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If you moved to Colorado and now call it your home, do you remember why? Or, why you stay in Colorado if you were born here? Families often choose Colorado to enjoy the many outdoor activities available, whether it’s skiing or hiking, or simply enjoying beautiful mountain vistas. But, even with the incredible natural amenities…

By Alex Griffith Copper Environmental Foundation is a longstanding grantor to our local Summer CATCH Camp program. The Foundation is employee-managed and funded and has a natural partnership with KSS as we both seek to educate our youth and community on environmental stewardship through building genuine connections with the outdoors. This blog post by Program Manager,…

There is so much adventure to be had for teens in Summit County in the Summer months. The Rocky Mountains offer up trails for biking and hiking, cliffs for climbing, and rivers to run. When you’ve had enough vitamin D and forest bathing, there are lots of fun things to do indoors as well.  Use…

Summit County is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Country and you don’t have to trek for miles to get the most amazing views. In fact, some of the most picturesque landscapes are just a short walk or drive away! Take your camera, pack a picnic, and pick one or all of these…

Whether this is your child’s first time coming to camp or their sixth summer, here are a couple of tips when planning for the Summer of Connection. The steps presented here can help your child get ready for an amazing summer without homesickness, and be able to fully immerse themselves in the Keystone Science School summer…

Summer in Keystone, Colorado brings long days filled with sunshine and an endless list of backcountry trails ready to explore. Before you set off on your next summer adventure, take a look at this list from the KSS staff of our favorite summer gear and apparel for getting into the mountains or just spending time…

There’s always something fun going on in Summit County during the summer months as the different towns compete for your attention and showcase what makes this place so special. We’ve put together a shortlist of family-friendly events you should definitely check out. Consider mixing in some of these summer events with your outdoor adventures. For…

Every night at camp, we end the day by coming together and having a Candle Chat. Counselors pose a question to campers and they pass around a candle that serves as a talking stick. Questions at Candle Chat can range from “Why did you come to camp?” to “What is your relationship to the outdoors?”…

Hiking is one of the best activities that Summit County has to offer during the Summer months. Not only is the mountain scenery pristine, but there are enough options to keep you hiking for years. Before you lace up your boots and hit the trail with your family or friends, read these tips to make…

Keystone Science School works with teens across the country and throughout the year on our Discovery Camp and Adventures, and Outdoor Education programs or as CAPs and even staff! So we know a thing or two about what fun is to be had in our backyard. Here’s a list of some of our favorite activities for teens in Summit County. The…

DILLON & KEYSTONE SNOWSHOE TRAILS FRISCO SNOWSHOE TRAILS SILVERTHORNE SNOWSHOE TRAILS

We believe that the key to exceptional camper and student experiences is having a professional, caring, and happy staff. While we have ongoing mentorship and meetings throughout the summer, the bulk of our training starts before any campers or students arrive. Building the best staff starts long before the sunny days of summer. We begin…

Drop your children off at summer camp and have your own fun adventure! Keystone Science School has a summer camp program located in Summit County, Colorado, a hotbed of adventure, outdoor activities, and amazing food. Most people know Keystone and Summit County because of skiing and snowboarding but it is quickly becoming a summer destination.…

By Ellen Reid, Executive Director In the quiet moments that I carved out for myself in 2020 (while few and far between), I took time to reflect, hoping to learn from the chaos and upheaval surrounding me. Most of the time, my mind wandered to thoughts of which way to go on the trail or…

Summit County has so many activities for families and kids that it can be hard to keep track. We are lucky to live in an abundant outdoor playground with mountains, rivers, lakes, and world-class ski resorts in our backyard. Whether you are on vacation with your family, a recent transplant with young kiddos, or have…

Keystone Science School works with campers and students of all ages. Whether it’s with our summer camp or school-based outdoor education programs, we are always hiking with children. Hiking outside is an amazing opportunity to explore the outdoors and push physical boundaries. We have found that sometimes our campers and students need their minds diverted…

This Winter we’re on the hunt for cross country ski trails that are quiet, snowy, tree-lined, narrow, and away from the crowds, where a pup can explore and where we can only hear the sound of our breathing and the swish of the skis. That’s a perfect cross country ski trail. We asked our staff…

