Colorado Springs, CO

Thursday, October 8 - Event Date

Colorado Springs School District 11, in partnership with its Early Childhood Education and Pathways programs, is proud to host D11 Discovery Day: A PreK Peak Experience, a vibrant, hands-on event designed to spark curiosity and connect families with resources across the community.

Taking place on Thursday, October 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Wasson Academic Campus (2115 Afton Way), this free, vibrant event will transform the campus into an interactive learning experience for young children and their families.

At the heart of Discovery Day is collaboration. D11 is bringing together a wide range of community partners who are committed to supporting children and families in meaningful ways. Participating organizations include i9 Youth Sports, Pikes Peak Library District, Educating Children of Color, El Paso County Public Health, Girl Scouts of Colorado, and local first responders including Colorado Springs Fire Department, Colorado Springs Police Department, and area EMT teams. Families can also enjoy interactive experiences from a local petting zoo and a special appearance by Dennis the Emu, a crowd favorite!

Each partner will host booths featuring engaging, hands-on activities designed to promote early learning, creativity, and exploration. From literacy and health resources to physical activity and imaginative play, every experience is built to support the development of young learners in a fun and welcoming environment.

Adding to the experience, D11’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Culinary Arts students will showcase their skills through a student-run food truck, offering fresh, delicious treats for attendees. This real-world learning opportunity highlights how D11 pathways extend beyond the classroom, empowering students with career-ready skills while serving their community.

Families attending Discovery Day will also have the opportunity to:

• Connect with D11 Early Childhood educators and staff
• Learn about preschool programs and enrollment opportunities
• Explore the wide range of educational pathways available to D11 students

“Discovery Day invites preschoolers and their families to explore, create, and discover the joy of learning together,” said Sarah Carlson. “We want families across our community to see how a spark of curiosity today can open a world of possibilities for their child in D11.”

By bringing together Early Childhood and Pathways programs alongside trusted community partners, and showcasing student-led innovation, D11 continues to demonstrate its commitment to strong starts for every student and clear pathways for future success.

Event Details:

What: D11 Discovery Day: A PreK Peak Experience

When: Thursday, October 8, 2026 | 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Where: Wasson Academic Campus, 2115 Afton Way, Colorado Springs

Cost: Free/open to current D11 Preschoolers

Public and media invited to attend.

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Cadets and personnel at the U.S. Air Force Academy officially broke the Guinness World Record for the most people simultaneously performing push-ups for one full minute during an academy-wide challenge held at 11:57 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2.

With 3,703 participants completing the synchronized exercise, the U.S. Air Force Academy eclipsed the previous world record of 3,068 participants held by the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

The record-breaking challenge took place less than 24 hours before the Air Force Falcons host the Navy Midshipmen in their annual service rivalry clash on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Falcon Stadium.

"At the Academy, our mission is to develop leaders and warfighters ready to fight, win, and lead in service to our nation," said Brig. Gen. Brandon J. Tellez, Academy commandant of cadets. "This world record attempt is about more than earning a place in the record books. It reflects the discipline, grit, and shared purpose we work to build every day in the Cadet Wing. Navy set a formidable benchmark, and our cadets answered the challenge. As we head into Saturday's game, this effort serves as another reminder of what happens when disciplined teams unite behind a common objective.”

Participants were required to maintain repeated, full-range push-ups—descending to a 90-degree elbow bend and locking out at the top of each repetition—over sixty consecutive seconds, adhering strictly to official Guinness World Record regulations.

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A new destination event celebrating the intersection of Indigenous and Western culture through fashion, art, and food will debut in Pendleton, Oregon, October 15–17. Interwoven: Where Cultures Meet, organized by Travel Pendleton, invites visitors to experience the people, makers, designers, artists, flavors, and stories that shape this corner of Eastern Oregon.

At the heart of Interwoven is the Interwoven Market, featuring 70 booths and artists representing more than 30 Indigenous Nations. Guests can shop, meet makers, watch demonstrations, participate in hands-on activities, and discover the creative work behind the event’s fashion collections.

Fashion takes center stage throughout the weekend, including shows featuring eight Unresidency designers who have spent six months developing collections inspired by their individual creative practices and connections to place. The weekend culminates with The Rodeo of Runway, a one-of-a-kind fashion show on horseback at the Blue Mountain Equine Center.

