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Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education

Pond Life Program

Operation: Aquatic Studies What lives in the Lake? Get ready to discover just how packed with life our water is with Park Naturalist Nicole Andrus. This hands-on study of water and the creatures that live in it is guaranteed to change the way you look at pond water forever!

Details

Resource Type: 
Speaker, Presenter, Performer
Resource Topic: 
Fish
Reptiles and amphibians
Insects
Plants
Lake habitat/systems
Education Standards: 
  • 21st Century Learning Framework
    • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of society’s impact on the natural world (e.g., population growth, population development, resource consumption rate, etc.)
  • Benchmarks for Conservation Literacy
    • Ecological systems are dependent upon the interactions between living and nonliving systems.
    • The health and well-being of humans is dependent on fish, wildlife and the natural environment.
  • National Science Education Standards (1996)
    • Life Science
    • Characteristics of organisms
    • Life cycles of organisms
    • Organisms and environments
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
Kindergarten-Adult Education
Contact Organization: 
Colorado State Parks- Barr Lake
Contact: 
Roxanne Brickell-Reardon
roxanne.brickell-reardon@state.co.us
303-659-6005

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Pond Detectives

What makes up a pond? Find out as we roll up our sleeves (maybe get a little dirty), get out our magnifying glasses, nets and microscopes, and investigate the life of a pond.

Details

Resource Type: 
Activity
Resource Topic: 
Fish
Reptiles and amphibians
Insects
Plants
Wetland habitat/systems
Pollution
Education Standards: 
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
2nd-6th
Contact Organization: 
Colorado State Parks- Cherry Creek
Contact: 
Margaret Taylor
(303)699-3860 ext. 728

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Plant Walk

Plant Safari Every plant at Barr Lake (native and non-native) has a story. Join Park Naturalists David McElroy or Sue Ellen Kempton for a look at Barr Lake's amazing array of native and non-native plants-how they got here, what they provide for local wildlife, and more.

Details

Resource Type: 
Speaker, Presenter, Performer
Resource Topic: 
Plants
Exotic invasive species
Nutrient cycle
Ecology
Education Standards: 
  • 21st Century Learning Framework
    • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the environment and the circumstances and conditions affecting it, particularly as relates to air, climate, land, food, energy, water and ecosystems
    • Environmental Literacy
  • AFWA Conservation Content Standards
    • Conservation and management of terrestrial and water resources are essential to sustaining fish and wildlife, the outdoor landscape, and the quality of our lives.
  • Benchmarks for Conservation Literacy
    • Ecological systems are dependent upon the interactions between living and nonliving systems.
    • The health and well-being of humans is dependent on fish, wildlife and the natural environment.
  • National Science Education Standards (1996)
    • Life Science
    • Characteristics of organisms
    • Life cycles of organisms
    • Organisms and environments
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
N/A
Contact Organization: 
Colorado State Parks- Barr Lake
Contact: 
Roxanne Brickell-Reardon
roxanne.brickell-reardon@state.co.us
303-659-6005

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Plant PARTners

Hike the trails in search of roots, leaves, flowers and seeds, and investigate the ways plants survive in the wild. Along the way, meet a Ponderosa pine tree, catch hitchhiking seeds and explore the role pollinators play in plant growth.

Details

Resource Type: 
Activity
Resource Topic: 
Hiking
Plants
Ecosystems
Ecology
Education Standards: 
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
1st-3rd
Contact Organization: 
Lookout Mountain Nature Center
Contact: 
Alicia Vermilye
avermily@jeffco.us
720-497-7601

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Plant Exploration

Children prepare a plant part salad before exploring Plant City. They will choose three plant neighborhoods to visit and discover how plants use their parts to adapt to where they live. Students will receive journals and participate in activities including dissecting cattails, sorting seeds by dispersal methods, and planting seeds!