The calm stillness in the forests, the apparent animal tracks on the snow, and the glittering pillows and blankets of fresh powder make Wintertime one of the best times to get out and explore the Colorado mountains–As long as you have the right winter gear to keep you warm, comfortable, and thriving. Keystone Science School…

We recently got a question from a parent about our opinions on great outdoor survival books for kids. It got us thinking and we decided to ask our staff and make a list of our favorite wilderness adventure books. Whether you are looking for a holiday gift or birthday gift for your outdoor adventure-loving family…

KSS is working with each 3rd-8th grade student in Park County School District to offer a unique outdoor education program embedded within the traditional school day. Keystone Science School has been partnering with Park County Schools for over 10 years. In a typical year, the 5th-grade students from Edith Teter Elementary School visited Keystone Science School…

We create future leaders who can problem solve and work together in an ever-evolving world and workplace environment. –Keystone Science School’s Mission While Keystone Science School is best known for inquiry-based learning programs that teach science, outdoor skills, and community building to children, we also develop the next generation of leaders through work-based learning programs…

Courage. Defined in the dictionary as the ability to do something that frightens one; strength in the face of pain or grief. In the context of typical Science School programming, we frame this for students and campers as ‘stepping outside of our comfort zones’. Courage gives us the ability to learn, expand our thinking, build skills,…

We are excited to share that we reached more than 8,700 youth and adults in 2018 through our three program areas: School-Based Programs, Camp and Adventure Programs, and Education Programs. SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS 2,226 children participated in School-Based Programs in 2018. We bring science alive for K-12 students by engaging them in informal investigations and research…

Keystone Science School is soliciting outdoor gear for our students and campers who do not have the appropriate outdoor clothing for their outdoor education programs. We have more information on our website about the details of the items we are requesting. You can drop off any donated gear at Keystone Science School or Epic Mountain Gear in Frisco. There’s…

AN EXPLANATION OF HOW KSS HANDLES PEANUT ALLERGIES. At Keystone Science School we take the well-being of our campers and students very seriously. We understand that children have a wide variety of needs which includes allergies and any dietary restrictions. At KSS we have noticed an increase in food allergies among the campers and students…

Keystone Science School has a variety of summer camp options including day, overnight, and adventure programs. Parents and campers can choose from over 30+ programs which can help campers learn to push outside their comfort zone. Registration opens on November 12th at 10 AM! Sign up between November 12-19th and receive a 10% early bird discount. We…

By understanding growth mindset and using micro-affirmations to combat stereotype threat, parents can help their children preform their best inside and outside of the classroom. Keystone Science School hosts Girls in STEM programs as a way to combat one form of stereotype threat. Developing a growth mindset is a practice that needs to be repeated…

Keystone Science School will be taking a group of 12-14 year-olds to Dinosaur National Monument for a week-long camp. They will be hiking and whitewater rafting during the day and learning about astronomy at night. For more details see the link at the bottom of this post. Colorado has adventures around every corner. Plus, we’re…

Whether this is your child’s first time coming to camp or their tenth summer, here are a couple tips when planning for the Summer of Imagination whether it be day camp or overnight camp. BEFORE THEY GO: WHILE THEY’RE THERE: ONCE THEY’RE HOME: FOR THE FUTURE:

Third-Grade Mountain Ecology is a dynamic outdoor education initiative unique to Summit County It was not class as usual for all third-grade Summit County School District students as they participated in Keystone Science School’s Third-Grade Mountain Ecology School Program during the last week of March. Instead of learning in the classroom, students bundled up for…

Joshua O’Leary shines with KSS teacher training and Duke Energy Action Stipend One of the many programs at Keystone Science School (KSS), located in Keystone, Colorado, is our teacher training for K-12 classroom teachers, known as KSS Educator Programs. KSS presents a wide variety of interdisciplinary curriculums for teachers to bring into their everyday classroom. All curriculum…

At times I stir awake at night thinking about how small I am in the world. Just one person out of 7 billion, pretty darn tiny. So I think to myself, why am I really here? How could I have some purpose here when there are 7 billion other people just as good? Then I…

