Thorne Ecological Institute

THORNE'S MISSION IS TO BUILD EARTH STEWARDSHIP BY CONNECTING YOUTH TO NATURE THROUGH JOYFUL, HANDS-ON, PLACE-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCES.

THORNE ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION THROUGH THREE CORE PROGRAMS THAT PRIMARILY SERVE BOULDER COUNTY YOUTH: SCHOOL PROGRAMS - ANNUALLY ENGAGES 10,000+ STUDENTS THROUGH CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS, FIELD TRIPS, AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC LEARNING AND BUILD NATURE CONNECTION. YOUTH PARTICIPATE IN THORNE'S IN-SCHOOL PROGRAM, WHICH EXPANDS STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE IN THE AREAS OF SCIENCE AND LITERACY THROUGH A THREE-CLASS SERIES OF LESSONS THAT INVOLVE INTERACTIVE EXPLORATIONS, INQUIRY-BASED EXPERIMENTS, AND WRITING A PICTURE BOOK. ALL 2ND GRADE YOUTH RECEIVE A FULL-DAY NATURE FIELD TRIP TO A LOCAL OPEN SPACE AREA THAT UTILIZES FUN, HANDS-ON, PLACE-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCES TO TEACH NATURAL SCIENCE CONCEPTS AND FOSTER EMPATHY FOR OTHER LIVING THINGS. A PORTION OF STUDENTS WHO ENJOY IN SCHOOL PROGRAMS ALSO ATTEND AN IMMERSIVE 12-WEEK AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO DEEPEN THEIR CONNECTION TO NATURE BY EXPLORING IN AND AROUND THEIR SCHOOLYARD WITH EXPERIENCED NATURE MENTORS. SUMMER CAMP - ANNUALLY PROVIDES YOUTH AGES 5-15 WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE LOCAL GRASSLAND, EVERGREEN FOREST, AND WETLAND HABITATS WITH AN EXPERIENCED NATURE MENTOR. AT CAMP, CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAP INTO THE SPIRIT OF PLAY AND FOLLOW THEIR OWN UNIQUE INTERESTS WHILE STAFF SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATE LEARNING FROM THE LESSONS THAT ABOUND WITHIN NATURE'S CLASSROOM. IN 2022 THORNE SERVED 1092 CAMPERS FOR A TWO-WEEK PROGRAM, WITH 26% OF FAMILIES RECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP. ECE PROGRAMS - ANNUALLY ENGAGES YOUTH AGES 3-6 IN A UNIQUE PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE THAT FOSTERS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHOLE-CHILD AND NATURE CONNECTION THROUGH DAILY IMMERSION IN NATURE WITH CARING, ATTENTIVE MENTORS. IN ADDITION, 350+ YOUTH AGES 2 AND UP AND THEIR FAMILIES PARTICIPATE IN A LIL-EXPLORERS PARENT AND CHILD PROGRAM WHICH IS DESIGNED TO BUILD THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND INTEREST NEEDED TO FOSTER A LIFELONG LOVE OF NATURE EXPLORATION FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. IN ADDITION, THORNE IS THE BACKBONE AND PROVIDES PROGRAMMING FOR NATURE KIDS/JOVENES DE LA NATURALEZA (NKJN) - A 20-ORGANIZAITON EFFORT TO PROVIDE 1 MILLION PLUS ANNUALLY IN PRE-K TO HIGH SCHOOL, BACKYARD TO BACKCOUNTRY, AND FAMILY INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMMING TO UNDERSERVED LAFAYETTE YOUTH. NKJN HAS ALSO HELPED TO BUILD MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION IN PARKS AND TRAILS TO ENSURE ALL LAFAYETTE YOUTH LIVE WITHIN A SAFE 10-MINUTE WALK TO NATURE. DURING 2021, THE NKJN PROGRAM WILL BEGIN EXPANSION INTO THE CITY OF BOULDER WITH HOPES OF EXPANDING TO LONGMONT IN 2022.