Dear community,

January 2024 marks the 10th administration of the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS) in Eagle County since 2007. While readers of the Vail Daily might remember the survey from past years, what they might not know is the impact it has on members of our community. 

On a community level, many of our local nonprofits and government agencies have used data from the survey to understand our youth’s behavioral needs and strengths, and to apply for grants that support their work. In fact, Mountain Youth and other local agencies have been able to collectively secure over $28,000,000 towards programs supporting youth and families since 2007, utilizing HKCS data.

Mountain Youth and other local agencies have been able to collectively secure over $28,000,000 towards programs supporting youth and families since 2007, utilizing HKCS data.

On a more individual level, this data has enabled Mountain Youth to sponsor close to 850 individuals at our Family and Community Education series, engage 1,320 students and other community members with Safe Driving Education, and provide Life Skills education to over 1,500 Eagle County students in 2023.

In addition to helping organizations apply for grants and support programs, the data also influences policies and strategies to increase protective factors for our youth. For example, at Eagle County School District, wellness policies impacting students and staff, and the addition of wellness goals to the Board of Education Ends Policy were identified utilizing HKCS data. 

Community-wide, laws and norms around substance use have also been revisited in light of the HKCS data. Eagle County has also implemented changes thanks to the data. As Commissioner Jeanne McQueeney explains, “The Healthy Kids Colorado Survey administered by Mountain Youth has provided excellent data points as our Eagle County Public Health team develops the Public Health Community Plan. This plan will help guide our actions across our community for the next 5 years, so it’s important to have reliable data to refer to. The plan was just approved by the Board of Health in early December so it’s hot off the press.” 



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Molly DeLallo is a trailblazer in the truest sense of the word. Whether it’s running ultra-marathons or descending our mountains on bike or board or skis, she’s most at home in the wilderness. 

 Brought out to the mountains of Colorado to teach Social Studies at Zealous Schools, Molly was looking for a change in scenery. Most of her teaching career was spent in boarding schools in New Hampshire, where she also coached sports like mountain biking and skiing, and even taught Spanish. Her affinity to entertain while teaching makes her stand out with youth who might not be fully served in the traditional setting.

Now, she’s hung up her classroom teaching hat and switched to the flannel of teaching trail stewardship with Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance (VVMTA). As the Trail Stewardship Coordinator she oversees volunteer engagement and taking people out onto the trails many of us know and love. It’s not only an opportunity to build and maintain our trails, but to educate people in our community about sustainable recreation. 

Molly manages the Adopt-A-Trail program and the Youth Trail Stewardship program, as well. This allows her to work with students from many organizations by getting them in the natural classroom to do trail digging, maintenance, and ensuring they understand the responsibility they have to our trails and the land. She believes youth are carrying the torch forward to set the standard for their younger cohorts and people in the community.

To read more about Molly, click the button below.

Young Driver's Education Event: Q&A Panel

Evento de educación para conductores jóvenes:

panel de preguntas y respuestas

January 17, 2024 & January 18, 2024

Gypsum Rec Center & Battle Mountain

5:30-7:30 pm

Dinner and childcare provided. Spanish translation available.



Se proporciona cena y cuidado de niños.

Traducción al español disponible.

Mountain Youth is offering a free, one-day (6 hour) Positive Youth Development (PYD) training.

This interactive workshop style training is open to youth serving professionals or anyone interested in youth wellbeing. We welcome all who are interested in supporting our youth!

Friday, January 26th

Edwards Early Learning Center

8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Lunch, childcare and live translation will be provided.

The Coalition is ready to rock and roll in 2024! In December we worked on a variety of topics such as: marketing and community outreach, reviewing bylaws, identifying trusted adults to recruit, and discussing the effects of social hosting on youth. This work is helping to lay the foundation for our coalition's strategies in the new year! We have multiple morning and evening meetings coming up in January if you want to join the coalition and be a part of change in Eagle County. Reach out to hconoley@mountainyouth.org to learn more!

Remember to register for our Positive Youth Development Training on January 26 if you want to enhance your skills to empower and support young people and help them identify and develop their strengths!

