Students with Significant Support Needs Attend Outdoor Lab

As Jeffco students return to school, we're eager to share one of our most inspiring stories from last year that captures why Outdoor Lab matters to every student in our district.

This past April, Fletcher Miller School - which serves students with significant support needs - experienced the joy of Outdoor Lab. Foundation staff, students, parents, teachers, and site staff came together for an unforgettable day that demonstrated how outdoor education benefits all learners, regardless of their individual needs.

Special Education Teacher Robin Leonard's reflection on the experience speaks to the profound impact these programs can have on students who need extra support.

“The buildup and planning to go to Outdoor lab was almost as exciting as spending the day watching students soak up the fresh mountain air. I will never forget how excited one particular parent was when they found out that Fletcher Miller Secondary Students were going to Outdoor Lab because she also attended Mt. Blue Sky when she was in school.

Since our principal and admin team believes in equitable experiences and trusts their staff to make experiences possible; the Outdoor Lab Foundation, Mt Blue Sky Staff, Fletcher Miller Staff and Fletcher Miller parents worked together to give secondary students a memorable day at a very special place. This opportunity easily could have been overlooked because the planning and executing of hands-on learning in the mountains required more forward thinking and more supplies due to our student's significant support needs.

The day was filled with student agency and choice over how to experience nature that activated every sense. Most of the lessons at school include real objects to build and deepen background knowledge and understanding but creating a learning atmosphere that fully encompasses the natural sounds, vastness of the open sky, whispering of the breeze in the trees and peace that is held between the peaks of mountains would have been impossible without Outdoor Lab. Some students chose to sit on the deck of the patio in a bean bag soaking in the view. Other students ventured to use the adapted archery equipment and extended their learning from their physical education teacher to the outdoors. Some students created crafts using pieces of nature. Students also enjoyed a live animal presentation by Nature's Educators while being directly in each animal's natural habitat.

While I could nerd out about the educational value the day held for students that benefit from a multi-sensory learning approach, the impact of the day extended past the learning to the embracing of a shared experience for students and their families. Many families were able to attend this experience with their students which gave them an opportunity to connect with other families and their students' peers.

Looking around, the day was filled with smiles, laughter and belonging for students, staff and families. Although many students used their Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices to say "more," "go," "like," and "favorite" when asked what they thought about the day, the connectedness and appreciation for the day was deeply felt by those who attended.

The day created a shared experience with the opportunity for communication. Students were able to connect with friends, family and engage in an experience that further connected them to their parents and siblings who also may have attended Outdoor Lab. The belonging that was felt and created throughout the day was beyond words.”

For more than 60 years, Outdoor Lab has provided Jefferson County students with transformative experiences that go far beyond traditional classroom learning. In these immersive outdoor settings, students don't just study the natural world - they discover their own capabilities, build confidence, and develop a deeper understanding of their place in the larger community. Stories like Fletcher Miller's remind us that these life-changing opportunities should be accessible to every student, regardless of their individual needs.

With your continued support, we can ensure that future generations of Jeffco students -including those who need extra support to thrive - will continue to benefit when learning moves outdoors.