What do kids do in CS/Monument (Denver, Colorado Springs: home, neighborhoods)

[cs2go]

We are thinking about moving to CS but on a recent visit found that it is almost too isolated with very few places to go. The only direction to head is in Denver. I am comeing from Ca wher there is all kinds of cities to venture too. What do families with young children do besides ski or go to school? Are there public parks or other places children can do in CS. Could someone take me through a typical 5-10year old week after school?

[ryanek9freak]

My daughter is involoved in Girl Scouts, and that keeps her pretty busy.

[Rosie123]

Originally Posted by cs2go

We are thinking about moving to CS but on a recent visit found that it is almost too isolated with very few places to go. The only direction to head is in Denver. I am comeing from Ca wher there is all kinds of cities to venture too. What do families with young children do besides ski or go to school? Are there public parks or other places children can do in CS. Could someone take me through a typical 5-10year old week after school?

We have 3 kids (10,8 and 6). We love it here! Lots to do! My kids do lots of after school sports (martial arts, dance, tennis). The school itself (we are in D20) offers after school chess club (there are also chess clubs outside the school), geography bee club, different sports, choir and band in elementary level and there is more at the higher levels. We live in a neighborhood with lots of young kids (especially in our street) and the kids play almost every day outside.... there are many playgrounds and parks all over Colorado Springs/Monument....we live North of COS/near Monument. There is a lot of new development done (north COS). We just got a new cinema..there will be another opening at the end of this year. I heard there will be a water park and in approx. 2 - 3 years a mall (like Park Meadows Denver).... then COS has its own hiking and biking trails and many more very near by. We went camping in Muller State Park which is only 1 hour from home.....on Sats my kids play in a local pokemon card league (with tournaments every 2 - 3 weeks) and they love it. We do lots of biking and swimming during the summer and skiing/snowboarding/sledding in winter time..... we are always so busy..but sometimes we manage to visit the Science Museum, the Children's Museum or the Aquarium in Denver which are only one hour away.
When you visited COS..did you take your kids to Santa's Northpole? This is a very neat place for young kids

Well - hope that helps.

[cs2go]

WOW. Thanks for that. I am so glad to hear about those unique activities. This is one of the reasons why we are looking to move into a community where children can have many different options. Colorado in general has a reputation for one of the best places to raise kids and we are just trying to find out what makes it so special besides the great public school system I have been learning about.

[millsy]

Having just recently moved here with a 9 and 7 year old (AND having lived in CA) I gotta say this area rocks! It's very outdoorsy....we live near Fox Run park which is full of trails and playgrounds. Kids are in Scouts, gymnastics and my younger one took a week of 'drama camp' We live in the woods and love the privacy and the ability for the kids run around outside...weather is beautiful (well....not right now...but in general it's been great!) There is a really fun dog park in Co.Springs where the dogs can run off leash...very fun. I get a really family oriented vibe everywhere I go which I just love. I'd say you can't miss with this area!! We are in D-38 schools which are awesome too!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by cs2go

We are thinking about moving to CS but on a recent visit found that it is almost too isolated with very few places to go. The only direction to head is in Denver. I am comeing from Ca wher there is all kinds of cities to venture too. What do families with young children do besides ski or go to school? Are there public parks or other places children can do in CS. Could someone take me through a typical 5-10year old week after school?

There is a brand new YMCA in Monument. The Y has basketball leagues and I'm sure other leagues in winter. There is a bowling alley sort of halfway between Monument and Palmer Lake - pretty kid friendly with the gutter bumpers and roll down racks for little kids.
There are several soccer leagues: Rush Pikes Peak, Pride, YMCA, and AYSO (I think this is in southern Colorado Springs and not in Monument or northern COS).
Many kids are involved in after school activities including Land Sharks running club in late spring.

So, to answer the question, what do they do: Homework, sports practice, some sort of after school activity (like Girl Scouts), and I guess the same things kids are doing everywhere else. Weekends are sports games, birthday parties, hanging out with friends.

[friendly families]

Hey

I am part of an excellent free group called Friendly Families here is the link

Friendly Families (Colorado Springs, CO) - Meetup.com

They have members all over the Springs and the woman who runs it lives in Monument, it is very down to earth and diverse and has stuff for kids of every age, you should join them and speak to Sonia who runs it and she will be happy to help you Organize some playdates at your home if you wanted to. I have been in "mommies" groups and did not like them so much but this group is fantastic as they have stuff to include the whole family so even the men can make friends.

Check it out ... I really have so much fun with them and have found so many friends as we too are from CA and it was hard moving and finding new people

Sarah

[treedonkey]

There's a big ice and climbing center on old Denver Highway, just north of Baptist Rd. I went by there last night and the ice rink was packed with kids playing hockey... looked like some kinda league practice. Also, the Y has a bunch of activity groups for kids. There;s alos a skate park in town and plenty of trails for them to ride o bike on. What else? Sledding, hiking, and... tons...

In fact, my wife and I have at times joked that maybe we SHOULD have kids after-all just because it's such a kid paradise around here... Assuming your children are active.

[cs2go]

After doing my research since this question, I feel pretty silly asking it. You are right treedonkey, it is a kids paradise and parents here live for their kids. I think this is why COS is a moving destination for people like us from other states where there is a lack of parental guidance or things to do.

[Mike from back east]

There's plenty here, just gotta get in the loop on it all. Charles mentioned the YMCA up on Jackson Creek Rd. During the election I did voter registrations in their lobby and sat there for hours watching the kids use the pool, which has all sorts of slides and water nozzles and stuff to keep little ones occupied, not to mention the larger pool for doing laps and such. All in all the YMCA seemed a real asset to the community. There are plenty of neighborhoods in the Pine Creek / Briargate area that are crawling with kids. There is also a YMCA in Briargate with a skate park adjacent to it and that area is walkable to many things. Before making any decision, look in the index for the Zip 80920 Briargate Photo Tour. Any questions, shoot me a DM or add it to this thread. Best of luck to you.