Details

Resource Type: 
Activity
Resource Topic: 
Plants
Ecosystems
Nutrient cycle
Ecology
Education Standards: 
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
2nd-3rd
Contact Organization: 
South Suburban Parks and Recreation
Contact: 
Skot Latona
SkotL@sspr.org
303-730-1022 x 11

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Physiology with an Altitude

Explore the effects of mountains and cold weather on our bodies. Activities include measuring correlations of respiratory rate and CO2 output with activity level, environmental conditions, clothing, hydration level, and atmospheric pressure.

Details

Resource Type: 
Lesson Plan
Activity
Resource Topic: 
Climate change
Meteorology
Education Standards: 
  • 21st Century Learning Framework
    • Learning and Innovation Skills
    • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
    • Reason Effectively
    • Use Systems Thinking
    • Make Judgments and Decisions
    • Solve Problems
    • Communication & Collaboration
    • Collaborate with Others
    • Communicate Clearly
  • National Science Education Standards (1996)
    • Earth and Space Science
    • Levels K-4
    • Changes in earth and sky
    • Properties of earth materials
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
3rd-12th
Contact Organization: 
Colorado Mountain Club
Contact: 
Brenda Porter
porteb@cmc.org
303-279-3080 X 108

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Park Animals - Wild or Not?

This 1 1/2 hour field trip encourages students to identify animals that call City Park home while describing animal adaptations aiding in survival in the urban setting, identifying native and non-native urban animals, investigating wild versus domestic animals, and exploring the effects people and animals have on each other. Pre and post visit packets of activities and information accompany this program.

Details

Resource Type: 
Speaker, Presenter, Performer
Resource Topic: 
Mammals
Endangered species
Ecosystems
Ecology
Language: 
English
Grade Levels: 
1st-2nd
Contact Organization: 
City Park Center for the Environment
Contact: 
Karin Hostetter
cpceboard@hotmail.com
303-370-6669

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Exploring Environmental Issues: Places We Live Secondary Module

All communities – urban, suburban, small town, rural – are experiencing growth and change, which has an impact on each community's environment.

Exploring Environmental Issues: Places We Live provides educators with a useful tool for place-based education to help create a bond between young citizens and their communities. Through eight hands-on activities, students will explore current and future community environmental issues, enabling them to make informed decisions about those issues.

Contact us to find out how to get this resource, or visit http://www.plt.org/places-we-live

Details

Resource Type: 
Curriculum
Curriculum Unit
Lesson Plan
Activity
Book or Material
Speaker, Presenter, Performer
Education Standards: 
  • 21st Century Learning Framework
    • Learning and Innovation Skills
    • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
    • Reason Effectively
    • Use Systems Thinking
    • Make Judgments and Decisions
    • Solve Problems
  • AFWA Conservation Content Standards
    • Conservation and management of terrestrial and water resources are essential to sustaining fish and wildlife, the outdoor landscape, and the quality of our lives.
    • Students should understand and actively participate in the stewardship and support of our natural resources.
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
7th-12th
Contact Organization: 
Project Learning Tree (PLT), Colorado
Contact: 
Shawna Crocker
scrocker@colostate.edu
303-278-8822
Original Link: 
http://www.coloradoplt.org

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Owls of Aurora

From small to large, rare to common, and prairie to forest, Aurora is home to an amazing diversity of owls. Meet at least one live owl with Raptor Education Foundation.

Details

Resource Type: 
Lesson Plan
Speaker, Presenter, Performer
Resource Topic: 
Hiking
Birds
Ecosystems
Education Standards: 
  • National Science Education Standards (1996)
    • Life Science
    • Levels K-4
    • Characteristics of organisms
    • Life cycles of organisms
    • Organisms and environments
    • Levels 5-8
    • Reproduction and heredity
    • Regulation and behavior
    • Populations and ecosystems
    • Diversity and adaptations of organisms
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
N/A
Contact Organization: 
City of Aurora, Parks and Open Space Department
Contact: 
Liz Wickard
nature@auroragov.org
303-739-2428

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Owl-Rageous!

