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March 2020 Newsletter (text only)

Two Upcoming Events... Please Join Us!

Outdoor Lab Foundation is out and about in the community to raise awareness and funds to ensure ALL students can attend Outdoor Lab, regardless of ability or disability, including the ability to pay.

1. Thursday, March 19: Raise a Pint, Lend a Hand

Where: Holidaily Brewing from 2-9 p.m.

Details: $1/ pint donated to Outdoor Lab Foundation all day. From 6-8 p.m., $2/ pint will be donated. Non-alcoholic drinks available.

2. Friday, April 17: Make Your Earth Day Count! 

Where: Zuni Street Brewing from 6-9 p.m.

Details: Live music, giveaways and great connections! Zuni is donating 10% of bar proceeds from this evening to the Outdoor Lab Foundation. Sponsors include: Meghan Rocchio with RealtyOne Group, PRQ Exteriors, Fermelia Dental and Keith Fenner with Spire Financial. Non-alcoholic beverages available.

 

The Sky is the Limit for this Outdoor Lab Intern

Purrich Yip, A Mount Evans Outdoor Lab intern, says that his goal is to impact students by giving them an appreciation for nature that they might not get at home.

Purrich first heard about the intern program as a sixth grade student and was then reintroduced to it as a high school leader. He chose to become an intern because, as an introvert, the program was an opportunity to put himself out there in front of different crowds. He enjoyed it so much that he completed a second internship.

After his first internship, his perspective about the world changed. Defeat was no longer an option for him. Everything happens for a reason, he says, and the only thing we can control is what we do about those things, our reactions. He learned this after experiencing a different way of life on the mountain. The sky was the limit.

 

West Metro Chamber Takes a Tour

On February 27, members of the West Metro Chamber loaded up on a school bus for their grown up field trip. They got to visit Mount Evans Outdoor Lab to see, first-hand, the magic that happens at the site. Complete with their own field study guides, sturdy hiking boots and warm coats, these adults got to be kids for the day!

The tour consisted of site history (including a tour of the Dodge Lodge), a curriculum overview, learning about stewardship, a tour of the greenhouses and more. Questions were asked. Memories were made.

Are you interested in touring the sites with your group to see the magic yourself? Email us!

 

Zero Hunger | Zero Waste by King Soopers

King Soopers (Krogers) is a wonderful supporter of Outdoor Lab Foundation. Their Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan is their bold commitment to end hunger in the places we call home and eliminate waste across our company by 2025. They acknowledge that it addresses a fundamental absurdity in our food system: 40% of the food produced in the U.S. is thrown away, yet 1 in 8 Americans struggle with hunger. As America’s grocer, King Soopers believe they have the scale, local connections and dedicated associates to do something about this dilemma.

Zero Hunger | Zero Waste is how they live their Purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit™.  They're counting on their associates, customers, trusted partners and other stakeholders to help shape innovative solutions and scalable best practices to solve these big issues. Because when it comes to hunger and waste, zero is the only acceptable answer.

 

Avid4 Adventure Gets Kids Active & Outside

Nothing compares to that soaring confidence you get when you overcome your fears and try something new. Unfortunately, these opportunities exist less and less for kids today. That’s where Avid4 Adventure comes in. Avid4 Adventure, an Outdoor Lab supporter, offers summer day and overnight camps in Colorado. They take pre K-12th grade students of all levels to some of the best outdoor recreation areas- inspiring kids with priceless experiences that last a lifetime.

Using time-tested curriculum, their professional instructors teach sports like biking, climbing, paddling and hiking helping kids gain the skills and self-assuredness they need to choose an active, outdoor lifestyle.

 

Get out of Dodge!

Did you know these things about the Dodge Lodge at Mount Evans Outdoor Lab?

It was finished in 1907 by Regina and Clarence Dodge

It has 2 secret panels that reveal places where the family likely hid valuables when they were away

It was hand-hewed, meaning its logs were flattened or squared using only hand tools

It was constructed with indoor plumbing (very rare for that time period, especially at that location)

It’s now considered a National Education Landmark

 

Seasons at Outdoor Lab

Students attend Outdoor Lab all throughout the school year- in the high heat months to the cold and stormy. That means each group of students might have a different take-away from their week spent up at the sites, even thought the curriculum remains the same. We see this as a great thing. From learning to enjoy the variations in weather to preparing for the change in seasons, the students are learning all about Colorado's mountain climate, first hand!

 

Attention Outdoor Lab Alum: We Want YOU!

Are you an Outdoor Lab Alum? We want to hear from you. Your stories hold the key to our past and our hopes for the future. Please fill out our short form, below!