What a Year at Sterling Ranch: Community Events That Made 2020 Special

• Newly built houses became homes to nearly 400 new families.
• Development began in the new Ascent Village and the soon-to-come Prospect Village.
• We welcomed another vital business into the community including Visionnaire Eye Consultants.
• More top-notch builders joined our already-impressive roster including Dream Finders Homes and TRI Pointe Homes and other recent closings in December.
• We opened our first (and much anticipated) recreation center — The Overlook Clubhouse.
• Primrose Early Education and Daycare closed on a lot next to the Sterling Center and will open in 2021.

What we are most proud of is that our community continued to thrive in the midst of challenging times. We attribute much of this success to Kate Kunzie, Sterling Ranch’s Lifestyle Director extraordinaire, who fosters the deep connections residents continue to form here through her tireless dedication to building connections among residents by planning a variety of virtual and socially-distanced events.

New challenges bring opportunities for fun and safe community events at Sterling Ranch

We couldn’t be more grateful for Kate’s hard work . . . and to the residents who show up to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Planning scores of neighborhood events is no easy feat. With the added complications of a global pandemic, Kate rose to the challenge with creativity and gusto.

Her efforts produced a variety of meaningful opportunities for Sterling Ranch residents to enjoy life, stay healthy, safely connect with their neighbors . . . and even make new friends!

Here’s a look back through 2020 highlighting some of the many activities we enjoyed here at Sterling Ranch.

Forming bonds right from the start

Community events at the beginning of 2020 offered a variety of opportunities for family fun and meaningful connections.

In January, Sterling Ranch residents had the opportunity to gather and ride a bus to the National Western Stock Show, where they enjoyed entertaining events such as mutton busting, horse racing and more.

With the help of the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, the year-long Sterling Ranch 10,000-minute outdoor challenge was born in the summer of 2019. It encouraged neighbors to leave their homes to take advantage of local trails and nearby state parks — Chatfield and Roxborough. In January 2020, the challenge participants got together and celebrated getting halfway through this rewarding journey. They could all agree — getting outside never felt so good! 

On February 15, it was standing-room only as our residents delighted in a high-octane dueling piano event at our neighborhood hub, the Sterling Center. Music, laughter and delicious food were just part of the fun. This event was a hit and will surely become a neighborhood tradition. 

At the end of February, we had a tea party. Children dressed up like princesses and pirates and experienced an unforgettable story time. When else does one get to take photos with real-life  characters from the very book they just read including Cinderella, Snow Queen and Pirate Captain?

Who doesn’t love a basketball game? In early March, Sterling Ranch residents hopped on a bus to the Ball Arena (formerly Pepsi Center) and had a good ol’ time cheering on their favorite team.

Connections go virtual during the pandemic

In mid-March, normal life came to a halt due to the Colorado governor’s stay-at-home order. At Sterling Ranch, however, fun was not canceled! Kate Kunzie embraced the sudden change in plans and quickly pivoted to masterminding new virtual events that kept everyone’s spirits up. Check out some of what she planned: 

Every Monday and Wednesday neighbors tuned in to the official Sterling Ranch Resident Facebook page and listened to a volunteer resident read one of his or her child’s favorite stories. What a special way to stay connected!

When in doubt, dance it out! Residents submitted videos of themselves dancing to MC Hammer’s “You Can’t Touch This” for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card. Creating and watching the submissions did just what this challenge intended — it put everyone in a silly, lighthearted mood.

Bingo night to the rescue! To keep the fun flowing, our beloved monthly event was held virtually for everyone to enjoy.

To honor and celebrate this year’s graduates, Kate asked parents to submit their child’s graduation photos. She then proudly featured these photos on social media and in an email newsletter to all residents. We hope this brought the community’s new graduates a sense of accomplishment and pride, even if they weren’t able to have the normal cap-and-gown experience. 

Sterling Ranch partnered with Premier Martial Arts to host virtual classes that kept the neighborhood kiddos engaged. Instructors taught techniques from karate, kickboxing, Krav Maga and taekwondo. The kids had great fun — spontaneous ninja moves are still noticed throughout the community. 

From sourdough bread to pickled veggies, many of us played chef and made delicious healthy food while staying home this year. The virtual cooking classes offered by Douglas County’s own Uncorked Kitchen taught many Sterling Ranch residents new cooking skills.

These educational sessions, which feature a variety of subjects — history, culture, movies and more — were offered virtually to all those interested in expanding their minds. 

To celebrate all the fabulous father figures out there, Sterling Ranch hosted a photo contest — a chance for families to submit their favorite photos and stories about the dads in their lives. We were overwhelmed by the love that poured in via online submissions and feel lucky to have been able to celebrate one of life’s best jobs — being a father.

Hosted by the Sterling Ranch Community Authority Board’s Architectural and Community Standards Director, Heather Calme, these seasonal classes — offered virtually — discussed a variety of landscaping tips and tricks. Thanks to this class, our residents have an easy time keeping their lawns and backyards functional and beautiful, no matter the season.

Residents of all ages brought their best inner creatives when carving pumpkins this year, then shared their masterpieces with others online. It was fun to see so many comments and people engaging with each other while celebrating a unique Halloween.

Building authentic connections at Sterling Ranch all year long

Nothing can replace human connection, so in addition to bringing the fun virtually, Kate planned a number of safe in-person events when possible. Here’s a sampling of the in-person celebrations our residents enjoyed this year:

On St. Patrick’s Day residents were invited to drive by and pick up a delicious boxed dinner that they then enjoyed at home as a family or with a fellow neighbor.

Sterling Ranch kiddos had a great time running around neighborhood trails looking for goody bags that were hidden by the Colorado State Patrol. Getting outside and enjoying nature while training their “eagle eyes” was an activity that is talked about often around here.

This year’s Easter celebration looked a bit different, yet fun was had by all. This scavenger hunt, arranged by the Front Range Church, had children laughing in excitement while searching for golden eggs hidden throughout the neighborhood.

In the irresistible weather of the summer months, a few incredible local instructors hosted outdoor barre and yoga classes each week. It was easy to get people to partake — what’s better than getting your heart rate up while enjoying mountain views with your neighborhood friends?

This backyard community campout experience gave residents a chance to get outside and do something different together. With flashlights lit and sleeping bags unrolled, parents told ghost stories while children laughed. The sweet murmur of family time blanketed our incredible community for one wonderful evening.  

Sterling Ranch residents celebrated Independence Day in style this year. They enjoyed an outdoor concert, delighted in delicious fare from local food trucks and watched a bike parade. This day was one of the year’s best.

The owners of one of Sterling Ranch’s favorite food trucks, Seasoned Swine, were kind enough to come out and teach the tricks of their trade — that is, all things smoking and grilling. It’s no wonder neighborhood barbecues were a hit this summer. 

The Sterling Ranch fall festival celebration was a success. Friends and neighbors enjoyed hayrides, a live concert, a fun “no-touch” hay bale photo booth and a pumpkin patch right outside the Sterling Center, the neighborhood hub.

Community is everything

With 2021 next on cue, we look forward to what’s ahead at Sterling Ranch: new neighbors, new friendships forged and a variety of gatherings to be enjoyed safely by all. If you are looking for a home, we invite you to visit us, check out our unique five-star amenities and join the fun by attending one of our community events. 

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