Youth Education Program!

Overview | Rock Safety Manual

Teaching our youth…

The CMC developed the Youth Education Program (YEP) to offer unique, hands-on learning for Colorado's youth.

Since 1999, YEP has introduced more than 38,142 young people to mountain environments through field trips and hands-on activities.

Classes are designed to connect science, math, art and literature to mountain recreation and conservation. And our goal is to make learning FUN!

YEP:

· Facilitates an understanding and respect for mountain environments and fosters student well-being through self-awareness, physical activity and team-building. Staff and volunteers offer unique learning experiences for metro area children in grades pre-Kindergarten through 12.

· Designed to connect Colorado children with the extraordinary outdoor environment in our state.
For example, we teach the scientific method through the topic of avalanche science; physics, earth, and life science through rock climbing; math through orienteering; biology through a class called Physiology with an Altitude.

· Offers team-building, mountain safety, rock climbing and nature literacy classes and field trips.

· Hands-on activities are conducted in school classrooms, mountain field sites or the American Mountaineering Center in Golden.

Facts and Figures

October 1, 2006 – September 30 2007

38,142 students and chaperones have learned about the mountains since 1999.

5,142 students and chaperones participated with YEP

157 classes taught in mountain safety, weather, ecology, orienteering, geology, teambuilding and climbing.

175 people Hiked for Youth

40 volunteers mentored youth during YEP programs

11 partnerships were developed or continued with schools, nonprofits, and government programs including Mi Casa, Girl Scouts, and CU Science Discovery.

Youth Education Program Continues to Build on Successes

Dollar for dollar, your contributions to CMC’s Youth Education Program have increasingly paid off. Our award-winning program continues to reach new populations of youth who have not been able to learn about or experience the mountains.

School Partnerships Demonstrate Need for CMC Experiential Techniques

More than 60% participants return each year for field trips at the American Mountaineering Center or open space parks. YEP specializes in building custom classes for schools wanting to enhance their academic curricula with relevant and experiential opportunities.

Students, Teachers and Parents Love Youth Education Program classes

Testimonials from our participants tell our story the best:

“The field trip was awesome. My students loved it. The activities were directly on our
standards, excellently presented and held my student's interests. Thank
you and CMC. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!” Alison Merrill 6^th Grade Earth Science teacher about Geology and Triceratops Trail field trip.

“Colorado Mtn Club is awesome- always very organized, flexible and interactive with students! Great learning experience! This class helped my students get a sense of direction and practical use of finding a location which fits with our curriculum and standards.” Brad Reynolds 7^th Grade Social Studies teacher about Orienteering: Topographic Maps & Compass class.

Youth Keep Coming Back for After-school and Weekend Programs

YEP keeps growing! We often receive requests from participants wanting to further their interest in outdoor recreation. This year YEP will offer on-going opportunities for individual youth to build skills including: hiking, rock climbing, survival, and snowshoeing. Our after-school and weekend adventures are designed for ages 11-16.

Summer Highlights

Staff spent countless hours outdoors instilling mountain safety and conservation in young rock climbers and outdoor enthusiasts. This summer we expanded our program to include a new course multi-day, Mountain Explorers, and advanced our Intermediate Rock course to provide a new challenge for return participants. In addition, we introduced new

Family Programming helps promote parent and child bonding outside. Thanks to the great feedback we received from participants, we plan to provide additional opportunities next summer.

“Thank you for the great time Max and I had on Saturday. It was very well planned and everyone had a wonderful time. We hope to do more activities with you in the future. I heard Max telling someone, "I AM a rock climber." I guess this is better than having to hear him call himself a 'rock star.'” Allison Cole, Parent Participant in outdoor parent/child rock climbing class.

Students who enjoy Colorado’s beautiful outdoors will grow up to be advocates for preservation and environmental responsibility.

We are constantly doing our best to get our young people outside, into nature!

In the CMC’s Youth Education Program we constantly ask, “What is success and how do we measure it”?

YEP! Strives to connect youth in meaningful ways to the mountains because we believe the mountains are powerful teachers.
We work to improve children’s lives by helping them develop self -esteem, improve academic achievement and physical fitness.

We teach the academic 3R’s (Reading, Writing, and ‘Rithmatic) and perhaps even more importantly, we teach the personal 3 R’s: Respect self - Respect others - Respect nature.

Each year we set number goals to measure how many students we will teach and help experience nature.
We plan how many dollars we must raise to be able to serve youth regardless of their families’ income.
We recruit and train adults who will coach and mentor youth from all walks of life.
We hope that you will become involved with YEP! in 2008 and share in our successes!

For detailed program, scheduling and contact information, please click:

CMC YEP! Web Page