Aucklynn Sacco, Gilpin County. A program at the Gilpin County Community Center has recently started that centers around providing fun activities for teens to do called EAGLE. 

EAGLE stands for Excelling At Great Leadership Everyday. The program is run through CSU extension and it is led by Katherine Harvey, and Jacob Rippy, with help from program assistant, Cassidy Wood. The program also involves ten youth leaders who help advertise, plan field trips, and help plan weekday activities. 

EAGLE provides opportunities for teens ages 11-18 to do things such as cooking, hiking, games, puzzles, sports, and much more (while being Covid safe). 

On top of that, the program also holds field trips. Recently, the program went to the Flatirons Mall and rented a movie theater where they watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The program has also gone bouldering at The Spot, and to an escape room. 

The program runs Mondays through Thursdays from 4:15-7:15 p.m. and on Fridays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (aside from when there are field trips). Every Tuesday and Thursday the program offers 45 minute life skill classes for middle schoolers. All of the activities are pre-paid for, so it is free for anyone to attend. 

To attend the program youth must complete the registration packet and make reservations. All participants must adhere to county Covid-19 restrictions by wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing.

For more information visit https://gilpin.extension.colostate.edu/programs/4-h-eagle/ where you will find more information on the program, as well as the registration packet and the reservation form. 

(Originally published in the April 29, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)