"Outdoor Lab has become the most recognizable generational story of the Jeffco community. Since its inception, hundreds of thousands of 6th grade students have had the opportunity to experience nature’s classroom with their peers and develop their character in ways the traditional classroom could never replicate. Outdoor Lab has grown to be more than just a “week in the mountains”. It has transformed itself, alongside the 6th grade students it serves, to become a place of community, healing, and exploration.
The true power of this program is best exemplified in the stories our students bring back after their week at Outdoor Lab. Beneath the surface of hikes and evening programs lie the hidden lessons that leave a lasting impact. From cultivating self-direction and personal responsibility to fostering friendship, community, and, most notably, stewardship, Outdoor Lab imparts invaluable life skills. The real essence of these lessons emerges from the fabric of the experience, where students become self-reliant, depend on the support of the community they build in the bunkhouses and core groups, and for many, experience their first time away from their families. For some, this immersive experience proves to be life-changing, and I have been fortunate enough to witness this profound impact on many occasions.
I can speak to this ‘life changing’ experience first hand. I grew up in Jeffco Public Schools and attended Windy Peak Outdoor Lab in 6th grade. Little did I know, this experience set me onto a trajectory I had never envisioned. Throughout middle and high school, my aspirations were focused on becoming a doctor; never could I have foreseen that my career path would lead me to carry on the message and lessons I learned at Outdoor Lab. Lucky enough, my experience as a 6th grader at Windy Peak inspired me to volunteer as a high school leader. This week-long opportunity to re-experience Outdoor Lab set me onto the path of education by inspiring me to serve as a high school leader two more times, an Outdoor Lab intern for three semesters, a 6th grade science teacher, Windy Peak’s Program Director, and now a Middle School Assistant Principal. Without a doubt, I attribute my career path to the immense impact of Outdoor Lab. On a daily basis, for several years, I witnessed the transformative power this program had on our 6th-grade students, motivating me to pursue a career in education.
Looking back, it doesn’t surprise me this program was able to influence my career choice so easily. As a 6th grade teacher, I watched some of my most impacted students thrive on the mountain. As the Program Director, I witnessed groups of 6th graders, high school leaders, and interns bid tearful goodbyes to their newly formed relationships, board the bus with cherished memories, only to return later, carrying on the tradition of transformation. I firmly believe that Outdoor Lab is one of the most purposeful and powerful programs that all students get to experience. Constantly reminded of and grateful for the experiences our two Outdoor Lab sites provide to our 5,000 6th-grade students, it brings me incredible joy to know that many others get to experience the same transformative week that I had the privilege of experiencing many years ago."
Sincerely,
Tyler Houston
