Rock Climbing

On every climbing program students will learn the foundation of climbing skills, belaying, communication systems, and rock climbing movement.

Stand-up Paddleboarding

at Grand Lake

We start by learning how to paddle forward, backward, and techniques for turning. We then have free paddle within boundaries, and then group games on the water.

Hiking

Students will challenge themselves on a day hike while learning about the surrounding environment in Rocky Mountain National Park, which has over 315 miles of trails.

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 how the National Park landscape has transformed to make the mountains seen today.

Watersheds and Water management

With the continental divide running through 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. With the headwaters of the Colorado River existing inside Rocky Mountain National Park, there is no better place to learn about watersheds and water management!

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. As wildlife sightings are common inside of Rocky Mountain National Park, students may even get to safely observe wildlife while out on trail!

Aquatic Ecology

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 in their location may impact those factors.

Glacier Basin Campground

This campground is next to the parking lot, with 2 adjacent tent-camping group sites that hold 40 people each. Facilities include flush toilets and potable water.

Backcountry Backpacking

Students will load their gear on their backs and hike into the field for an overnight backpacking trip.

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).