On Sunday, December 18, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the many businesses within the Caribou Village Shopping Center celebrated the Winter Solstice together, providing holiday entertainment for the kids and holiday deals for the adults.

The shopping center parking lot was packed before noon as locals and visitors alike came to enjoy the many events that the Solstice Celebration had to offer. From cookie exchanges to presentations featuring live animals, from special sales on festive decorations and ornaments to live music, there was so much joy to experience.

Wild Bear Nature Center (WBNC) Board Member Sally Brady organized the Solstice Celebration with help from owner of The Shop and property manager of the shopping center Claudia Schauffler.

“I started reaching out to tenants and it took on a life of its own,” Schauffler told The Mountain-Ear. “There was good feedback and people jumped on it,” she said, referring to all the businesses that reside in the Caribou Village Shopping Center and participated in the celebration.

Solstice celebration in Ned: Santa and Mrs. Claus stopped by for the Solstice Celebration and visited door-to-door all the different businesses before stopping for photos in front of The Train Cars. PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER KELLEY[/caption]

The shopping center’s newest business, Wild Poppy Hair Salon, hosted Karina Vogt who displayed her beautiful beaded earrings and some of her stunning artwork. Owner of Wild Poppy Hair Salon Alicia Jewell offered holiday themed flower arrangements as well as handmade knitted hats. Jewell and Vogt expressed excitement for being a part of the Solstice Celebration and look forward to taking part in many more Nederland festivals and fairs in the future.

Throughout the day stores saw an increased flow of foot traffic from tourists driving through Nederland on the last weekend for shopping before the holiday. Patrons had the opportunity to enjoy a cookie exchange and live music from the Brassaholics at Very Nice Brewing Company, a free temporary tattoo while shopping the great deals at The Shop, and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus while enjoying some donuts and a hot beverage at The Train Cars.

WBNC hosted several special events from noon to 3 p.m., including candle making, an interactive astronomy exhibit, and a presentation by Nature’s Educators all about, and starring, owls.

Right; Sio (above) and Courtney (below) from Nature’s Educators show off some of their friends.[/caption]

Nature’s Educators is the largest non-profit nature center of its type in Colorado. Nature’s Education has 30 education raptors and 60 ambassador animals total. They started in Canon CIty in 2008 with two birds. They offer educational presentations on wildlife all over Colorado and neighboring states.

Presenters Sio and Courtney from Nature’s Educators showcased their knowledge of owls and provided the audience with a chance to glance upon nature’s nocturnal hunters. Young and inquisitive children gathered to set eyes upon Comet, the barn owl, and on Echo, the great horned owl, among others.

Both barn owls and great horned owls are common in Colorado, with the latter being the biggest native owl known to Colorado. The snowy owl is Colorado's largest known owl but it is a visitor. Echo squawked for a treat as Sio explained to the audience how Echo was pushed from his nest and brought to a rehabilitation facility and put in with fosters. Echo had to be hand raised by a rehabber. Unfortunately, due to missing vital nutrition as a chick Echo developed metabolic bone disease.

The events at WBNC only cost $5 per patron to enjoy, with the proceeds going towards the completion of their new nature center located on five acres of Mud Lake Open Space. WBNC officially broke ground on their 8,500 square foot nature center in June with a Native land blessing.

Brady told The Mountain-Ear that though some aspects of the construction, such as pouring concrete, are on hold for the winter weather, the site is otherwise “staked and ready to go.” WBNC expects work on the foundation and framing of the new nature center to begin by Spring.