Through Climbing, Fishing, and Exploring Colorado’s Parks, Nature-Based Learning Gave Students Hands-On Opportunities to Discover, Connect, and Grow.
Written by Cottonwood Institute Field Instructor Carly Winner. Over two field days with two groups from Sims-Fayola, one younger group and one older group, we spent time climbing, fishing, exploring, and enjoying the outdoors together. Nature-based learning came to life, and each group was able to experience different activities and test their new skills!
Our first field day took us to Staunton State Park and the climbing routes at Staunton Rocks. With the help of awesome Colorado Parks and Wildlife volunteers, students learned climbing techniques, encouraged one another, and challenged themselves on routes of varying difficulty. Some students were excited to climb right to the top of the routes; others started a little skeptical of the sport. By the end of the day, every one of them attempted different climbing routes! Even the Instructors at Sims Fayola tried too!
Our second field day for each group was spent at different ponds, one at Staunton State Park and the other at Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Fishing quickly became a favorite activity, and students mastered the art of casting quickly, but not without a few tangles of course! Students were able to catch rainbow trout and see lots of bird species flying around the ponds.
Students also took a break from the activities to learn the game of camouflage. Students learned to act as predators and sneak up on their prey. We discussed different predator and prey animals that we would find in the areas where we were in Colorado. One group landed on hawks and snakes as their predator/prey duo. The other group decided to be a bear and a fish.
Whether students are scaling rock walls, casting a fishing line, or discovering the wildlife around them, every outdoor experience creates opportunities to build confidence, resilience, and a lifelong connection to nature. We had so much fun with both groups of students each day, spending days in beautiful parks! Thank you to our Sims-Fayola students and partners for creating such a great week!
Thanks also to Cottonwood Institute donors, sponsors, and attendees of our special events for helping to fund this outdoor adventure!
If you too are passionate about getting students outside to experience new challenges, please consider making a donation or becoming a monthly donor! You’ll help invest in our students, programs, and long-term sustainability and success!
