AROUND TOWN: Catamount celebrates linking kids to nature

Local kids, curled up in their rooms as they text message and click their mice, are suffering from an affliction, and a local nonprofit is determined to help - no meds or therapy needed.

"We want to save kids from nature deficit disorder," said Lisa Francis, who with Howard Drossman founded Catamount Institute in 1998.

The institute, "dedicated to improving our community and world through science-based education," touched the lives of almost 7,000 students last year. They attended environmental summer camps, went on environmental field trips, became after-school environmental stewards and used a hands-on approach to monitoring the water in Fountain Creek.

Celebrating their successes and planning for the future, institute members, staff and sponsors were invited to Jacqueline Lundquist's international shop, One World 2 U, for an Oct. 24 fundraiser. The hostess's greeting: "Namaste, I salute the spirits within you."
Volunteer coordinator Jan Eitel scurried about, making guests comfortable.

Honored with the 2008 Founder's Award and original Greg Carlson art was a reluctant Michael Hannigan, admittedly "not a big guy for awards."

Hannigan, executive director of the Pikes Peak Community Foundation, ducked his head as he was called "one of the great environmental educators." After one too many compliments, the honoree encouraged, "Let's go have a beer," pointing to Bristol Brewing Co.'s Mike Bristol and his "On Tap" crew.

Among other projects, Hannigan was credited with "Stream of Conscience: Inspiring the Art of Environmental Stewardship," a three-year collaboration between FutureSelf and the institute to document Fountain Creek as a vital natural resource through art and multimedia.

The purpose: to stop the creek's degradation.

Catamount's executive director, Eric Cefus, admitted he was singing to the choir but told the attendees, "Nature plays such a vital role for our kids. Why are we not investing?"

In a new video debuted by Impact! Video Production, children were shown outdoors at Catamount sites, just being kids. And in Cefus's words, "Childhood should not be a luxury. Childhood should just be."

With the discussions of nature and the environment, it was fitting that one of the favorite items auctioned by Kevin Patterson was a bird-watching trip for eight with Catamount Board Trustee Charlie Campbell.

Also serving on the board are Renee Hartslief, Joan Gurvis, Ted Worchester, Deborah Muehleisen and director emeritus Ann Zwinger.

American Girl Fashion Show

Little girls in Sunday dress-up best went to a proper brunch Oct. 26 at the Antlers Hilton with their moms and grandmas, dads and grandpas (a few brave ones) and their special guests, their American Girl dolls.

There were tea sandwiches, fruit and cookies and napkins on the laps. Models in the fashion show wore American Girl attire. And all around the ballroom girls were hugging their treasured dolls: Mia and Molly, Jess and Samantha, Addy and Kaya and Bitty Babies.

This first American Girl Fashion Show in Colorado was coordinated by Colorado Springs Alumnae Panhellenic to benefit Kidpower of Colorado Springs, which empowers young people through safety education and confidence building.

More than 900 attended the inaugural event, which had three seatings.

Modeling were more than 60 local girls who strolled the runway while commentators talked about the era when each doll's character lived. The prospect of wearing crinolines or bloomers brought laughter from female attendees of all ages.

Fashion show commentators were Lori Langin, Karon Cofield, Diane Price, Mary Mashburn, Terry Thatcher and Sally Bean.

On the steering committee were Susan Anderson, Nancy Ickes and Pat Webb, Delta Zeta; chairman Ann Hall, Alpha Xi Delta; Yvonne Livingston, Alpha Chi Omega; Susie Matejcek, Delta Gamma; Vivian Patton, Sigma Sigma Sigma; Marsha Wayman, Kappa Delta; Natalie Brown and Wendy Peterson.

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Send information about nonprofit events and fundraisers to linda.navarro@gazette.com or mail to Linda Navarro, P.O. Box 1779, Colorado Springs, 80901.