Marching Along!

School payouts are well underway. This month, we're sending over $200,000 to local middle schools of Jeffco to ensure that ALL students are covered for their Outdoor Lab experience.

This is made possible by YOU, our community of supporters.

Plus, learn about a special donation, a 'day in the life' at Outdoor Lab

and mark your calendars for After Dark 2021!

Local Family Donates Gloves to Outdoor Lab

The Outdoor Lab Foundation exists for many reasons. One of those is to support students during their Outdoor Lab experience. Anyone in the Colorado high country knows how quickly the weather can change, so Windy Peak and Mount Evans Outdoor Lab sites have to be equipped for any weather situation. Snow or shine, students do most of their learning outdoors, so both sites maintain robust gear closets in order to adapt. These gear closets are full of a variety of sweatpants, coats, boots, socks and more to ensure that every student has what they need as soon as they arrive. We know students learn best when they are warm and dry. 

In January, as the snow was falling, we received word that multiple pairs of gloves were needed for interns, high school leaders and sixth grade students. So we posted a note on our social media and soon, we were answered by a parent of an intern, Annette Wright. She was headed out to run errands, she said, and could pick up what was needed. 

"Outdoor Lab is a unique and incredible program." Annette says. "I am so very thankful for all of the work everyone involved has invested to keep this running during financial and pandemic hardships," she continues. As an Outdoor Lab alumni, she was happy that her son's 6th grade experiences inspired him to be a high school leader and intern. "I have no doubt that the invaluable human connections and love/respect of nature have shaped him, and will play an important part in how he navigates his future. I (we) will be forever grateful."

Deadline April 2 for High School Leader Scholarships

Spread the word! You may be familiar with our High School Leader Scholarship Program: students who have served as high school leaders or interns at Outdoor Lab have the opportunity to apply to further their education. And new this year, we've been able to grow this program by offering a third scholarship. 

In 2018, this initiative started as a way to recognize high school leaders for their outstanding commitment to the program. To apply, students should have served as a high school leader or intern in recent years for Outdoor Lab. They should also be applying for admission to any private or public vocational training program, college or university to begin within the next 12 months. 

Know a student who should apply? Click here, or send them the link below.

A Day in the Life at Outdoor Lab... During a Pandemic

Outdoor Lab has been open all year - due both to the extensive work of site staff and also because the majority of the learning takes place outdoors. We get many questions about the format of Outdoor Lab in 2020/2021, so we thought we'd share "a day in the life!"

Morning:

• Kids arrive at their home school and a health screening (temperature check and symptom check) is done
• They board busses and arrive on site around 10:30 a.m.
• All groups gather around the flag circle for a ceremony and general welcome
• Groups are dismissed to basecamps (known as bunkhouses during the 5-day residential program) to use the restroom, wash hands and are led through a few activities to build community and set the tone for the week

Afternoon:

• Lunch is served (kudos to the kitchen staff for being able to adjust in a way where kids still rave about the food!)
• Groups are led through outdoor activities by interns, with the support of high school leaders, for the next four hours (click link or select below to learn about activities)

Evening:

• Students gather at the flag circle for an evening ceremony
• Groups are dismissed back to "basecamp" to use the restroom, wash hands and eat dinner
• Students board busses between 5:15-5:30 and head back to their school

Click here or the link below to learn about students' daily activities, including ICARE, survival and Leave No Trace. 

Thanks to FirstBank for Ongoing Support

FirstBank has supported the student experience at Outdoor Lab Foundation for many years. They sit on our After Dark Volunteer Committee, contribute to our annual fund and are also represented on our board. They believe that if they focus on doing what is right for their customers and their communities, they will, in turn, also thrive.

Since 2000, they've contributed over $65 million to Colorado-based nonprofits.

You may also know that they helped kick start Colorado Gives Day and still support it annually by contributing to the incentive fund. The Colorado Gives Day and FirstBank incentive fund, valued at $1 million, is one of the largest giving-day funds of its kind in the country. The fund works by proportionally increasing the value of each dollar donated on Colorado Gives Day. By being involved, FirstBank aims to lead by example and inspire even more Coloradans to give to the nonprofit organizations that make up our great state.

Official Date For After Dark Is 9.24

Mark your calendars! We've officially set the date for annual, non-traditional gala, After Dark. Join us the evening of Friday, September 24th, 2021 as we come together as a community to amplify the Outdoor Lab program. This year will be better than ever with live music, local food and a robust live and silent auction. Please stay tuned for venue location and more details - but please spread the word!

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