Outdoor Lab has been enriching the lives of sixth-grade and high school students in Jefferson County for more than 60 years. With more than 5,000 students served each year and over 400,000 alumni, Outdoor Lab is the longest continually running outdoor education program in the western United States!
But why is Outdoor Lab so important for kids?
We have known intuitively for decades that nature and experiences in nature have tangible benefits to our life. Now, increasingly, research shows that experiences in nature reduce stress, improve our physical health, lead to better education outcomes, and build civic-mindedness.
A recently released report from Stanford University documented 119 peer-reviewed studies published over a 20-year period that measured the impacts of environmental education for K-12 students. The review found clear evidence that environmental education programs provide a variety of benefits - from improving academic performance, to enhancing critical thinking skills, to building confidence, self-efficacy, autonomy, and leadership.
Your support by the end of the day can make a tremendous difference in the lives of kids growing up in Jeffco and help uplift this unique, local program. Plus, when you make a donation of any amount to the Outdoor Lab Foundation, your gift will be amplified by the special Colorado Gives Day Incentive Fund.
