In Routt County, we pride ourselves on our strong sense of community. We believe in supporting one another and helping our neighbors. Yet, there’s a struggle many children in our community face that often goes unnoticed — the struggle to learn to read. 

Reading is a fundamental skill that gives people access to education and opportunity. For some children, reading feels like an impossible mountain to climb. When children don’t learn the basics of reading, they are not only limited in school but also in life. Children with learning disabilities, like dyslexia, face daily challenges that can leave them feeling frustrated, isolated and defeated.

But in our community, there’s support for these children.

Steamboat Reading is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting struggling readers and their families through one-on-one tutoring, evaluations, advocacy, parent education and dyslexia awareness. Our mission is simple: to ensure that every child in Routt County has the support they need to become confident, successful readers, regardless of their learning challenges.

Several years ago, a sixth-grader, we’ll call him Luis, started at Steamboat Reading with reading skills similar to a first-grader. To say school was challenging is an understatement. He was having a hard time believing that he was capable of learning to read. He had been putting in his best efforts in school for many years.

“In the beginning, it was very difficult. The school always told me that he had a lot of trouble with reading and writing,” Luis’ father shared.

Twice a week for four years, he came for one-on-one tutoring using a systematic approach tailored to his unique needs and strengths. The transformation wasn’t immediate, but over time, with encouragement, patience and the right tools, his reading skills began to improve. 

Luis’ father told us recently, “He got a lot of confidence. That was one of the big things he got from Steamboat Reading. And a lot of faith too. I remember when he started he said to his tutor, ‘I don’t know if I can learn to read.’ He was pretty negative. Steamboat Reading got him out of that thinking.”

Stories like Luis’ are far too common. Without early intervention and support, children who struggle to read often face lifelong challenges. They may begin to believe that they’re not smart or capable. Their self-esteem is greatly impacted, leading to anxiety, depression and sometimes behavioral issues at school. The ripple effects of not learning to read can be profound and lasting.

But with Steamboat Reading, there is hope for children who need additional instruction and support. By providing personalized tutoring and educational resources from highly trained educators, we are giving children the tools they need to succeed — not just in reading, but in life. 

If you’d like to learn more or get involved, visit our website at SteamboatReading.org to find out more and Steamboat Reading’s Facebook page for upcoming events. Together, we can ensure that all children in our community have the opportunity to read, to learn, and to thrive.

Kim Schulz is the executive director of Steamboat Reading.