This winter, the Roaring Fork Valley launched a new holiday tradition with the “Eyes on the Ice” Vision & Learning Celebration—a partnership bringing together Colorado Extreme, the Colorado Extreme Academy, and Good-Lite Digital. The event blended winter fun, family engagement, and evidence-aligned education to highlight the importance of early vision detection for children’s eye health. The result was a joyful and meaningful community experience.
A Partnership Rooted in Purpose
Colorado Extreme’s mission has always centered on eliminating barriers for young athletes—financial, geographic, and developmental. Extending that commitment into children’s health was a natural next step.
Founder Sheldon Wolitski shared: “Our mission has always been to remove barriers—whether financial, geographic, or developmental. When we learned how many kids struggle silently because they can’t see clearly, we knew we had to be part of the solution.”
At the Colorado Extreme Academy, educators see daily how vision influences learning and confidence. Executive Director Katie Wolitski noted: “Learning is a whole-body process. Vision is fundamental, and bringing this program to our families ensures every child gets an equal shot—in the classroom and on the ice.”
Good-Lite Digital supported the initiative with school-ready digital screening tools and event guidance. CBDO Dustin Cox added: “When a community wraps around its kids, outcomes improve. Colorado Extreme shows what’s possible when sports, education, and health move in the same direction.”
A Holiday Event for Families
Families rotated through interactive, winter-themed screening stations staffed by nurses, volunteers, and local vision educators. Coaches led a special “Learn to Skate & See” demonstration to show how vision influences balance, depth perception, timing, and confidence on the ice.
A young athlete said: “I didn’t know my eyes were making skating harder. Now I can see the puck better—and I’m faster!” A parent added: “We had no idea our child was straining to see. This event didn’t just teach us something—it helped us understand how to support them going forward.”
Santa’s entrance on skates—and plenty of cocoa—rounded out an evening that mixed festive joy with meaningful learning.
Why Vision Screening Matters in the Rockies
Rural regions like the Roaring Fork Valley often face limited access to pediatric eye care. School and community-based programs can help fill these gaps, ensuring:
- early identification of vision issues
- equitable access to care for families
- improved academic and athletic confidence
- stronger connections between schools, sports, and health services
Good-Lite Digital tools support standardized vision screening, secure reporting, and family engagement—helping educators and coaches “close the loop” on children’s eye health.
A New Community Tradition
Organizers plan to make “Eyes on the Ice” an annual celebration, expanding into:
- school-day vision screenings
- bilingual parent education
- referral pathways with local practitioners
- curriculum enhancements around eye health and learning
The goal is simple: every child in the Roaring Fork Valley deserves the clarity to learn, play, and thrive.
Resources & Community Partners
Colorado Extreme — https://coloradoextreme.org
Colorado Extreme Academy — https://coloradoextremeacademy.org
Good-Lite & Good-Lite Digital — https://good-lite.com/digital
