The Alpenglow Village
It really does take a village to raise a child. "A village" is one way to describe cohousing communities. These multigenerational settings bring together elders and children, to the benefit of everyone involved. Many parents speak to the immeasurable support of living in cohousing while raising children – from just that extra sets of eyes around the neighborhood to nearby babysitters, teaching your children about the value of kindness and cooperation.
Here is a wonderful article on the power of raising a child in a supportive community: We are Wired to Raise Children in Community
We also invite you to check out this video to learn about moms in Australia who are creating teams to help each other with parenting, much like the neighborhood support of parents found in cohousing communities. Wherever you live, if you are a parent, you can benefit from the good ideas in this 15-minute TEDx Talk. Hint: the first four minutes might just make your day!
Families in Ridgway
Ridgway, Colorado is not only an enriching place to live, but it’s also an enriching place to raise a family. Fresh, clean San Juan Mountain air and access to healthy, locally grown foods help sustain strong, young bodies. A safe, close-knit community that values the outdoors, creativity and learning has created a supportive environment for youth and their families.
This webpage is still under construction, and will be updated soon with more useful resources for families considering raising their children within a cohousing environment in Ouray County.
Education
Families in Alpenglow CoHousing have access to the following educational resources.
Bright Futures for Early Childhood and Families
child care locator, parent trainings, and other resources for parents and families
an expanding book collection plus interlibrary loan service, and a variety of creative activities for all ages
preschool, elementary, middle and high schools committed to experiential education
after-school and summer camp programs plus other prevention education programs and enrichment activities with a purpose
dance, theater, and a wide range of visual arts classes with several annual performance and exhibition opportunities
Youth Sports
Ridgway’s schools offer sports and clubs for students at every level. Other team and individual sports activities are offered by the following local organizations.
summer climbing camps, ages 6-11 and 12-18 (indoor climbing when state and county rules allow it)
for ages 5 to 12, boys and girls, summer season
Ouray County Soccer Association
recreational teams for preschoolers through 6th graders, competitive teams for 3rd through 12 graders
classes, private lessons and summer camps for ages 10 and up
Telluride Ski & Snowboard Club
for children (5 & up), numerous ski and snowboard disciplines: alpine, freestyle, snowboard, freeride, big mountain, cross-country, telemark, and figure skating
Our “Central” Park
Across the street from the Alpenglow neighborhood is Hartwell Park, also known as Ridgway Town Park. Centrally located in the downtown shopping and dining area, the park not only hosts our farmers market and various festivals, but has a great playground and picnic areas. Our proximity to the park turns it into our intentional community’s second backyard.
