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Memorable learning adventures await in Trinidad and the town’s spectacular surroundings.
Gourmet and dutch-oven cooking, arts workshops, wine tastings, interactive nature programs, horse care, tepee-building, sustainable farming, traditional crafts and building techniques, and more learning adventures are offered for both children and adults.
Trinidad Lake State Park
Besides an 800-acre lake for excellent fishing along with camping and picnic sites, this state park has outstanding educational programs. Classes, demonstrations, tours, and performances throughout the week are free for both children and adults. Following are some:
- Survival mechanisms for plants and animals
- Knife and tomahawk throwing, buckskinning, fire starting, and the mountain man lifestlye
- Horno (adobe oven) cooking
- Children’s nature programs such as learning to identify animals by their tracks
- Kite building and learning about wind
- How to use a compass and read a topo map
- How to enhance your wildlife-watching experience
- Amphitheater performances and talks on the history and historical characters of the area
- Workshops and tours on the unusual geology of the area
More on Trinidad Lake State Park
Colt Ranch Adventures
Tepee Raising Classes. As a team-building experience or just to understand a different way of life, tepee-raising is a great challenge for groups. Comfortable furnishings are provided for spending the night in your project!
Horse Harnessing & Driving Classes. When arranged in advance, these classes can be part of a team-building event. Also available as a stand-alone activity, these classes include information on general horse care, grooming, and even a short section on shoeing a draft horse. Plan a full day for this program and you will have the opportunity to drive a team of horses on a variety of vehicles.
Dutch Oven and Gourmet Cooking Classes. Your host Doctor Colt is equally at home in his elegant modern kitchen, a ranch line shack, or whipping up cowboy fare in Dutch ovens over the campfire. A graduate of the Chicago School for the Culinary Arts, Doc loves to teach others the joy of cooking.
solar low-water system for Earth Mountain base camp.
Earth Mountain Education Farm
Earth Mountain Education Farm is a 440-acre environmental education center nestled in unique canyons of the Sangre de Cristo Range and the beautiful Wahatoya Mountains (Spanish Peaks), at an elevation of 8,500 feet.
Earth Mountain is a registered WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) farm. The 40-acre base camp, a working sustainable farm, offers a wealth of learning opportunities. Surrounding acres offer many hiking trails and overnight experiences.
Live in a tepee for three days to six months and help the farm go and grow. Room and board provided with meals communally prepared.
Gain experience in natural building techniques, native drum making, organic gardening, sustainable living, and renewable energy.
See May through October in Events for scheduled classes and other activities. To register for your individual stay at the farm, inquire at 719-680-0215 or
earthmountainfarm@yahoo.com.
Visit earthmountainfarm.org for more information.
A.R. Mitchell Museum Classes
Open Classes for Intermediate Painters
Begins March 29 (Tues), 6pm-8pm. Ongoing every Tuesday through September. Work on your own projects. For adults, $8. 719-846-4224.
Beginning Oil Painting II
Begins April 2 (Sat), 1pm-3pm. Classes held on four consecutive Saturdays. Everything except brushes included, $75. 719-846-4224.
Beginning Conga Drum Lessons
Begins April 8 (Fri), 2-3pm. Ongoing every Friday through September. For adults and kids 13-17. Classes are free. Space is limited; call 719-846-4224 to sign up.
Beginning Oil Painting III
Begins May 7 (Sat), 1-3pm. Classes held on four consecutive Saturdays. Everything except brushes included, $75. 719-846-4224.
Hispanic Dollmaking
May 7 (Sat), 1pm-3pm. For kids age 11 and up. Free. 719-846-4224.
Plein Air Watercolor Workshop with Frank LaLumia
June 13-15 (Mon-Wed), 9am-5pm. Adults, $300. 719-846-4224.
Decorative Tole Painting with Donna Dewberry’s Methods
Begins Aug 6 (Sat), 1pm-3pm. Classes held on four consecutive Saturdays. $65. 719-846-4224.
First Street Gallery on Main Classes
The gallery has changed locations and will reopen in June 2011 at 130 E. Main. For information on the following classes, call 719-846-1441.
Ongoing adult and children’s pottery classes.
Children’s Kiwanis Youth Arts Academy is held in June and July. Free classes for students in pottery, painting, drawing, arts and crafts, dance and theater.
Trinidad History Museum Workshop
Greek Architecture for Kids
June 25 (Sat), 10am-noon. Hands-on workshop about classical architecture and buildings in Trinidad that use classical elements. Best for children ages 6–12. Cost: $3 per child. At the Trinidad History Museum Education Center, 312 E. Main St. Pre-register by calling 719-846-7217. Admission fee is by donation. All proceeds benefit the Trinidad History Museum Education Fund or the Baca-Bloom Heritage Gardens. Your donations are greatly appreciated! 719-846-7217.