Our Enrichment Coordinator Expands Evening Program Offerings

Can you imagine spending an entire day teaching, hiking, supervising, inspiring, and mentoring 120 sixth graders in the great outdoors? Now imagine that when the day wraps up, you still have an evening full of energetic kids to entertain!

That's the reality for Outdoor Lab staff, interns, and visiting sixth-grade teachers, whose work doesn't end when the sun goes down.

Fortunately, they have some help!

The Outdoor Lab Foundation has sponsored guest programs since 2022, but over the last year and a half, we've expanded our efforts. Through a partnership with AmeriCorps and the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE), the Foundation hosts an AmeriCorps Enrichment Coordinator who brings fresh energy to the evenings. This year's coordinator, Ana, not only leads engaging programs herself but also recruits new community partners to share their expertise with students.

These partnerships introduce students to new perspectives, connect them with local experts, and create memorable learning experiences, all while providing valuable support to our hardworking educators.

And the impact is adding up!

Through the Foundation's coordination of community partnerships, we achieved the following during the 2025–2026 school year:

Our generous partners include Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Audubon Society of Evergreen, Denver Mountain Parks, Evergreen Fire and Rescue, Evergreen Sustainability Alliance, Jefferson Conservation District, Jeffco Open Space, and History Colorado.

From wildlife and conservation to local history and environmental stewardship, these organizations bring a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to Outdoor Lab.

It takes a community to make Outdoor Lab extraordinary. Thanks to our AmeriCorps partnership, dedicated community partners, and your continued support, students keep discovering long after day light hours conclude. And our teachers get some well-deserved help along the way.

Thank you for your support!