Outdoor Lab Foundation

TO INSPIRE COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR AN ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OUTDOOR LAB PROGRAM.

OVER THE PAST YEAR WE COMPLETED 57 WEEK-LONG CAMPS, SERVED 35 MIDDLE SCHOOLS, PROVIDED OVER 15,000 NIGHTS UNDER THE STARS, RECRUITED OVER 900 HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS, AND SUPPORTED 40 INTERNS ON CAMPUS. IN TOTAL, WE SERVED OVER 5,000 STUDENTS BY CONNECTING THEM OFTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME TO THE OUTDOORS. IN TOTAL, STUDENTS WILL HIKE OVER 48,000 MILES AND BE ENGAGED IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OVER 24,000 PROGRAM DAYS. MOREOVER WE ARE PROUD OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE SIX FOLLOWING PROGRAM AREAS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:THE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WE ENSURE THE FEES TO ATTEND OUTDOOR LAB ARE AS LOW OR NO COST TO AS MANY STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE IN THE DISTRICT. AN INABILITY TO PAY TUITION SHOULD NOT BE A BARRIER FOR CHILDREN TO HAVE A TRANSFORMATIVE TIME IN THE OUTDOORS. WE DELIVERED NEARLY $200,000 IN TUITION ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO 35 MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN FY 22. THE INTERN PROGRAM WE PROVIDE A $1,000 STIPEND AND COORDINATE 3 COLLEGE CREDITS TO 40 INTERNS EACH YEAR. INTERNS ARE THE "BOOTS ON THE GROUND", THE "GLUE", THE "POINT GUARDS" OF OUTDOOR LAB. THEY SUPPORT TEACHERS, ORGANIZE CLASSES, TRAIN HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS, AND PROVIDE UNTOLD SUPPORT TO OUTDOOR LAB PRINCIPALS AND SITE STAFF. THE HIGH SCHOOL LEADER PROGRAM OUTDOOR LAB LEANS ON THE VOLUNTEER SUPPORT OF NEARLY 1,000 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EACH YEAR. THEY LEAD CLASSES, MOVE STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR LEARNING CENTERS, AND SERVE AS CARING YOUNG ADULT MENTORS TO OUR 6TH GRADERS. IN TOTAL, THEY CONTRIBUTE OVER 80,000 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE TO OUTDOOR LAB AND JEFFCO NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. WE SUPPORTED 3 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WITH $2,000 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THEIR STALWART SERVICE AS OUTDOOR LAB LEADERS IN FY 22. THE SITE SUPPORT PROGRAM THE FOUNDATION WORKS TO ENSURE THAT NURSES AND AIDS HAVE THE OUTERWEAR AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO KEEP EVERY STUDENT SAFE, WARM, DRY, AND FEELING WELCOME ON SITE. WE ALSO PURCHASE MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES FOR TEACHERS TO IMPART LESSONS IN THE FIELD. LASTLY, WE PAY FOR IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, SO THE CAMPUSES REMAIN ATTRACTIVE AND ENGAGING VENUES FOR LEARNING. WE DELIVERED $108,000 TO THE MOUNT EVANS CAMPUS TO ASSIST IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW DINING HALL. WE ALSO SUPPORTED THE REPAIR OF THE MT EVANS CAMPUSS ASTRONOMY LAB AFTER A BAT INFESTATION DAMAGED THE OBSERVATORY. GEAR LIBRARY EXPANSION WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO FILL THE SHELVES OF BOTH SITES WITH LIGHTLY-USED OR NEW GEAR AND OUTERWEAR STUDENTS NEED TO STAY WARM, DRY, AND FEELING SAFE WHILE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND AWAY FROM HOME. IN FY 22 WE GARNERED HUNDREDS OF COATS, HATS, GLOVES, BOOTS, AND OTHER CRITICAL PIECES OF OUTERWEAR SO THAT BOTH CAMPUSES HAD A FULLY STOCKED GEAR LIBRARY. HISTORIC PRESERVATION WE WERE AWARDED A $50,000 GRANT FROM THE STATE HISTORIC FUND TO PROTECT THE WINDY PEAK CAMPUSS HISTORIC BUILDINGS WHICH DATE BACK TO THE 1860S. OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THE FOUNDATION WILL BE WORKING WITH THE STATE HISTORICAL FUND TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE HISTORIC STRUCTURES ON THE WINDY PEAK CAMPUS. THIS IMPORTANT LEGACY PROJECT WILL MAKE THE SITES HISTORY COME TO LIFE FOR STUDENTS.