Mariana Wagner

Things to Do Category

Colorado Springs Military: United States Air Force Academy

Colorado Springs is home to the USAFA: United States Air Force Academy. Located in the northern part of Colorado Springs, the USAFA can be accessed by the Northern gates just west of Gleneagle and Northgate or from the Southern gates at the end of North Academy Blvd. (It is important to note that Academy Blvd. has access to TWO military gates in Colorado Springs: South Academy Blvd offers accesst the the North gates of Fort Carson Army Base and North Academy Blvd. offers access to the South gates of the USAFA. Try not to get confused!)

(The following picture was taken from the North side of the Cadets Chapel – looking straight up…)

The USAFA is a landmark in northern Colorado Springs with the Rocky Mountains as a stunning backdrop.

Taken from the USAFA site:

“The U.S. Air Force Academy is recognized as one of the nation’s finest four-year institutions of higher learning.  Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), the Committee on Professional Training of the American Chemical Society, the Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, and the Association to
Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the academic curriculum provides cadets with a solid foundation appropriate to an Air Force career and the activities of a responsible American citizen.”

If you enter as a visitor, you should check out the Visitors Center and take a short hike to the Cadets Chapel. The Cadets Chapel has such a unique architectural style and is noticable from many parts of Northern Colorado Springs.

Some facts about the Cadets Chapel:

• The Cadets Chapel is an All-Faith house of worship with separate chapels for Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths, and is designed where all chapels can hold services at once without disturbing each other.
• The All-Faith Rooms are designed to accommodate the needs of smaller religious groups.
• The chapel is 150 feet tall and features aluminum, glass and steel with 17 spires and cost $3.5 million to build. “Furnishings, pipe organs, liturgical fittings and adornments of the chapel were presented as gifts from individuals and various organizations.”
• The architect was Walter A. Netsch Jr. and construction was by Robert E. McKee, Inc.

Some Facts about the school:

• There are about 75% military faculty and 25% civilian faculty and over 560 professors at the USAFA.
• There are 32 academic majors (and even more minors) offered – from aeronautical engineering to systems engineering management.
• There are more than 500 courses offered each year.
• ” Throughout the academic year, cadets may also attend presentations by distinguished political, academic, business, media, cultural, and military leaders.”
• The Cadet Summer Research Program allows about 190 cadets to spend 5 weeks “at various Air Force, Department of Defense, and other research facilities around the world.”

Some History about the USAFA:

• The USAFA was established in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
• The location was chosen above 45 other sites and once chosen, Colorado contributed $1 Million Dollars toward the purchase.
• The first class to attend the USAFA at its current location was in 1958 and consisted of 1,145 cadets.
• The USAFA received accreditation in less than one year of opening.
• Women were allowed to enter the USAFA in 1976 and the first class that included women was in 1980.

Read More Facts About the USAFA

A very popular time to visit the USAFA is during the Football Season: Go Falcons!

Falcon Football Stadium is accessible from either the South Gate or the North Gate, but is closer to the South gate, off of Academy Blvd. Remember that you are on the USAFA grounds when you got to a Fighting Falcons game and drive carefully!

It is good to also note that: “Items prohibited at Falcon Stadium for the 2007 football season include: alcoholic beverages, food, umbrellas, backpacks of any sort, artificial noisemakers, banners or large signs, laser pointers, weapons, firearms, fireworks, glass containers, cans, bags larger than 8×11 inches, and any items that cannot be readily inspected.”

Visitors to the US Air Force Academy are welcome to drive down many of their many scenic roads or walk along many of the hiking trails – like the one between the Visitors Center and the Cadet’s Chapel, where you will feel engulfed in the beauty of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

For more information on the United States Air Force Academy, please visit: USAFA.AF.MIL

Surrounding Colorado Springs neighborhoods close to the USAFA include:

• Trail Ridge Neighborhoods
• Middle Creek Manor
• Deer Creek Crossings at Northgate
• Black Forest
• Flying Horse
• Gleneagle
• Peregrine
• Rockrimmon
• Oak Valley and Oak Valley Ranch

February 27th, 2008 by Mariana Wagner | Leave A Comment

Colorado Springs Big Cat Sanctuary – Serenity Springs

Just east of Colorado Springs, in Calhan, Colorado is Colorado’s largest Federally Licensed placement facility for non-domestic cats: Serenity Springs. This facility has “well over 120 big cats, including lions, tigers, ligers, cougars, leopards…” that they care for.

To help raise money for their minimal $18,000 a month costs of operation, Serenity Springs offers photo opportunities: You can get your picture taken with their baby cubs for $25. We found out about them in front of a local WalMart, where they had set up a tent with 3 of their younger cubs: Titus (above), Scar (below) and Erika (not pictured), litter-mates who had been rescued from somewhere in Eastern Oregon not too long ago.

We took a few pictures and while we were waiting for our print, it was very apparent that the folks who worked with these large cats LOVED them and took excellent care of them. But like ANY non-profit organization, they always need help. There are volunteer opportunities for anyone over 18 and they are always accepting donations.

You can also “Adopt a Cat” where you receive a picture and regular updates on the cat that you adopt. This is a monthly adoption fee of $25 – $250. Or, you can become a “Member of the Pride” which gives you even more recognition within the sanctuary.

For more information on Big Cats and how YOU can help support Big Cats of Serenity Springs, please call: 719-347-9200 or email: [email protected]. Check them out online: http://www.bigcatsofserenitysprings.com/

Thank You Caz Oswald (Director of Public Relations – Volunteer Coordinator) for the pictures posted in this article.

January 29th, 2008 by Mariana Wagner | 1 Comment »