19th ANNUAL WILD WEST FEST with SPECIAL GUEST SHELTON JOHSON
In its nineteenth year, the SAF’s Wild West Fest is a week-long celebration of Western arts, culture and customs which brings inner-city youth along with artists and musical performers from across the nation to Telluride, Colorado. An integral component of the Wild West Fest is the Chip Allen Mentorship Program (C.A.M.P). Created in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America, C.A.M.P. brings inner-city youth to Telluride each year for a week of enriching educational experiences. The children work with professionals in the fields of Drama, Dance, Horsemanship, Fly Fishing, Golf and the Rock & Roll Academy. The 2010 WWF mentors are Ashley Deppen, Amanda Sturdevant, Circle K Ranch, Joel Kirkhoff, Telluride Ski & Golf, and Mark Galbo, respectively.
Approximately fifty students throughout the nation are chosen by their hometown clubs to attend the Wild West Fest each year. Youth are hand selected for their positive attitude, good behavior and responsibility to family, school, and community. The WWF C.A.M.P. prioritizes each child’s personal and individual needs to ensure a positive learning experience and so that all youth return home with a greater sense of self-confidence, personal awareness and a firm grasp on some new skill. This year’s participants include groups from Atlanta, Denver, Farmington, Fort Worth and Colorado Springs.
In addition to C.A.M.P., Wild West Fest also provides a number of cultural activities for youth to attend throughout the week. These include live performances in music, theater, ranch tours, horseback rides, cookouts, hikes and art classes. A special guest at the 2010 WWF is Shelton Johnson, a nationally recognized Park Ranger and author focused on strengthening and shortening the bridge between inner city youth and the outdoors. Having grown up in Detroit, Shelton now works in Yosemite National Park dedicating his time to educating visitors and children about the buffalo soldier history and involvement in the National Parks system, as well as the importance of keeping the parks open and accessible to all. Shelton will be speaking at the Sheridan Opera House on Wednesday, June 9t at 7pm about his involvement in the National Parks system as well as showing a 45 minute film, This Is America, in which he is featured.
It has been the Sheridan Arts Foundation’s goal since conception to ensure that funds are a non-determining factor in the participation or eligibility of youth in the Wild West Fest program. The SAF, a 501 (C) 3 non-profit, has taken on the task of providing all lodging, meals and transportation as well as admittance to each event free of charge to the youth throughout our week-long festival.
Having lost our prime sponsor this year, the SAF is in more need than ever to secure child sponsors. The generous contribution of $ 1,000 will ensure one child’s involvement in the participation of WWF in its entirety. Please consider sponsoring a child and being a supporter of this life changing event. Call 970-728-6363 for more information on this event or to sponsor a child.
Wild West Fest 2010 Schedule
Monday, June 7th
Boys' and Girls' clubs youth Arrive
Tuesday, June 8th
9am: Elks Park Orientation
10am-3pm: Youth Mentorship Programs
5pm-8pm: Wild West Fest Kick-Off Celebration and BBQ in Town Park. (Open to public, $6.00 for BBQ)
Wednesday, June 9th
10am-3pm: Youth Mentorship Program
3pm-5pm: Book Signing at Between the Covers Bookstore
Meet Shelton Johnson and purchase a signed copy of his novel, Gloryland.
7pm: Guest speaker Shelton Johnson at the Sheridan Opera House – FREE and open to the public. Shelton Johnson is a recognized National Parks Ranger and educator focused on black history and involvement in the parks system, as well as inspiring youth to connect with the outdoor world. Shelton will be speaking about these topics as well showing a special preview of This Is America, an edited portion of the full length Ken Burns film, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, which focuses on cultural diversity.
Thursday, June 10th
10am-3pm: Youth Mentorship Program
5pm-7pm: Artist Meet and Greet Reception with 2010 Wild West Fest Featured Artist, Brett Schreckengost at Telluride Gallery of Fine Art. Purchase a signed poster at this event.
Friday, June 11th
9:30am-4pm: Circle K Ranch Roundup for WWF Youth: Trail Rides, Horseback Riding, Ropes Course, Zip Line, Games and Adventure Hikes.
8pm: Wild West Fest Concert: Great American Taxi, Vince Herman’s Americana/Rock band, at the Sheridan Opera House.
Featuring opening performances by the Wild West Fest Rock & Roll Academy & Drama mentorship groups. Tickets: sheridanoperahouse.com
Saturday, June 12th
10am – 12pm: WWF youth art workshop with 2010 artist Brett Schreckengost at the Ah Haa School.
11am-4pm: 2nd Annual Heritage Fest on Colorado Avenue. Wild West Fest partners with the Telluride Tourism Board and the Telluride Historical Museum for a free day of fun including: Stagecoach rides, Butch Cassidy reenactment, rides on the historic Galloping Goose Motor #1 train, live music, art workshops, mining demonstrations, Are you Smarter Than a Cowbell? Quiz Game and more!
8:30pm: Free SquidShow Theatre production titled “Inaccurate Reenactments,” a play that interprets Telluride’s history with humor at the Sheridan Opera House. Sponsored by the Telluride Historical Museum.
