Shining Stars volunteer David Bach claps hands with children as they finish their runs during the Aspen Winter Games at Buttermilk on Thursday, March 5, 2020. (Kelsey Brunner/The Aspen Times)
The Shining Stars Foundation hasn’t let a pandemic take away the magic of its recreational programs for kids experiencing cancer or another life-threatening illness.
The Aspen-based nonprofit’s annual Winter Games at Buttermilk is on hold this year; COVID-19 caution precludes hosting the week-long adaptive sports event that draws more than 60 youth participants and nearly 200 staff, volunteers and family members to the mountain.
But there have been a handful of outdoor, socially distant activities and more than 40 online events over the past year, according to Megan Nelson, director of development and operations at Shining Stars. Virtual trivia games, dance classes and build-your-own-slime nights — if it sounds like fun, there’s a good chance they’ve tried it over Zoom.