Meet Sam Ayeni | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sam Ayeni and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting this business particularly will help us bring a lot of value to the mental-health space. These days, mental health is a serious issue in our society and cuts across every sphere of life. While there are specialist doctors, remedies and medications in the market to help people with mental issues, we believe that helping individuals to wander and zoom into space, gazing at the stars in their own bedrooms helps many people relax their minds and enjoy better sleep. Children may no longer be afraid of the dark and look forward to going to bed every night. We believe also that, individuals stargazing while laying in bed also helps melt the worries of the day away. When you think about it, this is also romantic. Outside of helping relaxing and aiding mental health, we believe that stargazing for kids can help them in learning and maybe develop affinity for space science, astrophysics and astronomy. Looking at the unlimited vastness of the universe while laying in bed can also help people connect with nature, to be creative, believe bigger and have a better hope for the future.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As an immigrant from Nigeria, West Africa coming to this country was scary to say the least, even though more opportunities abound. I was fortunate to go to college and enlisted in the U.S Army as an infantryman after college. I am very proud of my service to this great country and will do it again if given the opportunity. Growing up in Africa was tough for many reasons. My parents were missionaries and pastors to the remote villages where there was no electricity, no running water and many basic amenities that many of us take for granted nowadays. I remember going to the river to fetch water in the morning (after morning Bible Study and Prayer) to do dishes, cook and shower. We take our clothes to the river to wash them on Saturdays. I learnt to fast and pray by 4 years old, not because my parents wanted to teach me how to fast, but because we had no food most days. So we fasted and prayed in order to ration the food we had. We literally had to pray for food to come some days. I can attest to the fact that we never went to bed hungry any night because God miraculously sent someone to bring food to us. I learnt first hand from my parents that serving others unconditionally is the most important career choice anyone can make.

As tough as my childhood was, serving in the U.S Army as an infantryman brought its own challenges and advantages. From training in the negative forty degrees in the Arctic region of Alaska to deployment to Afghanistan in 130 plus degrees Fahrenheit, I got the opportunity to build a different level of mental toughness. Losing friends in combat and dealing with PTSD personally exposed me to the necessity of finding different solutions to the problems that veterans like myself deal with on a daily basis. Mental illness is affecting almost every age group in America today. Meditation, prayer and gazing into the vastness of the universe has helped me deal with these issues and my belief is that stargazing in their bedroom can help others as well. Starscapes of Colorado is in business to serve and to help aid people in dealing with stress, anxieties, PTSD, insomnia and so on. Starting this business and other businesses gives me the opportunity to serve in my community and eventually in my generation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are many exciting and fun places to see and visit in Colorado Springs. To begin, I usually take my family and friends visiting the Garden of the Gods where they get to explore and stand in awe of one of the most stunning geological wonders of the world. After touring this magnificent park, they can also visit the garden of the gods trading post where they shop for handmade Native American jewelry, crafts, and art, as well as other souvenirs. To cap it for the day, eating dinner at the Grand View Dining Room which is located inside the Garden of the gods resort and club, viewing and soaking in the grandeur of the park at a farther distance. This is a memorable experience that cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world.

Moving on to the 2nd day, I usually take my friends and family visiting the Caves of the Winds Mountain Park. At this park, visitors get to climb, leap, crawl, and zip through courses and attractions, or descend into the depths of Manitou Grand Caverns. There is an actual cave at this park that one can take a tour led by a tour guide who goes through the history of how the cave was discovered and all there is to know about the cave. While in this area of the town, one can also visit the 800-year-old Manitou Springs Cliff Dwellings to tour the former homes of the Ancient Pueblan people and learn about Native American culture. In this area of town also is the Manitou Springs Mineral Springs where one can taste the varying flavors and effervescence rumored to have once possessed restorative powers.

On the 3rd day, I can take my visitors to the U.S. Air Force Academy Planetarium, whose panoramic projections and mesmerizing surround sound can transport you to the depths of the ocean and to the deepest reaches of space. This is beyond amazing, especially if you have an affinity for space and ocean exploration. Kids get to envision themselves growing up to serve in the Air Force and dream of experiencing this some day in the future. At the U.S Air Force Academy is an authentic B-52 bomber where one can get a closer look at this glorious weapon of war.

On the 4th day, visiting the Pikes Peak blows everyone who has ever ascended to the top of this mountain which is the highest in the Rocky Mountains in North America with over 14,000 feet. One can also ascend to the summit of Pikes Peak via jeep, bus or van with tours on Pikes Peak Highway. Exploring this mountain will take your breath away and essentially take a whole day to explore.

On the 5th day, visiting and exploring the royal gorge will take the whole day. You will want to visit the Royal Gorge Bridge to begin, which is said to be the highest suspended bridge in the world and over 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River. On this historical bridge, you will get to soak in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. There are other things to do at this park such as sky-coasting, ziplining and other experiences. After exploring the park, you can also go and enjoy memorable meals alongside memorable views onboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, weaving alongside the Arkansas River. I have taken my family and friends here a few times and it’s always memorable.

On the 6th day, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum will be the focal point. Colorado Springs is called “The Olympic City, USA” because the U.S Olympic is headquartered here. Olympians come to train here for all diverse sports before going to the Olympics. All the history of all Olympians that have ever represented the USA can be seen on display in the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Visitors get to trace the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and learn about Team USA’s legacy.

And for the 7th day, visitors can get to experience while Colorado is called the fittest state in the Union. There are so many hiking trails within the city as well as the surrounding mountains. Visitors can get to navigate and hike 28 miles of trails at Cheyenne Mountain State Park, also home to campgrounds, an archery range and educational programs. If visitors are not too tired after leaving the park, they can also visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo which is said to be the 4th Best Zoo In the United States. Visitors get to explore newly renovated and award-winning exhibits and spend the rest of the day getting up-close and personal with rare and endangered species from all over the world.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My business partners – Emmanuel Ibironke and Matthew Dunn

Website: https://www.starscapes.com/colorado

Instagram: @starscapescolorado

Twitter: @starscapescolorado

Facebook: @starscapescolorado