Grab your gardening gloves and an appetite for adventure! The 2026 Kids in the Mountain Garden Education Program (KIMGE) is officially returning this August, and it’s bringing a brand-new guide to lead local youth through the garden: KIMGE, the Colorado Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep!
Designed for families with kids ages 5 to 12, the KIMGE program focuses on the entire “garden-to-table” cycle, inspiring kids to understand where their food comes from, reduce food waste, and appreciate cultural diversity through the universal language of food.
This year’s program blends mindfulness, nature connection, gardening, literacy, and cooking into a series of interactive, hands-on workshops. The program is structured around the fundamental question “ What Makes a Garden Grow,” using weekly themes that transform young participants into real-world “Garden Heroes”. The four-week adventure takes place every Wednesday evening in August (August 5, 12, 19, and 26) from 5:15 PM to 7:15 PM at the Vista Lake Community Garden and Clubhouse.
The program is perfect for families looking to learn, create, and eat together. Because sessions involve real kitchen tools, parents are required to stay with their children throughout the evening to ensure safety and share in the traditions. Spaces are limited to ensure high-quality interaction at the cooking and gardening stations. Grab your family, clear your Wednesday nights, and get ready to grow with KIMGE the Bighorn Sheep this August!
For more information and to register, visit our website: https://www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org or email communityengagement@fsfearchuleta.org.
Community Partners Strengthen Communication Skills
On July 7, Healthy Archuleta hosted a Motivational Interviewing (MI) refresher training led by Stacey Foss, bringing together 15 participants from Healthy Archuleta, the Archuleta County Department of Human Services, and Authentic Solutions. The training focused on strengthening communication skills that help people navigate change through empathy, curiosity, and active listening rather than judgment or persuasion.
Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based approach used across healthcare, behavioral health, education, and human services to help individuals discover their own motivation for change. During the session, participants practiced the core MI skills known as OARS (Open-ended Questions, Affirmations, Reflections, and Summaries) and learned to recognize “change talk,” the language people use when they begin moving toward positive change.
The training also introduced the Decisional Balance, or “Four Boxes,” exercise, a practical tool that helps people work through uncertainty by exploring the benefits and challenges of both staying the same and making a change. Participants discussed strategies for reducing defensiveness, building trust, and creating conversations where people feel heard, respected, and empowered to make decisions that align with their own values and goals.
Healthy Archuleta is committed to building the skills of local organizations and community members through training opportunities that strengthen collaboration and support a healthier, more connected community. If you are interested in participating in future training sessions offered by Healthy Archuleta, email fsfearchuleta@gmail.com or learn more about upcoming opportunities by visiting https://www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org.