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The first in a series of community conversations developed to inform and support Denver parents, it’s sponsored by the nonprofit Mile High Montessori Early Learning Centers, providing subsidized childcare and preschool education to children ages 3 months to five years in families at or below poverty level. RSVP requested: 303-861-2602 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Attention: youthful entrepreneurs! Business persons 6 to 21 can vie for $250 to $1,000 in prizes in the Celebration for Young Entrepreneurs business competition, presented by Young Americans Center for Financial Education, 3550 E. 1st Ave. Get applications online and submit by June 17. Winners and finalists will be announced in September. Info: Cheryl, 303-320-3213, yacenter.org.

Kids 3-5 with “grownups” are invited to artmaking, games & storytimes at Create Playdates, second Wednesdays, 11a.m.-1p.m., at the Duncan Pavilion in the Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. New themes every month: Hug – looking for people hugging in the paintings of Cities of Splendor, DAM’s current art exhibition – is May 11. Free with general admission (5 and under free). Info: 720-865-5000, denverartmuseum.org.

Tools For Kids is offered by the Inner Connection Institute, a center for spiritual growth and psychic development, Sat. May 14, 2-3p.m., with separate formats for children 7-10 and 11-16. Part 1 (Grounding) teaches kids how to ground, hold their space and how to identify and play with energy, helping them to make clearer choices and create with certainty. $25. Info/registration/location, call 303-257-4797.

Would you like to learn to be more flexible with your children? Pearl Street Yoga can help! Try out the ongoing Toddler Class (crawling to 5 years old), Thursdays at 10a.m., or the Mommy & Me Infant Class at 11a.m., held at PSY, 1550 S. Pearl St. First class is always free! Info: pearlstreetyoga.com or 720-341-2233.

Mom and local photographer Katherine Blunt’s exhibition of anti-bullying images is on view through May 15 at First Universalist Church, 4101 E. Hampden Ave. Blunt’s Krusade for Kindness aims to end bullying in grades 1-12, and related suicides; suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens in Colorado, and some studies show that more than 50 percent of those incidents are directly related to bullying. Info: 303-759-2770.

Sign up soon for the annual Youth Fishing Derby at the Lily Pond, Wed., June 1, 9a.m.-noon, hosted by FANS (Friends and Neighbors of Washington Park) with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Denver Parks and Recreation.  Registration is required; limited spaces available. Open to ages 6 to 15, with adult supervision. Rods and tackle will be provided. Register at the Washington Park Rec Center, 701 S. Franklin St.

Thinking about middle school options for the fall? Morey Middle School, 840 E. 14th Ave., has openings for incoming 6th graders to join the Morey Mustangs. Currently, Morey has lifted their “capped” status for incoming 6th graders and are welcoming more students for the 2011-12 school year. Morey’s popularity, high achieving status and location have drawn students from all over the city. For information, contact Morey at 720-424-0700 or visit moreymustangs.org.

Draw something cool, screenprint it onto paper, turn it into a kite and then go fly it in nearby Platt Park in Kite Ink, Sat., May 21, 10a.m.-noon, at Ink Lounge, 1512 S. Acoma St. Materials and beverages included in $15 fee. Class limited to eight, ages 5-10 recommended. Sign-up/info: 303-321-7101, inkloungecreative.com.

Make merry with kinsfolk at Celebrate Family! a festival for families with children newborn to age 8, at the Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., on Sun., May 22, 10:30a.m.-2:30p.m. Attractions include train rides, bounce castle, petting zoo, helicopter, rock climbing wall, marketplace of kids products, face painting and prizes. Lunch available for purchase, free snacks for kids.
            New this year is a Bike Swap: Donate used children’s bicycles through Fri., May 20 at the JCC’s Sports and Fitness Center (please call ahead, 303-316-6300); Bicycle Village will assess and price them; attendees can purchase “as-is” cycles at the festival. Bicycle Village will be providing helmet safety tips at the event, and offer 20 percent off parts and 25 percent off labor for participating families.
            Info: 303-399-6336 or jccdenver.org.

Some Parts are Not for Sharing author Julie Federico will host a couple of book signings this spring: Sat., May 28, 1-3p.m., at Kidsport Outlet, 613 E. Jewell Ave., and Sat., June 11, 1-3p.m. at Dazbog Coffee, 2450 S. Downing St. The small, short book for ages 0-7 delivers a strong message on how children can recognize and avoid being molested, by explaining what kinds of touching – by either strangers and relatives – are inappropriate. Info: juliefederico.com.