Students will learn the unique adaptations of an owl that allow it to be an efficient night hunter. They also get to dissect an owl "pellet" (this is a type of "fur ball" that an owl can't digest)to investigate the fur and bones of the little critters that owls eat.

Details

Resource Type: 
Lesson Plan
Activity
Resource Topic: 
Birds
Ecosystems
Predator-prey relationship
Ecology
Education Standards: 
  • National Science Education Standards (1996)
    • Life Science
    • Levels K-4
    • Characteristics of organisms
    • Life cycles of organisms
    • Organisms and environments
    • Levels 5-8
    • Structure and function in living systems
    • Reproduction and heredity
    • Regulation and behavior
    • Populations and ecosystems
    • Diversity and adaptations of organisms
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
Kindergarten-5th
Contact Organization: 
Colorado State Parks- Mueller State Park
Contact: 
Stacey Burns
mueller.park@state.co.us
719-687-2366 ext. 107

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Owl Prowl

Owl behavior and importance to the river ecosystem. Come out to PROWL around and find out WHOOO'S nearby!

Details

Resource Type: 
Speaker, Presenter, Performer
Resource Topic: 
Birds
Riparian (river) habitat/systems
Ecology
Education Standards: 
  • National Science Education Standards (1996)
    • Life Science
    • Levels K-4
    • Organisms and environments
    • Life cycles of organisms
    • Characteristics of organisms
    • Levels 5-8
    • Diversity and adaptations of organisms
    • Populations and ecosystems
    • Regulation and behavior
    • Reproduction and heredity
    • Structure and function in living systems
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
Preschool-Adult Education
Contact Organization: 
Colorado State Parks- Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Contact: 
Rose Bayless
rose@ahra.salida.co.us
719-539-7289

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Outreach Program

Can't come to us, we can come to you! Our slideshow beautifully illustrates the uniqueness of Roxborough. For more information and to make reservations, please call Angel Tobin at 303.973.3959

Details

Resource Type: 
Speaker, Presenter, Performer
Education Standards: 
  • Benchmarks for Conservation Literacy
    • Environmental Literacy and Systems
    • Ecological systems are dependent upon the interactions between living and nonliving systems.
    • The health and well-being of humans is dependent on fish, wildlife and the natural environment.
  • AFWA Conservation Content Standards
    • Conservation and management of terrestrial and water resources are essential to sustaining fish and wildlife, the outdoor landscape, and the quality of our lives.
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
7th-Adult Education
Contact Organization: 
Colorado State Parks- Roxborough
Contact: 
Angel Tobin
roxborough.park@state.co.us
303-973-3959

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Outreach

Bring Keystone Science School to your classroom! Let the KSS instructors facilitate a single or multi-day experiential education program with your students either at your school or at a nearby public land site. Programs integrate your choice of several field science topics with leadership and teambuilding components. All programs are inquiry-based and designed around current Colorado state standards. Keystone Science School can facilitate in-class activities or take your class outdoors to learn science while snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking or backpacking at a location closer to your school.

Details

Resource Type: 
Lesson Plan
Activity
Resource Topic: 
Camping
Hiking
Ecosystems
Education Standards: 
  • 21st Century Learning Framework
    • Learning and Innovation Skills
    • Creativity and Innovation
    • Think Creatively
    • Work Creatively with Others
    • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
    • Reason Effectively
    • Make Judgments and Decisions
    • Solve Problems
    • Communication & Collaboration
    • Communicate Clearly
    • Collaborate with Others
  • Benchmarks for Conservation Literacy
    • Environmental Literacy and Systems
    • Ecological systems are dependent upon the interactions between living and nonliving systems.
    • The health and well-being of humans is dependent on fish, wildlife and the natural environment.
    • Outdoor Participation
    • Outdoor recreational pursuits have many benefits and impacts (such as health, economic, ecological, etc.)
    • Demonstrate competency in motor skills needed to participate in a variety nature-related outdoor recreational activities.
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
N/A-Adult Education
Contact Organization: 
The Keystone Science School
Contact: 
Dave Miller
dmiller@keystone.org
970-455-4229

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Outdoor Classroom - 5th Grade Environmental Ed.

