Near Central City, about 45 minutes from Denver
Dates Available
May 19th - September 20th
Capacity
6 - 60 students
Activity Options
Hiking
Curriculum Options
Mtn Ecology, Forest Ecology, Aquatic Ecology, Watersheds
Take your class outside in our Golden Gate Canyon State Park camping-based field trip! Located in the foothills of the Front Range, you can get your group into the wilderness with a short drive from Denver. Stay for 3 to 7 days while your group explores the park and gains perspective on the unique geology of the area, as well as the science behind its lakes, streams, and wildlife.
Call (970)468-2098 for more info or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Curriculum Options
Mountain Geology
This curriculum rocks! Students will explore the earth’s geologic processes through place-based hands-on activities. Students will find and identify Rocky Mountain rocks and minerals to infer how they were formed and transported. Students will dig into the history of the Rocky Mountains and Golden Gate Canyon to discover how it formed and how it has transformed to make the mountains seen today.
Forest Ecology
Students will observe the many intriguing organisms that are native to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and will understand how their unique traits help them survive and reproduce in their environment. Students will search for clues such as tracks and scat to infer what wild animals call the forest their home. While out on trail, students may even get to safely observe wildlife firsthand!
Aquatic Ecology
In the many ponds and streams found in Golden Gate State Park, students will examine how all things in aquatic ecosystems are connected. Through chemical, biological, and physical water testing, students are introduced to the aquatic environment. Students will search for aquatic macroinvertebrates, measure the rate at which a stream flows, and test for chemical levels in the water. Students will think critically about how their findings are indicators of environmental health, and discuss how human activity could impact those factors.
Watersheds and Water Management
Students will explore the relationship between humans and water resources, while observing and modeling how water falls as precipitation then flows into different watersheds. With expansive views of the Continental Divide from the park, students will learn about the significance of the continental divide and its implications in the State of Colorado. Students will then learn how humans use and strategically manage the limited available water in Colorado. Groups will explore how important the Colorado River is to the entire Southwestern United States.
Camping Location
Golden Gate Canyon State Park Campground
The facilities at Golden Gate include a hand pump well for water and vault toilets. There is no cell coverage in the park.
Evening Programs
After the day's activities are complete and dinner is cleaned up, the group will participate in our evening programs. This may include astronomy, night hikes, team building exercises, or a camp fire (depending on the fire ban status).
Leadership Framework
Our Leadership Framework has a foundation of 5 main elements. As students progress through Adventures, they will become familiar with the 5 elements and have opportunities to grow within each. This framework is meant to help instructors identify which elements of leadership are linked to the activities and programs they are leading and how to effectively teach valuable skills through activity facilitation, debrief, and conversation.
The elements of Leadership
Inclusion | Critical Thinking | Interactions | Personal Growth | Skill Cultivation
Important Info
We provide all of the necessary camping and kitchen gear. Students only need to arrive with their sleeping bag, pillow, and clothes for the program. All meals, instruction, and lodging are covered within the program costs.