Reading for the Rockies
Baseball and Road to the Rockies reading program are two of Kaden Dooley’s favorite things. Kaden, along with other students from Timber Trail Elementary and Buffalo Ridge Elementary, have made reading a part of their daily routines.
Books can send readers into an escape and transport them to faraway places and on epic adventures, all while boosting creativity and imagination.
Timber Trail Elementary (TTE) and Buffalo Ridge Elementary (BRE) students were transported on such adventures throughout this past school year during the third annual Road to the Rockies (RTR) reading program. This year’s RTR had special meaning to TTE third-grade student Kaden Dooley.
Reading did not always come easy for Kaden. He was a reluctant reader in kindergarten and first grade until he discovered books of interest to him. Kaden’s favorite past times are baseball and now, thanks to RTR, reading.
The Dooley family of the Macanta neighborhood moved to Colorado in the summer of 2025 from Dallas. The RTR reading program was part of their decision in choosing a new school for Kaden.
“Two things Kaden said when we moved was find me a good school and a baseball team. When we learned about Road to the Rockies and its ties to the Colorado Rockies team, our decision was final,” said mom Kadie.
Kaden plays catcher for Raptors Baseball in Castle Rock and enjoys reading the Harry Potter and Perry Jackson series on his Kindle e-reader. The Kindle allows Kaden to upload library books while his parents Kadie and Dan can log in and check the reading minutes.
Kaden won TTE’s top reader of the year, reading a total of 13,356 minutes. RTR grand prize winners received a $200 gift certificate to the Colorado Rockies Dugout Store. The Dooley family attended a Rockies game in June and Kaden proudly wore his personalized jersey that he bought with his winning gift certificate.
“The Rockies game was a real nail-biter and it was so cool to see them win,” said Kaden.
“Of all the ways I give back to our community, this program is by far my favorite,” said resident Sarah Phillips, RTR program sponsor. “Seeing hundreds of students challenge themselves, discover new books and celebrate their achievements reminds me of how much of a difference a little encouragement can make in a child’s life.”
Students at TTE and BRE’s totaled 835,781 reading minutes during this year’s reading program. (TTE had a total of 325,049 minutes read with BRE at 510,732 minutes.)
The RTR reading program will begin again next month and students can sign up at any time throughout the school year.
Road to the Rockies reading program winner, Kaden Dooley, with program sponsor Sarah Phillips.
By Julie Matuszewski; photos courtesy of Kadie Dooley
