Courtesy of GCLD
Now that kids are back in school, there’s time for parents (and everyone else) to have some fun before the snow starts to fall. To get you started, here’s a list of some of our favorite fall activities.
Plan Your Next Adventure
Looking for a new place to explore in Grand County, or somewhere else in Colorado? Check out a topographic map from one of our libraries. These Trails Illustrated Maps, produced by National Geographic, are detailed topographic maps of popular outdoor recreation areas. Each map contains GPS and compass coordinates and hundreds of points-of-interest, including scenic viewpoints, campgrounds, boat launches, and wildlife refuges.
Learn Something New
Have you been hankering to learn a new sport? Or how about a new language? Grand County Library District (GCLD) offers tons of resources to teach you what you want to learn. Search the online catalog for a sport you want to try, such as fly-fishing or mountain biking, and dozens of options will come up. If you want to learn a brand-new language or brush up on one before you travel, Rosetta Stone can help you. It’s free to library card holders and offers fast-paced, fun, and effective classes to help you learn nearly 30 different languages. Visit our ‘eBooks & Online Resources’ page at http://www.gcld.org to access it.
Earn your diploma
What about finishing your high school degree? Career Online High School is an accredited high school completion program offered by GCLD through a partnership with Gale, a Cengage company, and the Colorado State Library. The online program provides each student with a dedicated academic coach to provide encouragement and positive enrichment as they work towards achieving a high school diploma — not a GED — and a career certificate in a high growth, in-demand career field of their interest and choice. Visit http://www.gcld.org/cohs to learn more.
Take Some Time to Explore
Thanks to a partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado State Library, and Colorado Department of Education, GCLD is part of the Check Out Colorado State Parks program. Through this program, Coloradans can check out a backpack that contains a State Parks pass good for up to seven days, binoculars, nature field guides, suggested activities list, and other educational materials. If there’s a state park you’ve always wanted to explore, take advantage of going there for free with your library card.
Take a Drive
If taking a scenic drive is more your speed, search our online catalog and you’ll find several guidebooks with suggestions for either day trips or multi-day trips. These books offer travel and historical information for some visually stunning routes throughout Colorado.
Get Cultural
Access Grand Passes allow you to visit numerous educational organizations in Colorado for free. With Access Grand Passes, you can discover art and history by going to the Denver Art Museum or the Grand Lake Area Historical Society. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, check out a pass for Winter Park Adventure Quest and experience an aerial adventure park/ropes course. For something more low-key, check out a day pass for Fraser Valley Rec and take some time to sit in the hot tub, undisturbed. Check out these passes and more via the online catalog by clicking on the “More” link in the catalog’s left-hand pane.
Whatever you’re looking to do this fall, the library has something for you. Visit http://www.gcld.org or go to your local library branch to get recommendations on fun fall activities.