Breckenridge Texan

Several organizations in Breckenridge are offering activities for the community’s children this summer, and it’s shaping up to be a nature-themed couple of months. From the Creature Teacher’s wildlife to the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s Beauty and the Beast-themed production, there’s quite a bit going on.

Breckenridge Library Programs

The Breckenridge Library is hosting several events this summer, including the annual summer reading program at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays through July 14.

The Creature Teacher will return to Breckenridge on July 1 for two showings — at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The program, which introduces a variety of wildlife to those in attendance, is offered in conjunction with the library’s summer reading program. Each year, the kids get to see and learn about several different exotic animals.

And, there will be a program by the Dinosaur Valley State Park on Wednesday, July 8. The event will include a dinosaur-related story time and activities for kids at 3 p.m. Then, at 5 p.m., there will be a program for adults about dinosaurs and fossils.

The library programs are offered at no charge.

Breckenridge Fine Arts Center

The Breckenridge Fine Arts Center will host its Art Masters Summer Camp this month, offering young artists a four-day creative journey into the colorful world of Georgia O’Keeffe.

During the camp, scheduled for June 22–25, students will explore bold color, expressive flowers, nature-inspired art and creative techniques. Participants will create a brand new Georgia O’Keeffe-inspired project each day.

The special summer session will be led by instructor Doylene Land. The camp is designed for both returning Art Masters students and new young artists.

The cost of the camp is $80 for all four days. Attendance is limited to 10 students per class, and the class for kids in grades 3 through 5 is already full.

Those interested in registering students in first or second grade can register online at https://form.jotform.com/261404869907164.

Summer Theater Camp

The Friends of Historic Breckenridge and the National Theatre of Breckenridge will host the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s summer theater camp and production of “Beauty Lou and the Country Beast” this month.

The program is for children who have completed kindergarten through 12th grade; the cost is$50 per child. All participants will need to attend all rehearsals required for their role in the play according to the rehearsal and performance schedule that will be provided later. All events will take place at The National Theatre, located at 116 E. Walker St. in Breckenridge.

The schedule for the week is as follows:

• Auditions: Monday, June 15, beginning at 9:45 a.m.
• Workshop Week: Monday, June 15 through Friday, June 19
• Performance Day: Saturday, June 20, at 2 p.m.

The production is an original country-western adaptation of the classic fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast.” According to the Missoula Children’s Theatre, the play is set in the American West. The story follows Beauty Lou, the oldest daughter of the bronc-bustin’ balladeer Buck. After Beauty Lou treats an ungrateful miner poorly at the county fair, wishing he looked like a beast, her father later encounters the miner-turned-beast when the family farm is in danger of being lost. Beauty Lou agrees to befriend the Beast to save her family, leading both characters to look beyond appearances and first impressions.

The play features Beauty Lou’s six sisters, her Imaginary Friend, her dog Fleabite Clyde, farmhands Slim and Dusty, neighborly Country Folk, and Barnyard Critters. The show was adapted by Jim Caron, with music and lyrics by Michael McGill and Jim Caron, and additional music by Jon Hart and Michael Schooner.

The Missoula Children’s Theatre is a touring children’s theater program based in Missoula, Montana. Part of MCT, Inc., a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that employs about 120 full-time staff members, the program travels across the United States and internationally, casting local youths in performances of original plays based on classic children’s stories.

MCT first came to Breckenridge in 2015 and has returned every year since, with the exception of 2020 and 2021, due to COVID-19.

The mission of MCT is “the development of life skills in children through participation in the performing arts.” The organization has traveled to 50 states, five Canadian provinces, and 17 countries. MCT goal is to reach small communities with few creative outlets or resources for children, helping them grow into confident, successful citizens. Traveling to more than 1,000 communities annually, MCT works with approximately 65,000 children each year in plays, and its theater workshops reach 150,000 young people in underserved areas.

Swimming Pool

The City of Breckenridge’s swimming pool, located in the city park at 100 Caddo Ave., is open Tuesdays through Sundays for the community.

The schedule for public swim hours is:

• Tuesday through Thursday: Noon to 6 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday: Noon to 4 p.m.

General admission for public swim costs $3 per person, and children ages 3 and under are admitted free. Children 10 years old and under must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult. No outside food or drinks are allowed during open pool hours.

Family Swim Night will take place on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Admission for Family Swim Night is $1 per person. No unaccompanied children under the age of 17 are allowed during that time.

Adult water aerobics sessions are scheduled for Tuesday through Friday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., provided an instructor is available. The fee for aerobics is $2 per person.

Punch cards are also available for $30, which covers 12 swim sessions. The cards can be purchased with cash or check only at City Hall or at the pool office during normal operating hours.

The city notes that if the pool is closed for any reason after being open for 30 minutes or more, no rain checks or refunds will be issued.

Cutline, top photo: Jenny Holt and her daughters, Katie and Lana, get a closer look at the keel-billed toucan that was part of the Breckenridge Library’s 2025 Creature Teacher presentation at the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)