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Now is a good time to be a Colorado kid—and a Centennial State parent, especially where dollar signs are concerned. This morning, the Denver Art Museum (DAM) announced that kids 18 years old and younger can meander the museum and try out its interactive exhibits free of charge until least until 2020. “This is a big deal,” says Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. “This is a sign that there is a movement to make children the number-one priority in Colorado.”
The Free for Kids program—funded by longtime DAM trustee Scott Reiman and the Reiman Foundation, along with Kaiser Permanente Colorado—is expected to reach 100,000 children in Denver alone, but kids from across the state and visitors can also take advantage. When the museum welcomes special temporary programs such as the recent Cartier exhibit, admission to the 18 and under set won’t exceed $5. The Free For Kids program kicks off right away, with the museum’s two-week push to engage spring breakers in the Joan Miró Instinct and Imagination exhibit.
The DAM news comes just days after Vail Resorts announced that it’s expanding its youth skiing program, formerly known as School of Shred. The Epic SchoolKids Colorado Pack allows kids in kindergarten through fifth grade to test their skiing or snowboarding skills at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, and Keystone for free. Each pass—worth more than $1,300—includes four full-day lift tickets, as well as one free first-timer ski or ride lesson with equipment rental in January.
“Colorado kids are in a most enviable position having the Rocky Mountains at their doorstep,” Governor John Hickenlooper said in a press release. “Opening up the possibility for kids’ participation in snowsports—some who may never before have dreamed that they could enjoy such an experience—is an important effort in ensuring that Colorado is the healthiest state in the country for generations to come.” The passes are available now through Memorial Day at participating Front Range Colorado Ski & Golf, Colorado Ski & Sport and Boulder Ski Deals locations with a copy of a report card, school ID or birth certificate, as well as a photo for their pass.
Update: In August, representatives from the Clyfford Still Museum announced that it will also offer free general admission for all youth 17 and under.
Want more: Check out the My Denver Card and the Children’s Museum of Denver for more reduced-cost, kid-friendly programming.
Follow assistant editor Lindsey R. McKissick on Twitter @LindseyRMcK.