GARNA provides hands-on learning for 590 students this fall!

YELP 2018- Fall Programs Update

Our fall season’s Youth Ecological Literacy Programming, YELP, has begun to slow down as the cold weather has settled in. This season was fantastically filled with educational programs for Chaffee and Lake County School Districts. We were able to reach 590 elementary through high school students through School-Based and Enrichment programs. In YELP Programs, students participate in hands-on activities related to various environmental topics to bring school curriculum to life and deepen students’ connection with the natural world. Thanks to the participating school districts, teachers, volunteers, and coordinators for making this season such a success! Here’s a snapshot of happened what this fall:

SCHOOL BASED

Salida’s Longfellow Elementary 3rd grade, Monarch Pass and Maysville trip 9/20/18

Salida’s 3^rd graders embarked on a journey touring through various life zones on their ways up to Maysville and Monarch Pass. At Monarch Pass (the Sub-Alpine life zone they all cheered), students enjoyed (or dreaded) two educational hikes, one outlining the Continental Divide, Geology, and the Rock Cycle, and the other outlining Plant Biology. Down at the Maysville stations (in the Montane, the third graders could remind us), various volunteers from GARNA and the Bureau of Land Management facilitated fun and educational stations. These stations were a compass scavenger hunt, and a bat biology presentation. What a great day!

Salida Middle School 6th grade, Mt. Ouray State Wildlife Area 9/27/18

Salida Middle School’s 6^th graders came out to Mt. Ouray State Wildlife Area to enjoy a day filled with fishing, building, learning, and exploring. Stations included Stream Ecology and Macroinvertebrates, Geology and our Watershed, GPS units with a scavenger hunt, and Fishing practices with a local Colorado Parks and Wildlife Volunteer. This was a wonderful day spent outdoors!!

Avery Parson’s Elementary- Buena Vista 4th grade, Browns Canyon National Monument and Ruby Mountain Campground, 10/11/18

In the month of October, Buena Vista 4^th graders journeyed out to Browns Canyon National Monument for a fun filled, educational, and (cold) field day. This field day was perfectly put together with the help of science teacher Dave Bott, and several of GARNA’s amazing volunteers. Students were eager to learn about Trace Fossils at a Geology station, build their own models at a Watershed station by the river, learn about Public Lands and wildlife habitat as they hiked a portion of Browns Canyon National Monument, and learn about Leave No Trace Principles while finding their way with compasses at an orienteering station.

Lake County School District Grades K-6, Get Outdoors Leadville!, Colorado Mountain College

GARNA joined Get Outdoors Leadville! in the month of October to support their Adventure Day for students K-6^th during out-of-school time. GARNA provided an educational station on compasses and orienteering.  We set up various treasure/scavenger hunts based on different age groups and taught students the basics of maps, compasses, cardinal directions, and reading topography maps.

A HUGE thanks to: Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, Get Outdoors Leadville!, Lake and Chaffee County School Districts, Monarch Crest Gift Shop, and all of GARNA’s partners and volunteers for their time and support.