First Valley's Voice Meeting of 2024

Monday | January 8

6:30-7:30 pm

Virtual

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Primer reunión de 2024

lunes | 8 de enero

6:30-7:30 pm

Virtual

January Calendar of Community Events

Calendario de Eventos Comunitarios

Teen Nights

Date: Tuesdays

Time: 4:15 pm

Location: Gypsum Public Library

Hey teens, there’s now a special night at every library branch just for you! Chill with your friends, get inspired, create, cook, chat, laugh and enjoy delicious snacks.

Contact: Nick Dawson

Contact info: Luke Herron

Avon Winter Fireworks

Bundle up, and gather your friends and family for the second annual Fireworks in Avon over MLK Weekend! Enjoy free hot cocoa and peppermint schnapps (limited quantities available) and delight as the winter skies light up for Avon’s ten-minute fireworks extravaganza over Nottingham Lake.

Location: Harry Nottingham Park

Cost: FREE

Date/Time: Saturday, January 13th, 2024. 5:30 - 7:00 pm

Kids Swim Night Out

Avon’s Kids Swim Night Out allows parents to drop their kids off at the Avon Rec Center to enjoy a date night! This event is open to everyone ages 5-12 years old. Parents can drop off their kids for a fun night of swimming, board games, movies, and pizza!

Location: Avon Rec Center

Date: January 12

Time: 6-8:30PM  

Cost: $25

Basketball Tournament

3v3 Indoor Basketball Tournament. Ages 15 and up.

Location: Avon Elementary School Gymnasium

Date: January 20th

Time: 9:00 am - 2:00Pm

Cost: $35 per team

Escalada Bajo Techo / Indoor Climbing

Socios / Partners: Eagle Climbing + Fitness

Location: Eagle Climbing + Fitness, Eagle

Date: 7 de Enero / January 7th

Time: 10 am-12:30 pm

$5 por persona. A partir de los 4 años. Únase a nosotros una mañana divertida de escalada. Todo el equipo y guías serán proporcionados.

Esqui Nordico / Cross Country Skiing

Socios / Partners: Vail Nordic Center

Location: Vail Nordic Center, Vail

Date: 17 de Enero/ January 17th

Time: 10 am-12 pm

$15/persona. Transporte gratuito desde Avon. Alguna vez has pensado en esquiar? Es la opción perfecta para las personas que lo quieren intentar sin el compromiso de las alturas, y de una manera diferente a la manera de esquiar tradicional.

 Aromatherapy / Aromaterapia

Socios / Partners: Betty Ford Alpine Gardens 

Location: TBD

Date: 28 de Enero / January 28th

Time: 10am-12pm

Gratis, para todas las edades! La aromaterapia es un tratamiento curativo holístico que utiliza extractos naturales de plantas para promover la salud y el bienestar. La aromaterapia utiliza aceites esenciales aromáticos con fines medicinales para mejorar la salud del cuerpo, la mente y el espíritu. Mejora tanto la salud física como la emocional.

Other News

Otras Noticias

Vail Valley RIDE is hiring.



Job Description: Operations Manager at Vail Valley RIDE

Dates: May 13, 2024 - August 24, 2024

Position Type: Seasonal

Location: Eagle, Colorado

Hours: 25-30 hours/week

Starting Pay: $25/hour

**Compensation can increase with experience and level of contribution to the program’s mission and growth. 

Click here to apply

The Eagle County School District's Early Childhood Team has multiple positions open.

Eagle County Government is rolling out a new early childhood initiative to support our early childhood workforce. 

Not every early childhood professional will be eligible for this program.

Here is a link to the full eligibility and training requirements. Please note the eligibility and training requirements, as well as the entire form and application, will be available in English and Spanish.

Click her to apply

Parenting Tips of the Month

Parenting Tips For Transitioning Back to School After a Break

1. Return to bedtime routines

2. Create a back-to-school countdown

3. Discuss the year ahead

4. Celebrate their first week back

5. Stock up on school supplies

6. Make your mornings easier

7. Validate your child's feelings