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Fishing and Birding with Lafayette Explore Outside

Students Enjoyed a Day of Fishing, Birding, Playing, Relaxing, and Doing Service Work at Golden Ponds. Written by CI Senior Instructor Erin Angel. Lafayette Explore Outside (LEO) is a new program for us this year. A small group of middle school-age students meets twice a month, once for an evening workshop and once for an… Read more »

Mystery on Taylor Mountain: Changemakers Fall Backpacking Adventure

The Taylor Mountain Trip Provided the Reminder that Sometimes All You Need is a Forest, a Fire, and Friends. Written by Erin Angel, Senior Instructor, Changemakers & Alumni Coordinator. The Changemakers kicked off their fall backpacking trip to Taylor Mountain with a little unexpected mystery. On the hike to our campsite, we were checking out… Read more »

Reflecting on AXL Academy’s Fall Trimester of Fearless Firsts

A Fall CAP Trimester Full of Firsts: AXL Academy Middle Schoolers Enjoyed a First-Time Camping Trip, Rock Climbing, and Taking on New Challenges. Written by AXL CAP Instructor Harmony Esqueda. AXL 7th Grade CAP Adventures and First-Time Experiences We kicked off our trimester with a visit to Golden Gate Canyon State Park where AXL 7th… Read more »

Kicking off the LEO Program: Harvesting Joy and Friendship at Miller Farms

From Sudden Storms to Sunshine and From Root Veggies to Flower Fields, Our Miller Farms Harvesting Adventure was Everything We Hoped For—and More! Written by CI Senior Instructor Erin Angel. The students from Lafayette Explore Outside (LEO) spent a gorgeous Colorado day harvesting vegetables and playing outside at Miller Farms on our very first trip… Read more »

Donuts, Dyeing, and Donations: New Vista Action Project Tackles Fast Fashion

From Donuts to Donations: A Recipe for Student Engagement. Written by New Vista CAP Instructor Lori Powell. As the Fall CAP class at New Vista High School wrapped up, students shifted from learning about environmental issues to taking action. After brainstorming a range of ideas—from wildfires and floods to sustainable agriculture and water use—one topic… Read more »

First Time Camping: New Skills and Stories Made the AXL Trip Memorable

From Fire-Making to Folklore, AXL 7th Grade Students Experience the Magic of their First Time Camping. Written by AXL CAP Instructor Harmony Esqueda. AXL Academy 7th graders prepped nervously leading up to their overnight CAP trip, asking many questions about tents, wildlife, trip location, etc. We practiced how to set up tents in class and students… Read more »

Planting Trees and Making Memories: An NVHS Adventure in the Foothills

From Whittling Spoons to Planting Trees, Students Built Skills and Memories in the Colorado Foothills. Written by CI Field Instructor David Goldsmith. Our latest overnight adventure began at New Vista High School, where excitement buzzed as students gathered their gear and met the instructors who would guide us through the trip. After piling into the… Read more »

Turning Over a New Leaf with AXL Academy 8th Graders

AXL Students Appreciate Opportunities for “Turning Over a New Leaf” During their Overnight Camping Trip at Cheley. Written by CI Field Instructor Monique Murillo. Stirring with nervous excitement, Ms. Esqueda’s AXL Academy 8th-grade CAP class students gathered around to prepare for their overnight trip, checking gear and playing a few games in front of the… Read more »

Skulls, Skins, and Scavenger Hunts: A Wild Day of Discovery for AXL

AXL 7th Graders Get Hands-On with Skulls, Skins, and Pond Critters at Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Written by CI Field Instructor Shawn Heyland. The plan for Ms. E’s 7th-grade AXL trip was to head out into nearby nature to learn about wildlife in a fun, engaging way. We visited Golden Gate Canyon State Park… Read more »

AXL 8th Grade Students Conquer the Vertical World at Staunton

From Anxious First Steps to Triumphant High-Fives, AXL 8th Graders Discovered their Inner Strength on the Vertical Rock. Written by CI Field Instructor Shawn Heyland. Rock climbing isn’t for the faint of heart, and Ms. E’s 8th-grade AXL CAP class showed up at school on Friday with bravery and resilience. The goal for the day… Read more »

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