Keystone Science School wants to make our summer camp program accessible to everyone. In this spirit, we have a financial aid program called our Campership program. We are currently seeking campership applications from those interested in receiving financial aid for the Summer of Imagination. Please share this information with your friends and apply for our campership program.…

Keystone Science School has a great partnership with Denver Water, Aurora Water and Colorado River District. They are a strong supporter of the H2O Outdoors program which is a free overnight program for any high school student living in Colorado. Along with supporting the H2O Outdoors program our partners have provided several trainings for our staff. In…

Dreaming of summer camp this winter? Let your dreams become reality as summer camp registration is now open! Take a glimpse into the world of one our most beloved camp counselors and previous Assistant Camp Director, Cat Scanlan, as she reflects on the meaning of camp. Walk by any summer camp and you will find…

Keystone Science School has always facilitated environmental and outdoor education field trips. With all of our programs we strive to not be program providers but program partners. We work tirelessly to make sure that our programs serve as an extension of the classroom curriculum. This is why we have always enjoyed working with Tollgate Elementary…

In 1999, Lockheed-Martin sponsored two Cobb County teachers to attend Key Issues Institute in Summit County, Colorado. I applied for the sponsorship and was pleasantly surprised when my principal informed me that I was chosen for this professional development opportunity. When I first arrived in Keystone, I was overwhelmed by the beauty and majesty of…

What do you think of when you read these words? If you are a student in Summit County or the Colorado Front-range, chances are you think of Keystone Science School! Students and educators from all over Colorado are drawn to Science. Adventure. Fun! Drawn to the cool, crisp air of the high Rockies. Drawn to the sense…

In October of 2011, I had the opportunity to go to Keystone Science School for a few days with my 6th grade class. I couldn’t wait to go and explore new ideas and places! Our class was split up into small groups, and we did everything from team-building activities, to learning about the earth, to…

Many people may think that summer vacation for teachers is just that, a vacation. While it may be true that we get to trade in our laptops for lounge chairs, some of us choose to use this time for recharging our lessons and attending professional development sessions. I have attended many such workshops and classes…

So far 2015 has felt like The Year of Environmental Educators. Maybe it’s partly that working at KSS for both Summer Camp as well as School Programs turns a person into a public figure or celebrity of sorts, whether you expect it or not. But no matter where I go or what I do little signs crop up showing…

Recently, whether out in the field or at home in my cozy cabin, I have had one major question echoing in my brain. What is the oldest culture on planet Earth? Is it Mesopotamia, the land of rivers and the “cradle of civilization,” or the ancient Mayans, leaving behind their iconic pyramids? Could it be…

In the advent of a new year, we often reflect back on years past, wondering what exactly has brought us to the current place we occupy in time and space. Looking back I can recall the day my 9-year-old self stepped onto Keystone Science School campus for the first time. Now, 13 years later, I…

In the year 2060, I plan to still be taking my annual summer excursion to Dillon Reservoir with my wife and kids. But will the environment be different? Sure, I expect to have grandchildren joining me at that time, and possibly a different mode of transportation (teleportation anyone?). But, what will water managers of the future be…

My sixth grade students in Montague, Michigan are thrilled that Alcoa Foundation sponsored my travel to Silverthorne, Colorado in June to attend Key Issues Institute with Keystone Science School. In the first few months of school, I have been using my knowledge from Key Issues to teach my students about environmental issues in the community.…

Probably the best part of our jobs at KSS is hearing from our program participants about how their experiences have impacted their lives. Here are a couple of our favorites from this summer’s Key Issues Institute. Thank you all for your kind words. Your energy, enthusiasm, and innovation keep us inspired to constantly challenge ourselves and…

This past weekend on September 13th, Keystone Science School staff and volunteers came together to take part in the 16th annual Summit County Make a Difference Day. While the national Make a Difference Day isn’t until October 25th, those of us in the high country know that winter comes very early up here and October is…

It is finally spring in Summit County and the signs and sounds of melting snow are everywhere. If you’ve spent time in the mountains you know it as mud season. And I know it as the season of post-holing at the most inopportune moments. It doesn’t happen when I’m by myself, investigating new terrain on…