa Zink, senior public communications specialist for Colorado Springs, said their overall plans are uncertain at this point. ìThe operation of our cityís park, recreation and cultural services facilities and programming will continue to align with whatever public health orders are in place at that time,î Zink said. During this phase of Safer at Home guidelines, Garden of the Gods park and all parks, trails and open spaces in Colorado Springs and El Paso County are open, she said. But all playgrounds and pavilions inside the parks are closed. The Manitou Incline is also closed. ìAll visitorsí centers, including the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, are closed,î Zink added.She said all city pools, fountains and spray-grounds will remain closed until further notice. The YMCA operates the city pools.The internet is a go-to for all sorts of stay-at-home activities.Free resources online such as the nature journal for kids can be downloaded from https://coloradosprings.gov/naturejournal. Zink said the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is hosting two digital series: ìCultural Connectionsî and ìChildrenís History Hourîó†https://cspm.org/events/; and the Therapeutic Recreation Program of Colorado Springs shares ideas for at-home activities ó https://facebook.com/therapeuticrecreationprogram/. The community garden is also open at Deerfield Hills Community Center, she said. Jason Lasecki from the public relations team at Great Wolf Lodge said they are scheduled to reopen June 16, pending approval from local and state government officials.†For information and the lodgeís safety guidelines, visit†https://greatwolf.com/arizona/paw-pledge. †The Colorado Renaissance Festival 2020 will be held every Saturday, from Aug. 1 through Sept. 20; tickets go on sale June 1. The festival contact said they are monitoring the situation and changing guidelines, and will make a public announcement about festival policies at a later date.Austin Lawhorn, from the North Pole Santaís Workshop, said, ìWe light our Ferris wheel at 8 p.m. every night to show our gratitude to our first responders, health care workers and those essential workers on the front lines,î Lawhorn said. ìWhen things are dark we will look for the light and we will come through this together.î Out of respect for guests and Santaís helpers, they have not scheduled an opening date, he said.ìWe will be following state recommended guidelines as the situation progresses,î Lawhorn said. Check the Facebook page and website for updated information: https://northpolecolorado.com/.Kayah Swanson, director of public relations and marketing for the Pikes Peak Library District, said they donít have specific details to share beyond the curbside service, launched May 13. ìPikes Peak Library District will take a phased reopening approach for our 16 facilities that prioritizes the health and safety of our patrons and staff,î Swanson said. ìWith guidance and direction from local public health officials, our team is considering all factors and working out details for each phase.î The annual summer reading program for ages zero to 18 is exclusively digital this summer. She said Summer Adventure, presented by Childrenís Hospital Colorado will help kids and teens stay engaged and active over the summer months; participants can win prizes through reading, moving and imagining. The program will run from June 1 through July 31. Visit https://ppld.org/summer-adventure for more details. They will also continue a variety of virtual activities such as meditation, yoga and the book club for adults: https://ppld.org/.Cathy Van de Casteele, board member for the Pikes Peak Childrenís Museum, said they operate as a mobile museum; and all of their in-person programming is suspended at present. Follow their Facebook page for summer online activities.The Space Foundation Discovery Center does not have a reopen date yet; however, they have created several online resources for parents and kids called Auxilia Webinar Series, which is Latin for ìHelping Hands.î Visit https://discoverspace.org/for more information.
