C.R.E.A.T.E. Program

C.R.E.A.T.E. (Cultivating Resilience and Empowering Adaptation Through Expression)

CREATE is a FREE mental wellness and resilience program, designed exclusively for UCCS faculty and staff!

The Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience in collaboration with UCCS faculty and staff and local community artists is launching CREATE. The CREATE Initiative, developed and informed by UCCS faculty and staff, aims to offer mental health and wellness activities and programming to foster community and lifetime resilience. CREATE initiatives will offer FREE introductory artistic experiences, resilience-based workshops, indoor and outdoor group activities, and facilitated discussion/support groups to the UCCS Faculty and Staff Community.

To sign up for a CREATE event, UCCS FACULTY and STAFF may register using their UCCS email on the schedule below.

*CREATE events are not currently available to students.
*For events that are FULL, you can RSVP to be added to the waitlist. 

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Examples of CREATE Activities

Below are a few examples of activities that are offered through the CREATE Program. Keep in mind that resilience-building is fun! This is a great way to meet new people, try your hand at something creative, have fun, and become more resilient.

CREATE Watercolor
Gateway to the Garden of the Gods: Watercolor on Canvas gives us flexibility and new ways to get a vibrant, colorful piece. We will use a 12 x 12 canvas prepared by the artist facilitator in advance so that it is ready to paint on arrival at the artist’s studio.  All materials are provided. This is a great workshop for artists of all ages and abilities so just come and have fun and CREATE Connections!        

CREATE Calm
Introduction to Mindfulness: Come join us for this hour-long experiential workshop where we will learn how to apply Mindfulness to CREATE calm both at work and home. Participants will have an opportunity to learn and practice several mindful strategies.

CREATE Cooking
Let’s Cook: Come join us for experiential cooking classes with David Cook at Gather Food Studio.  David has been a restaurant chef for 20 years and has explored many local and international cuisines and cooking methods, with special expertise in how different regions use herbs and spices.

CREATE Connections
Grief Warriors (Grief & Loss Support Group): Finding Strength through a Community of Support – Please join us on the 2nd Wednesday of each month (3:30 – 5:00) via ZOOM as we come together to share our grief journey.  As the author and grief expert, Megan Devine, notes: grief cannot be fixed; it can only be carried. Research shows that when we allow others to help us carry our grief, we feel less alone and more capable of surviving the pain of our loss.

CREATE Community
Tuesday Nature Jaunts: Join the UCCS Center for Active Living team for Tuesday nature walks in the month of October. Refresh and revitalize your mind mid-day with short walks on local UCCS trails. We will try a new path each week, so register today to get the schedule! All hikes will start at noon (or a little after) and have you back in the office by 1:00.

CREATE Crafts
Basic Soap Making: Learn the soap-making process from beginning to end (plan to be there about 2 hours). You don't need to bring anything besides a desire to learn. The artist will provide all the required tools and materials. In addition to taking home the ten bars of soap you made, which will be cut later, you can keep the mold, gloves, a recipe sheet, and a finished bar made from the class recipe so you're not tempted to cut your soap before it's ready. About a week after class you'll have the option to come back to cut your soap on a professional cutting tool, compare what you made with other class members, talk a bit about the process, and trade bars if you'd like to try a different scent/color. 

CREATE Photography
Intro to Photography: This class will cover a brief intro to photography composition, as well as allow the class to spend time outdoors practicing basic techniques, including ISO, shutter speed, and aperture settings. The second class will review the photos captured during the week and give feedback if necessary.