Big City Mountaineers: Camping program for underserved 8-13 year olds at Genesee and Katherine Craig Mountain Park.
Our first education grant doubles the number of 8-12 year olds from Denver Parks and Recreation La Familia and Central Park rec centers that will get to go camping with Big City Mountaineers (BCM) in 2017.
This overnight program brings youth to the historic CCC camp located at Genesee and Katherine Craig Mountain Park, and serves as an introduction that prepares youth to attend BCM’s core program: week-long backcountry expeditions for 13 to 18 year olds.
Big City Mountaineers partners with youth-serving agencies to reach youth most in need of outdoor adventures and mentoring experiences. Of their students served:
- 50% are from single parent or guardian-led households;
- 83% are from families living below the poverty line;
- 10% have experienced homelessness
- 14% have experienced violence at school
Denver Zoo: Teen-intern citizen science project examining bison dung at Genesee.
We are working with the Denver Zoo’s conservation and education departments to pilot education programs linked to Denver Mountain Park’s bison herds at Genesee and Daniels Park.
In April 2017, an education grant from the foundation will help bring 100 middle school students from DPS Lake International School (formerly Lake Middle School) to Genesee Mountain Park for a full day of citizen science and hiking in partnership with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado.