-
Making History With Water
On November 12th, Keystone Science School was scheduled to run our annual H2O Outdoors program, an exciting grant-funded program for High School students made possible through key partnerships with Denver Water, Aurora Water, and the Colorado River District. Students from around the state applied to the program and, once accepted, were invited to come to our campus free…
-
Surrounded by Wildlife
A couple of weeks ago, a young bull moose wandered onto our campus. Most of the staff and instructors were delighted as we tracked the moose’s journey around campus. It got me thinking about the chance circumstances of seeing wildlife. It’s a fairly rare occasion when we take students on hikes because of the loudness…
-
Passing the Baton
In the year 2060, I plan to still be taking my annual summer excursion to Dillon Reservoir with my wife and kids. But will the environment be different? Sure, I expect to have grandchildren joining me at that time, and possibly a different mode of transportation (teleportation anyone?). But, what will water managers of the future be…
-
Key Issues in Action
My sixth grade students in Montague, Michigan are thrilled that Alcoa Foundation sponsored my travel to Silverthorne, Colorado in June to attend Key Issues Institute with Keystone Science School. In the first few months of school, I have been using my knowledge from Key Issues to teach my students about environmental issues in the community.…
-
Love is in the Air!
A group of KSS field instructors and I visited Rocky Mountain National Park recently to witness the yearly elk rut for ourselves. Much like people the male elk do everything they can to impress the ladies. Male elk (bucks) who do so with Dicaprian skill can build harems (groups of ladies) of over 30. These lady elk (cows) are…
-
Hats Off to You
Probably the best part of our jobs at KSS is hearing from our program participants about how their experiences have impacted their lives. Here are a couple of our favorites from this summer’s Key Issues Institute. Thank you all for your kind words. Your energy, enthusiasm, and innovation keep us inspired to constantly challenge ourselves and…
-
The Power of Silence
Working at Keystone Science School has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Everyday I get to have amazing experiences with children in an outdoor setting. As magical as it is, it can be easy to get bogged down with the details and intricacies of each day. It can be almost impossible to…
-
Happy Birthday to our Founder and Friend!
We are excited and honored to be celebrating the birthday of our founder and friend, Robert W. Craig, who turned 90 years old this month. Craig, who most frequently describes himself as the “ultimate accidental tourist,” served in the U.S. Navy as an officer on an attack cargo ship (AKA 80), graduated in biology and…
-
Making a Difference
This past weekend on September 13th, Keystone Science School staff and volunteers came together to take part in the 16th annual Summit County Make a Difference Day. While the national Make a Difference Day isn’t until October 25th, those of us in the high country know that winter comes very early up here and October is…
-
Catch-ing More than Healthy Habits
School is back in session, which means Keystone Science School’s CATCH Afterschool Program is in full swing. Currently we have a total of 155 students enrolled in session 1 across all six Summit County Elementary Schools. This year we had big crew of incoming Kindergarteners and CATCH was happy to welcome 46 to the CATCH curriculum. On…
-
Farewell from Your Camp Family!
The dust has settled on campus today. Yesterday was the first Monday in nine weeks that there were no cars driving through Day Camp drop-off, no returning campers hugging one another as they run towards the Bighorn and Henry dorms. Disco-zilla has been packed up and put away and Rives Dining Hall is the cleanest…
-
KSS Burst My Bubble – In a Good Way
As part of our Basin Voyage Program, participants were asked to write a final reflection paper on what they learned on their journey through the Yampa River Basin. The following paper is reprinted here with permission from Aaron Shi, Basin Voyage 2014 participant. I live in a bubble. Allow me to explain. I live in The Woodlands,…
-
How Basin Voyage Changed Me
As part of our Basin Voyage Program, participants were asked to write a final reflection paper on what they learned on their journey through the Yampa River Basin. The following paper is reprinted here with permission from Andrew Cook, Basin Voyage 2014 participant. Throughout this trip our group was presented with a number of problems. These problems…
-
Interactive Education to Inspire and Engage
A few months ago I applied through the Alcoa Foundation for a generous sponsorship to go on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to attend Key Issues Institute at Keystone Science School. I was so excited when I was lucky enough to be selected, along with Andy Brennan, from a primary school close to me in Birmingham, UK.…
-
Changing Our Water Future
Have you ever seen a group of kids more excited to be with their state representatives? This is the kind of academic exhilaration inspired by our newest policy-based program, Basin Voyage. This hybrid program crosses the academic rigor of Youth Policy Summit with the kind of fun and adventure that any KSS camper can experience on…
-
Community Connections that Change Lives
This week marks the close of KSS School Programs for the 2013-2014 school year. It’s been a great one and we look forward to many more. For years Keystone Science School has enjoyed a productive and mutually enriching relationship with Summit County School District through KSS’s unique School Programs. These local, grant-funded programs bring supplemental and…
-
Discovering Snow Science
As part of our Community Programs at KSS we frequently collaborate with Girl Scouts of Colorado to offer weekend environmental camps. This letter came to Girl Scouts this spring from a chaperone parent who attended the Wonders of Winter: Snow Science and STEM camp in March with her daughter’s troop. We feel so lucky to have the…
-
Living in a Piece of History
As an instructor for School Programs my days mostly consist of being in the field with students. However, just the other day I was spending a rare moment in the office when I stumbled upon old papers describing Keystone Science School’s history. I was ecstatic about my find because I always wanted to know more…
-
The Good Side of Mud Season
It is finally spring in Summit County and the signs and sounds of melting snow are everywhere. If you’ve spent time in the mountains you know it as mud season. And I know it as the season of post-holing at the most inopportune moments. It doesn’t happen when I’m by myself, investigating new terrain on…
-
HPG Goes Pro
In a move that has surprised marketing execs at the elite outdoor retailer, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard decided to make the Hot Pink Gorilla the new “face of Patagonia.”Dmitri Siegel, Executive Creative Director at Patagonia explains, “He’s just got the right attitude for our company. …He right? Is it a he? Or is it a…
-
What a Difference a Dollar Makes
We work hard to create memorable experiences for our students. It is a collaborative effort from not only our staff but also our funders. The letter below is a passionate declaration from classroom teacher Jaime Baker of Welby Montessori, to a funder who provided a Schoolership that allowed her students to experience a KSS School Program. I…
-
Snow Day
It was a Thursday and it was a whiteout – one of the first major snowfalls of the season. Big, fat flakes fell heavy and thick and I thought for sure the School Programs instructors would cancel the hike planned for the day. Silly me. We layered up, packed our lunches, filled our water bottles…