GILPIN COUNTY – Come to CSU Extension/Gilpin County’s second annual, free Cabin Fever Festival on Feb 21, from 1-4 p.m. at the Gilpin Community Center, 250 Norton Drive, at the Gilpin County Fairgrounds.

Schedule:
1-3pm: Avalanche Safety and Awareness with Dr. John Snook from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center
2-4pm: Cartooning with George Blevins
1-1:45pm: Winter Bird ID and feeding
3-4pm: Animal tracks in the snow
3-4pm: Try out snowshoeing (snow permitting – – do your snow dance!)
1-4pm: Kid’s Escape to Hawaii – crafts, games, snacks
1-4pm: Quilting

At the avalanche class, there will be some of the latest equipment available, including a demonstration deployment of an air bag. Dr. John Snook has a long history in forecasting and technology transfer. He spent fourteen years working at NOAA in Boulder as a research meteorologist, and developed weather forecast systems and atmospheric numerical models. John is an avid backcountry skier and joined the National Ski Patrol at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area in 1985.

For George Blevin’s Cartooning class, he will work with you on ideas (hint: your whole life is cartoon fodder!), how to develop a story, and some of the practicalities of getting the story on paper (such as how much you can say in a single panel and how to lay it out for readability). Even if you don’t think of yourself as a cartoonist, the process of creating a cartoon or two might bring fresh inspiration and insight and fun into your life. Take this once in a life time opportunity to explore cartooning with our local legend!

For the quilting, you can help create a Cabin Fever quilt, no sewing or stitching experience required. Various-colored fabric squares and easy-to-use fabric markers will be provided. You’ll simply draw your images of cabin fever, then the Gilpin Stitchers will put the blocks together in a quilt top that they will quilt. Plans are to display the quilt at the Gilpin County Rec Center and Gilpin County Extension Service events in the future.

Older teens and adults, learn to make log-cabin quilt blocks with assistance from members of the Gilpin Stitchers. All materials will be provided. You can stitch by hand and/or use one of several sewing machines that will be provided. You’ll take your block with you to hang on a wall of your home or turn into a throw pillow or table topper.

For the kid’s escape to Hawaii: exploring Hawaiian fruit, fun sunscreen masks, making leis and grass skirts, learning the hula, translate your name into Hawaiian, Hawaiian legends and stories, and build a canoe.

Dominque Marks, a ranger from Golden Gate Canyon State park will show you how to figure out which animal made what tracks in the snow.

Irene Shonle will teach basic ID of our common winter birds and discuss how feeding birds can not only help them survive the winter, it can brighten your winter days!

There will also be snowshoes for people to try out the fun and easy sport (if there is enough snow).

Visit CSU Extension Gilpin County for more information.