Food is woven throughout the experience with events held at Electric Sundown. The Taste of Umatilla County invites guests to sample pairings featuring local foods, First Foods, and regional libations. At Fashion Bites, eight chefs representing Indigenous culinary traditions, James Beard-recognized talent, and the vibrant Pendleton food scene will be paired with the Undresidency fashion designers to create small plates inspired by their runway collections. Together, the chefs and designers will explore the connections between place, ingredients, culture, and creative expression.

Community creativity will also take center stage through art activations and collaborative projects, including two community-designed pieces that will make their runway debut Saturday night. Created entirely at the Interwoven Market, the pieces will become a highly visible representation of collective creativity.

When the sun goes down, Interwoven becomes Unwoven. In partnership with VYBE, the after-hours experience transforms Electric Sundown into a lounge and nightlife destination, giving guests a chance to gather, unwind, and experience Pendleton after dark.

Organized by Travel Pendleton, Interwoven continues the story of culture at the heart of Pendleton’s community told through fashion, art, food, creativity, and connection.

Interwoven: Where Cultures Meet takes place October 15–17, 2026, in Pendleton, Oregon. Tickets, event information, and the full list of participating artists and designers are available at www.interwovenoregon.com.

This project is funded in part by a grant from Travel Oregon.

PRESS RELEASE

October 2, 2026

Peak Vista Opens New Pediatric Walk-In Center to Expand Access to On-Demand Care

Colorado Springs, Colo.  –  Peak Vista Community Health Centers (Peak Vista) opened its 22^nd location, the Pediatric Walk-In Center, on October 1, 2026, expanding access to convenient, on-demand care for children and young adults in the community.

Located next to Peak Vista’s Pediatric Health Center at 2828 International Circle, Suite 160, Colorado Springs, CO 80910, the Pediatric Walk-In Center provides walk-in care for patients ages zero to 21 with acute, minor illnesses and injuries. Patients do not need to be established Peak Vista patients to receive care.

The Details

• Convenient Location. The Pediatric Walk-In Center is located at 2828 International Circle, Suite 160, Colorado Springs, CO 80910.
• Extended Hours. The center is open Monday through Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., providing families with additional options for care outside traditional office hours.
• Walk-In Care. Families who need same-day care can visit the center without calling ahead or scheduling an appointment. More information about services offered at the Pediatric Walk-In Center is available at PeakVista.org/PedsWalkInCenter
• Pediatric Care Only. The center serves pediatric patients from birth to 21 years old. Patients do not need to be current Peak Vista patients to receive care.

The Need

Peak Vista’s internal patient and community needs assessments, together with concerns shared by community partners, point to a significant need for greater pediatric primary care capacity and more timely access to on-demand services.

Peak Vista’s analyses found that emergency departments are often used for pediatric illnesses and clinical presentations that could be appropriately addressed in a primary care setting. Community partners have also identified continuity-of-care concerns for children who do not have an ongoing relationship with a pediatric primary care provider. Further internal analysis and community needs assessment data indicate that thousands of children covered by Medicaid or without insurance in El Paso County do not have an established pediatric primary care provider. Without reliable access to primary care, families may experience delays in treatment, fragmented care or limited options when a child becomes ill.

“We know that too many families have difficulty finding timely pediatric care, particularly when a child becomes sick outside traditional office hours,” said Peak Vista president and CEO Jaeson Fournier, DC, MPH. “The Pediatric Walk-In Center increases our capacity to provide convenient, on-demand services while helping children connect with the primary care they need for better health and greater continuity of care.”

The Pediatric Walk-In Center is part of Peak Vista’s broader restoration initiative and its deliberate work to rebuild capacity and respond to the needs of children and families throughout the community who need and deserve access to primary care.

Community Event

Peak Vista will host an open house and fall fest at the Pediatric Walk-In Center on November 8, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event is open to the public and will include carnival games and prizes, arts and crafts, face painting, food trucks, tours of the new location and more. The first 50 attendees will win a North Face or Carhartt winter hat. More information at PeakVista.org/FallFest2026.

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About Peak Vista Community Health Centers

Peak Vista Community Health Centers is a nonprofit organization providing exceptional health care to people facing access barriers. Celebrating over 55 years of community health service, Peak Vista offers primary medical, integrated behavioral health and dental care services. The organization proudly serves more than 70,000 patients annually through 22 federally qualified health centers in Colorado’s Pikes Peak and East Central regions. To learn more about Peak Vista, visit PeakVista.org.

Peak Vista Community Health Centers is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and is a deemed Public Health Service employee under 42 U.S.C. § 233(g)-(n). The contents are those of Peak Vista and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.