Discover art which explores the world and lets the imagination soar with classes from the Children’s Art School, offering Saturday activities for families and kids this month:
            Learn about the Bayeux Tapestry, weaving a world of castles, kings and knights and create your own tapestry in Stories of Colored Threads, for ages 6 and older, May 7 & 14, 3-5p.m. $35. Kids 4 and up (and moms, too) explore painting colors, shapes and creatures in art – blue horses and smiling cats – and story in Creature Features, May 14, 12:30-2p.m. $20/family.
            Four Saturdays, late May through early June (May 21, 28, June 4 & 11), a variety of classes are offered for young artists, 7 and older: Capture spring in Wash Park in pastels, charcoal and colored pencils in Sketching Trip, 10a.m.-noon; explore the four treasures of Chinese painting to create a dragon scroll in Emperor’s Brush, 12:30-2:30p.m.; or draw, sculpt, paint with a celebration of colors in Light Fantastic, 3-5p.m. $70 per series.
            The Joy Of Art and summer program schedule is ready; call for details of summer workshops. All materials included. Preregistration required. Located at 700 S. Franklin St. in St. John’s School. Info/costs/registration: 720-319-3813.

Denver Rec centers will be part of a study investigating the effects of exercise on depressed adolescents, and volunteer teens (from 12 to 21) are needed. Participants in the Depression Outcomes Study of Exercise for Teens receive one-year memberships to one of eight rec centers (including Cook Park, Montclair and Washington Park) and attend exercise sessions three to five times a week for 12 weeks, supervised by a recreation therapist; teens can continue rec center activities thereafter. Rolling admission continues until June. Info: Jennifer, project coordinator, 303-565-4321, ext. 3673; or DOSEforTeens.org.

Hear the Mayan/Aztec legend of how the world got its color, then paint it, in the next Kids Art Saturday workshop, Sat., May 21, 2-4p.m., at Chicano Humanities & Arts Council’s North Gallery, 774 Santa Fe Dr. Suggested donation $2 for materials.
            Summer kids classes, replete with refreshments, artmaking and a story, are offered Thursday mornings, starting June 2, 10:30a.m.-noon. Fee: $6 walk-ins, $5 advance, $12 for three in advance.
            Registration/info:ChacWeb.org or 303-571-0440.

Summer of Reading programs begin May 26 at all 23 Denver Public Library branches and two bookmobiles. Visit summerofreading.org, call 720-865-0975, or stop at your nearest branch for details of the free program.
            Central Library, 10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy., presents: Weekly storytimes, ending May 13, in the Children’s Pavilion, 10:30a.m., with craft activities in the Baron Project Room immediately afterward. No preregistration required: Mon. & Wed., Tales for Twos (24-35 mo.); Tues., Book Babies I (0-6 mo.); Thur., Preschool Storytime & Craft(3-5 yrs.); Fri., Book Babies II (early walkers). Info: kids.denverlibrary.org or 720-865-1306.
            Byers, 675 Santa Fe Dr. Stop in, call, or visit the website for details. Information: 720-865-0160.
            Decker, 1501 S. Logan St.: Book Babies (babies and caregivers/parents), offered Wed. & Thur., 11:15a.m., through May 19; Storytime with Craft (preschoolers), Wed., 10:15a.m., through May 18. Information: 720-865-0220.
            Eugene Field, 810 S. University Blvd.: Book Babies, Mon. & Tues., 11:15a.m.; Storytime with Craft, Mon. and Tues., 10:15a.m. Info: 720-865-0240.
            Schlessman, 100 Poplar St.: Weekly activities (through May 26) include All Ages Storytime, Tues., 10:30a.m.; and Book Babies, Thur., 10:30a.m. Info: 720-865-0000.
            Virginia Village, 1500 S. Dahlia St.: call 720-865-0940 for details of May reopening; closed for renovation as part of the Better Denver Bond Program approved by voters in 2007.
            Note: all branch libraries closed Sun. & Mon., May 29 & 30, for Memorial Day.

Benefit from 47 years of experience at Iliff Preschool’s Summer Adventure Day Camp for post kindergarteners through age 12. Campers spend their days with professionally trained staff who focus on fun and adventure through swimming, sports and field trips connected to weekly themes. Returning campers can find themes and registration packets on the website. First-time campers can pick up a registration packet at the office, 4140 E. Iliff Ave. Info: iliffpreschool.com, 303-757-3551.

Enrollment is underway for a six-week summer camp at Emmanuel United Methodist Preschool, 2700 S. Downing St., offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to kids 3 (potty trained) to 5. Qualistar-rated EMP is a Denver Preschool Program provider, and has delivered quality preschool education to the community for 38 years. Interested in fall classes? A few spots are still open. Info: 303-758-1697; empdenver.com.

For all single parents – Families First offers a free on-going Circle of Parents support group just for you! Discover proven methods for cutting down on the frustration of being a single parent in today’s hectic world. Unlock the knowledge you already hold and share your wisdom, create a support network and rebuild your self-esteem.
            Group meets first, third and fifth Thursdays, 6:30-8p.m., at Evanston United Methodist Church, 2122 S. Lafayette St. Free children’s group provided. Come build upon your strengths in a safe and nurturing environment.
            Do you need immediate help? Visit FamiliesFirstColorado.org for quick links to parenting classes, Circle of Parents groups, the Family Support Line for English and Spanish callers, and a residential treatment center focused on the prevention and treatment of child abuse. Info: call the Family Support Line, 303-695-7996, or Families First, 303-745-0327.