The Colorado Center for the Blind has brought high-quality, welcoming and yet challenging programs and training for youth ages 4 to college since 1990. Whether it’s our year-round Fun Activities and Skills Training (FAST) program, mentoring for students attending the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB), Confidence BELL Academy, our residential summer programs for teens, or collaborating with partners such as Arapahoe Community College for our annual shark dissection, we are committed to creating opportunities that raise expectations for blind students and help them build the confidence to pursue their dreams as successful adults.
For more information on youth programs in Colorado, contact our Youth Services Director, Chaz Davis,
(303) 778-1130, x212
Youth Program Participant Protection Policy
The Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB) understands the importance of protecting individuals that participate in youth programs offered by the Colorado Center for the Blind. This includes any program directly managed by the CCB. These programs may take place at the Colorado Center or other locations. This policy affirms our commitment to taking the necessary steps to provide a safe and secure environment for program participants.
Please read the entire policy adopted by the CCB Board of Directors on April 3, 2022
Summer
BELL/Confidence
“Cancelled”
Confidence Camp/BELL Academy
Dates: To be announced
Location: Colorado Center for the Blind
Program Description
This two-week day program will be filled with learning, challenge and fun. Your child will meet competent blind role models who will work with the kids on cooking, cleaning, Braille, independent travel and technology. The kids will learn how to take the bus and use the light rail. They’ll have fun swimming, rock climbing, making a tactile art piece and going on exciting field trips.
And you can call Chaz Davis at (303) 778-1130, x212, or email at cdavis@cocenter.org.
Summer Residential Programs
Summer For Success
7-week program:
Dates: June 21 through august 9, 2024
This longer program will provide each student with additional instruction to cement their skills and confidence. Students enrolled in this seven-week program will attend the annual National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind held in Orlando, Florida from July 3 to July 8. They will learn techniques for airport travel, how to navigate a large hotel, a wide array of technology, meet blind people, attend meetings to learn more about the NFB and much more.
To participate in this program applicants must be 16 years of age or older. They are required to submit an essay discussing why they want to attend the national convention.
No Limits to Learning
4-week program
Dates: July 12 through august 9, 2024
This program is open to applicants who are 15 years old and up. Except for attending the National Convention, this shorter program will cover all elements listed above, including challenge recreation activities.
If you have questions, please contact Chaz Davis, Director of Youth Services, at cdavis@cocenter.org or 303-778-1130, ext. 212.
Apply for our CCB Summer Residential Programs 2024 Here
Year-round
Voluntary Youth Enrollment Information
Our year-round programs, FAST and Learning Box, require registration for each event. No surprise – we need to know how many students, parents, or educators will participate so we can have enough materials for everyone. But we also need to be able to say to grant funders how many students have participated in our programs. We’ve tried to make this registration process as easy as we can, but you can help us out by providing additional, voluntary information on our Youth Enrollment page. By providing this information to us, we don’t have to ask some of these questions over and over, things like date of birth and address. So, you save time, and we can accurately answer grant funders’ questions. Sounds like a win-win deal, doesn’t it?
Visit our Youth Enrollment Page
FAST (Fun Activities & Skills Training)
CCB’s long-standing FAST program will continue to bring more of our signature in-person activities to our youth throughout the school year, including the annual shark dissection, sports activities and more.
Usually held each month on a Saturday, activities are designed to have something for students at all age levels, and range from rocketry to wood shop to goal ball to tactile art and crafts. There are even activities for parents! No matter what, though, the key word is “fun”!
Check our calendar or contact Chaz Davis for more information or to get on our youth email list.
(303) 778-1130, x212
2017 CCB Summer Science Seminar Video
See Photos of our Youth Programs in Action!
Summer Photos
Year-round Photos
Support Our Youth Programs
The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, the Colorado Center for the Blind and the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults know that blind and visually impaired kids don’t need to be held back by their blindness, but in order for them to grow up to live the lives they want they need access to supplemental learning programs – the kind of programs that are often easily accessible to their sighted peers. Thus, a committee of determined Colorado educators, advocates and parents are developing programs for K12 students to augment educational opportunities using accessible design principles.
All of these programs are free to families with blind/low vision children, but your financial support helps us grow our blind youth in Colorado into active, ambitious blind adults!