Keystone Science School Inc

INSPIRE CURIOSITY & CRITICAL THINKING THROUGH THE LENS OF SCIENCE TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.

CAMP OFFERS A RANGE OF SUMMER EXPERIENCES FULL OF SCIENCE EXPLORATION, COLORADO ADVENTURE, AND TRADITIONAL CAMP-STYLE FUN. WHETHER PARTICIPATING IN DAY CAMP, OVERNIGHT CAMP, OR TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS, CAMPERS EVOLVE FROM CURIOUS LEARNERS TO CONFIDENT LEADERS. A ROBUST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, SUPPORTED BY OUR GENEROUS DONORS, ENSURES THAT FINANCES ARE NOT A BARRIER TO CHILDREN'S PARTICIPATION. IN ADDITION TO SUMMER PROGRAMS, WE SUPPORT LOCAL WORKING FAMILIES BY PROVIDING DAY CAMP OPTIONS FOR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN DURING LOCAL SCHOOL BREAKS. STUDENTS IN SUMMIT DAY CAMP, WHICH SERVES SUMMIT SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS EXCLUSIVELY, ARE IMMERSED IN HIGH-QUALITY OUTDOOR EDUCATION, STEM LESSONS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING LESSONS, AND READING TO SUPPORT REDUCTION OF SUMMER LEARNING LOSS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES A SLIDING FEE SCALE TO ENSURE ACCESS TO ALL FAMILIES. IN 2022, MORE THAN 1,427 CHILDREN ATTENDED CAMP.

SCHOOL-BASED ACTIVITIES ARE COORDINATED DIRECTLY WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE OUT-OF-SCHOOL AND IN-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR STUDENTS, HOSTED AT THE RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS' CAMPUSES. TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT WORKING FAMILIES IN SUMMIT COUNTY, WE PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND CONSISTENT CARE FOR THE AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS TO SUMMIT SCHOOL DISTRICT FAMILIES VIA THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM PROMOTES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HEALTHY EATING HABITS USING THE "COORDINATED APPROACH TO CHILD HEALTH" CURRICULUM. A SLIDING FEE SCALE ENSURES THAT ALL FAMILIES CAN ACCESS THIS PROGRAM. SCHOOL-BASED ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDED A SPECIAL COVID-19 SCHOOL YEAR SUPPORT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT LOCAL STUDENTS WITH THEIR HYBRID LEARNING COURSEWORK IN THE 2021 SPRING SEMESTER. A PILOT SILVERTHORNE OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM TAUGHT OUTDOOR EDUCATION TO ALL STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SILVERTHORNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IN 2021, MORE THAN 727 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR SCHOOL-BASED ACTIVITIES. THE PROGRAM WAS DECOMMISSIONED IN MARCH 2022.

OUR EDUCATION FOCUS AREA BRINGS SCIENCE AND OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP TO LIFE THROUGH INFORMAL INVESTIGATION AND HANDS-ON RESEARCH PROJECTS. WE WORK WITH K-12 SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND RETREAT GROUPS UTILIZING A NON-BIASED, INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH. WHETHER GROUPS COME FOR A 3-DAY, 2-NIGHT RESIDENTIAL EXPERIENCE OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A CUSTOMIZED DAY PROGRAM, EACH PARTICIPANT HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN IN THE NATURAL WORLD, DRIVING HOME THE SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES WE TEACH.2022 SAW THE RETURN OF THE GIRLS IN STEM PROGRAM WHICH EMPOWERS GIRLS IN 3RD TO 8TH GRADE TO EXPLORE STEM TOPICS WITH FEMALE PROFESSIONALS AND MENTORS REMAINED ON A HIATUS. IN ADDITION, BEYOND THE CLASSROOM WHICH PROVIDES TEACHERS WITH TRAININGS THAT FEATURE INTERDISCIPLINARY, ENGAGING, AND INQUIRY-BASED CURRICULA FOR A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES RELEVANT TO TODAY'S COMMUNITIES ALSO RETURNED IN LATE 2022. OTHER PROGRAMS RETURNING ARE H2O OUTDOORS AND MOUNTAIN ECOLOGY.IN 2022, 2,617 CHILDREN AND ADULTS JOINED OUR EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.

ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES GIVE SCHOOL GROUPS AND SUMMER CAMPERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND LEARN ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND THEM THROUGH CAMPING-BASED EXPLORATION. UTILIZING OUR EXTENSIVE SCIENCE CURRICULUM, PARTICIPANTS GET A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT THE UNIQUE GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, WEATHER, AND WATERSHEDS OF THE MOUNTAIN REGION AND ARE INSPIRED TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES AND BUILD ADVANCED OUTDOOR SKILLS AMONG THEIR PEERS. IN 2022, MORE THAN 200 CHILDREN ATTENDED ADVENTURE PROGRAMS.