The Outdoor Classroom provides metropolitan Denver classrooms with experience-based learning adventures in their school neighborhood and front range locations including Bluff Lake, Mount Falcon, Echo Lake and Highlands Camp in Allenspark. Our focus is on creating community and respect in the classroom while learning about Colorado's natural environment, water quality, the winter environment on snowshoes, and more.

Details

Resource Type: 
Lesson Plan
Activity
Resource Topic: 
Endangered species
Ecosystems
Fire and prescribed burning
Recycling
Watershed management
Ecology
Education Standards: 
  • AFWA Conservation Content Standards
    • Conservation and management of terrestrial and water resources are essential to sustaining fish and wildlife, the outdoor landscape, and the quality of our lives.
    • Students should understand the value of our fish and wildlife resources as a public trust.
    • Students should understand and accept and/or lawfully participate in hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, wildlife watching, shooting sports, and other types of resource-related outdoor recreation.
  • Benchmarks for Conservation Literacy
    • Environmental Literacy and Systems
    • Ecological systems are dependent upon the interactions between living and nonliving systems.
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
4th-5th
Contact Organization: 
CU Science Discovery
Contact: 
Deb Kulcsar
debra.kulcsar@colorado.edu
303 735-6628

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Neighborhood Birds

Join the Nature Detectives in solving "The Case of the Unkown Ornithologist" by learning to make & use an identification key. Explore scientific classification& examine some of our neighborhood birds up close.

Details

Resource Type: 
Lesson Plan
Activity
Resource Topic: 
Birds
Education Standards: 
  • 21st Century Learning Framework
    • Learning and Innovation Skills
    • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
    • Reason Effectively
    • Use Systems Thinking
    • Make Judgments and Decisions
    • Solve Problems
    • Communication & Collaboration
    • Communicate Clearly
    • Collaborate with Others
  • National Science Education Standards (1996)
    • Life Science
    • Levels K-4
    • Characteristics of organisms
    • Life cycles of organisms
    • Organisms and environments
    • Levels 5-8
    • Structure and function in living systems
    • Reproduction and heredity
    • Regulation and behavior
    • Populations and ecosystems
    • Diversity and adaptations of organisms
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
3rd-5th
Contact Organization: 
Audubon Society of Greater Denver
Contact: 
Susan Smith
ASGDedu@aol.com
303-973-9981

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Nature's Design Wildlife and Their Environment

Join Volunteer Naturalist Jill Parker and examine the bones, pelts, and paws of park residents to discover how each animal functions up and down the food chain to maintain the web of life. As we move down the food chain, native plants become increasingly valuable.

Details

Resource Type: 
Activity
Resource Topic: 
Mammals
Ecology
Education Standards: 
  • Benchmarks for Conservation Literacy
    • Environmental Literacy and Systems
    • Ecological systems are dependent upon the interactions between living and nonliving systems.
    • The health and well-being of humans is dependent on fish, wildlife and the natural environment.
  • National Science Education Standards (1996)
    • Life Science
    • Levels K-4
    • Characteristics of organisms
    • Life cycles of organisms
    • Organisms and environments
    • Levels 5-8
    • Diversity and adaptations of organisms
    • Populations and ecosystems
    • Reproduction and heredity
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
N/A
Contact Organization: 
Colorado State Parks- Roxborough
Contact: 
Angel Tobin
roxborough.park@state.co.us
303-973-3959

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Nature Toddlers

This outdoor-based program is designed to give pre-school age children an opportunity to spend some time enjoying and learning about Nature. Explore the natural world, looking for animals and their tracks Take a short Nature hike. Play simple Nature games. Stories and songs

