Over the past month, Outdoor Lab’s evening programming has been a hot topic of conversation at the Foundation office—and for good reason. Teachers consistently tell us this is an area where they'd welcome more planning support. In response, the Foundation has partnered with the Colorado Association of Environmental Education (CAEE) to bring on an AmeriCorps member who will spend the next year helping Outdoor Lab develop a more robust selection of evening presenters and grab-and-go lesson plans.

We're thrilled to introduce Emily, who brings a rich connection to Outdoor Lab and passion for the mission of stewardship. She holds a B.A. in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from the University of Northern Colorado, has volunteered as a High School Leader at both sites, and attended Outdoor Lab as a sixth-grade Jeffco student herself. We couldn't be more excited to have her in this role. Read on to get to know our latest hire!

What drew you to environmental education, and how did your journey lead you to the Outdoor Lab Foundation?

I was drawn to environmental education because I enjoy doing environmental justice work at the community level and I believe that making sure kids have equitable access to the outdoors and knowledge about their local environments is an important factor in creating a future of environmental stewardship. Attending Outdoor Lab as a sixth grader had a big impact on me and when I returned as a high school leader I remember not wanting to go back to regular school at the end of the week. This experience, along with other environmental education opportunities that I was fortunate enough to have as a kid pushed me to earn my bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from the University of Northern Colorado. Now, as an AmeriCorps and eeCorps member I hope to improve my skills as an educator over the next year and give back to my community.

What environmental topics or concepts are you most passionate about teaching?

I enjoy talking about anything related to the environment, but one of my favorite topics to teach about is conservation because it gives people an idea of how humans impact the environment and what actions we can take to keep the earth healthy.

As our new Enrichment Coordinator, what are you most looking forward to in your role?

I’m looking forward to creating and implementing impactful evening programs, my hope is that these programs will not only be educational but will also be fun and memorable, making Outdoor Lab a positive experience for each school that attends.

What's your favorite way to spend time outdoors?

Hiking is my favorite way to spend time outdoors! I love exploring different ecosystems and seeing all the different plants, animals, and geographic features.

If you work for an organization who provides programs to students and is interested in setting up an arrangement to speak at Outdoor Lab, she welcomes your inquiry! You can email her at Emily.Garcia@outdoorlabfoundation.org.