The City of Boulder is committed to building a welcoming, inclusive and diverse community, where all community members experience physical health, safety and well-being. When we make our communities better places for children and youth, we make them better places for all.
The 2026 International Youth Day theme, Different Contexts, Common Aspirations, recognizes that while young people’s lives are shaped by different national and local realities, their aspirations are remarkably similar. Across countries and communities, young people seek dignity, opportunity, meaningful participation, decent work, quality education, and a sustainable future.
The City of Boulder is partnering with UNICEF USA and Growing Up Boulder to work towards formal recognition as a UNICEF Child Friendly City. The goal of the UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) is to identify and prioritize action steps and mobilize the community to improve young people’s health and well-being. In Boulder, this work is co-designed with young people, including historically underrepresented children and youth.
Boulder’s Youth Opportunities Advisory Board members and CFCI Youth Council recently drafted a ‘Youth Action Plan’. Based on the engagement and key findings, the Youth Action Plan will identify action steps intended to advance three primary areas of focus:
The draft Youth Action Plan will move towards completion over the next few months as young people, the city, Growing Up Boulder, and community partners work together to refine the strategies and resources needed to address young people’s concerns.
Youth are truly agents of change for their future and the future of Boulder through this initiative! Sign up for Growing Up Boulder’s newsletter to stay updated on CFCI.
Youth and Family Services supports children, youth and families through regional collaborative planning, community funding and quality programs. Youth and Family Services is comprised of three programs:
The Youth Services Initiative (YSI) inspires youth and families from underrepresented communities to make healthy, caring and responsible choices through recreation, health and well-being opportunities as well as life skill development.
YSI offers a diverse range of site-specific programs including Getting Fit, Rec on Wheelz, Summer Mentors and Boulder Housing Partners. Tailored to each location, activities span physical fitness, culinary arts, pottery, career exploration, hands-on job experience and much more.
Summer camps are places for our young community members to build community and create fast friendships. Both campers and counselors can be their authentic selves and belong as they try out new games, learn new skills, gain a new sense of self-confidence and most importantly...have fun!
Summer camp opportunities include “Goats and Gardens,” “Kidz Kamp,” “Reservoir Camp,” and EXPAND camps for community members with developmental disabilities. Summer’s wrapping up but make plans for next year by seeing what we offered in our 2025 Summer Camp Guide.
There are also “day off” camps for when school is not in session. These day camps include games, arts and crafts, swimming, and lot of fun activities for youth! Check out BPR’s Youth Camps webpage to sign up.
BPR partners with organizations to provide camps and classes for kids across the city. They provide youth a chance to express themselves in drama camp, expand their minds in STEM camps, build clay projects at The Pottery Lab, sports with Skyhawks, and sail at the Reservoir.
See everything your kids can participate in year-round in the recreation guide and on the city’s Youth Sports page.
When parents want to exercise but don’t know what to do with your young children? BPR has the solution! Child Watch at North Boulder Recreation Center and East Boulder Community Center. We encourage our kids to have fun and let parents get their exercise on!
Drop-in Child Watch is available for children ages 2-10 Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at North Boulder Recreation Center and Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at East Boulder Community Center. Kids 2-3 can stay for up to 1.5 hours and kids 3-10 can stay for up to two hours. Child Watch is included with the family pass, a youth pass or pay the youth entry fee, which is $7. Find Child Watch hours and register in advance .
BPR’s 12,000 square foot gymnastics facility in North Boulder Recreation Center provides opportunities for young athletes to develop life-long lessons of self-confidence, bravery, and perseverance through the vehicle of gymnastics. From beginner classes for 2-year-olds to advanced competition preparation, there’s an on ramp/low balance beam for everyone to join in the fun of gymnastics!
Youth can also join BPR’s Dance classes which are filled with energy, creativity and fun. BPR offers a wide range of classes including ballet, tap, hip hop, contemporary and multiple styles of jazz dance. See youth classes and sign up.
We have fitness opportunities designed specifically for our younger community members.
Our Youth Speed, Agility, & Quickness camp helps young athletes work on mastering their body control and mechanics as related to movements such as jumping, landing, acceleration and changing direction. Through this class, participants will be more dynamic and explosive in their movement and reduce the risk of injury.
BPR also provides weight room orientations to community members under 14. These classes show them how to use the weight room equipment safely and learn weight training policies and protocols.
Last, but not least are the over 80 parks that BPR manages in Boulder. They are a chance for kids to explore, take physical (and emotional) chances, make new friends and be active! These spaces are places to make memories and be a kid! From Valmont Park’s bike park and skate park to Arapahoe Ridge park’s wall, we hope you can visit one close to you or a large one that may be a bit farther away. Find a ‘Naturehood’ or close to-home nature space on the city website.
The Junior Ranger Program is an opportunity for teens ages 14 to 17 years old to be employed by the City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department to work on a variety of natural resource projects like trail restoration, forestry and invasive species removal. Junior Rangers:
Learn more about this opportunity on the city’s website. Thank you to the Junior Rangers who worked hard to help us maintain and improve open space this summer!
The city is collaborating with Growing Up Boulder and many other community partners to advance equitable access to nature for youth, families and caregivers. Find opportunities for youth and parents/caregivers to PLAY, LEARN and ACT in nature.
