“I have been involved with Aspen Youth Center as a board member since 2016. I was approached by a current board member who thought my combined love for this community and kids would make me a good fit. He was right.
“I was bullied a lot as a kid. As I got older, I became angry, unhappy, and uncomfortable in my skin. I started to believe what kids said about me: that I was stupid, my opinions didn’t mater, I didn’t deserve to be happy or have anything good in my life. I started hanging out with bad kids and making bad decisions.
The decision to go to AYC altered the course of my life.
“I love what AYC does and I am so thankful for Aspen Youth Center. My stepson has visited AYC frequently over the last couple of years after moving to the valley. I don’t know what we would have done without Aspen Youth Center as we both work full-time.
“I started coming to AYC in 5th grade. We had just moved to Aspen and my mom told my sister and I there was a youth center. I was so nervous to go but when I walked in those doors it was my home away from home. That day, I met one of my best friends and after she showed me around we were inseparable. We would not have been friends if it weren’t for AYC.
• Wind Walkers
• KNDK
• Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers
• EcoFlight
• Aspen Art Museum
During the summer AYC is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. In addition to all of the programs described above, youth participate in rafting, horseback riding, trail clearing, and even flights with Eco Flight, a local nonprofit that takes kids on flights to show them our amazing local environment.
AYC is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive place where youth in grades 4 through 12 connect, learn, and grow during their out of school hours, for free.
