Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — On Tuesday in the United Methodist Church of Steamboat Springs, 10 sewing machines churned away as 40 local elementary and middle school students learned the science and art behind wool creations.

A program of Routt County 4-H, the Fiber Arts Camp aimed to teach students who were out of school during Blues Break new skills such as how to felt wool, use a spinning wheel and how to make felt handbags.

“The real focus of 4-H is to help students learn skills,” said Karen Massey, interim Routt County Extension Office director. “And then they teach things they’ve learned to their fellow kids.”

Routt County 4-H will have more resources for camps like these after the organization Thursday is awarded one of two Snowball Community Grants from Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp.

The other $10,000 went to Integrated Community, a nonprofit resource for immigrant families.

The funds are awarded to local nonprofits annually and come from the Ski Corp. Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund run through the Yampa Valley Community Foundation.

“In today’s changing environment and challenging financial setting, organizations are called upon to a larger degree and definitely are feeling a greater impact from more individuals affected by current economic and social challenges,” Ski Corp. President and CEO Chris Diamond wrote in a new release. “The resort’s Snowball Community Grant will provide additional resources to ensure that these organizations continue to reach those in need of their services.”

An award reception will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the Mountain View Foyer at The Steamboat Grand and will coincide with the presentation of the Hazie Werner Award for Excellence to Bud Werner Memorial Library Director Chris Painter.

Integrated Community Executive Director Sheila Henderson said she was grateful for the support from Ski Corp.

“It means that we are able to continue providing services to our clients,” she said. “We’re using it for medical interpretation for families, and we’re using it to help other immigrant and foreign clients with basic needs.”

She said Integrated Community served 429 clients in 2011, mostly through interpretation services for medical or legal purposes. The grant, she said, is a substantial amount of money for the organization.

“It’s wonderful (Ski Corp.) is so committed to local nonprofits, and we greatly appreciate their confidence in our services,” she said.

Massey said there’s no reason Ski Corp. and organizations such as 4-H shouldn’t work together and support one another. Their existence, after all, is inextricably intertwined in the fabric of the Yampa Valley lifestyle.

“I think Routt County is a unique community in that agriculture and recreation go together hand in hand,” Massey said. “Those of us involved in 4-H understand that much of what we do … is all through the support of local business. It really is a unique opportunity for us both to lift each other up.”

To reach Nicole Inglis, call 970-871-4204 or email ninglis@ExploreSteamboat.com