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 SERVED 36 MIDDLE SCHOOLS, TAUGHT 260 CORE CLASSES, AND RECRUITED 1,029 HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS. IN TOTAL, WE SERVED OVER 4,000 STUDENTS BY CONNECTING THEM OFTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME TO THE OUTDOORS. IN TOTAL, STUDENTS WILL HIKE OVER 32,000 MILES AND BE ENGAGED IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OVER 16,000 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 $175,000 IN TUITION ASSISTANCE GRANTS TO 36 MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN FY 24. THE INTERN PROGRAM WE PROVIDED $22,000 IN STIPENDS TO SUPPORT OUR INTERNS IN FY 24. 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 1,029 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 87,465 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE TO OUTDOOR LAB AND JEFFCO NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. WE SUPPORTED HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS WITH $6,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THEIR STALWART SERVICE AS OUTDOOR LAB LEADERS IN FY 24. 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 PAID OVER $16,000 FOR IMPORTANT MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, SO THE CAMPUSES REMAIN ATTRACTIVE AND ENGAGING VENUES FOR LEARNING. 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 24 WE GARNERED HUNDREDS OF COATS, HATS, GLOVES, BOOTS, AND OTHER CRITICAL PIECES OF OUTERWEAR SO THAT BOTH CAMPUSES HAD A FULLY STOCKED GEAR LIBRARY. IN TOTAL, WE GAVE $50,000 OF IN-KIND OUTERWEAR TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH APPROPRIATE CLOTHING FOR THE ELEMENTS.