Details

Resource Type: 
Activity
Speaker, Presenter, Performer
Resource Topic: 
Hiking
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles and amphibians
Insects
Ecosystems
Education Standards: 
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
Preschool
Contact Organization: 
Mountain Park Environmental Center
Contact: 
Dave Van Manen
mpec@hikeandlearn.org
719-485-4444

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Natural Resources Interpretation

We offer a wide variety of natural resources interpretive programs. Programs can be individually tailored to meet the needs of the individual / group

Details

Resource Type: 
Activity
Speaker, Presenter, Performer
Education Standards: 
  • AFWA Conservation Content Standards
    • Conservation and management of terrestrial and water resources are essential to sustaining fish and wildlife, the outdoor landscape, and the quality of our lives.
    • Students should understand and actively participate in the stewardship and support of our natural resources.
    • Students should understand the value of our fish and wildlife resources as a public trust.
    • Students should understand and accept and/or lawfully participate in hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, wildlife watching, shooting sports, and other types of resource-related outdoor recreation.
  • Benchmarks for Conservation Literacy
    • Outdoor Participation
    • Outdoor recreational pursuits have many benefits and impacts (such as health, economic, ecological, etc.)
    • Demonstrate competency in motor skills needed to participate in a variety nature-related outdoor recreational activities.
    • Environmental Literacy and Systems
    • Ecological systems are dependent upon the interactions between living and nonliving systems.
    • The health and well-being of humans is dependent on fish, wildlife and the natural environment.
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
7th-Adult Education
Contact Organization: 
Colorado State Parks- Boyd Lake
Contact: 
Laura Hogan
boyd.lake@state.co.us
(970)669-1739

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National Wildlife Magazine

National Wildlife® magazine uses riveting text and captivating images to educate readers about conservation issues and to explore the latest discoveries affecting the natural world. Its articles place special emphasis on what individuals can do to help solve environmental problems. The magazine is published bimonthly by the National Wildlife Federation, a nonprofit conservation education group.

Details

Resource Type: 
Book or Material
Resource Topic: 
Camping
Hiking
Boating/canoeing
Birding/wildlife watching
Fishing skills/safety
Hunting skills/safety
Shooting skills/safety
Trapping skills/safety
Orienteering/geocaching
Mammals
Birds
Fish
Reptiles and amphibians
Insects
Plants
Endangered species
Exotic invasive species
Ecosystems
Education Standards: 
  • 21st Century Learning Framework
    • Interdisciplinary Themes
    • Using skills to understand and address global issues
    • Learning from and working collaboratively with individuals representing diverse cultures and lifestyles…
    • Environmental Literacy
    • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of society’s impact on the natural world (e.g., population growth, population development, resource consumption rate, etc.)
    • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the environment and the circumstances and conditions affecting it, particularly as relates to air, climate, land, food, energy, water and ecosystems
    • Learning and Innovation Skills
    • Creativity and Innovation
    • Work Creatively with Others
    • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
    • Reason Effectively
    • Use Systems Thinking
    • Make Judgments and Decisions
    • Solve Problems
    • Communication & Collaboration
    • Communicate Clearly
    • Collaborate with Others
  • AFWA Conservation Content Standards
    • Conservation and management of terrestrial and water resources are essential to sustaining fish and wildlife, the outdoor landscape, and the quality of our lives.
    • Students should understand and actively participate in the stewardship and support of our natural resources.
    • Students should understand the value of our fish and wildlife resources as a public trust.
    • Students should understand and accept and/or lawfully participate in hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, wildlife watching, shooting sports, and other types of resource-related outdoor recreation.
Language: 
English
Education Continuum: 
Information
Grade Levels: 
College (undergraduate)-Adult Education
Contact Organization: 
National Wildlife Federation
Contact: 
Wildlife Magazine Subscriptions
1-800-588-1650

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Movin' and Groovin' Animals

Listen to an ed-zoo-cational story about how animals interact with their habitats. Learn how and why animals move in different ways through role-playing exercises. Meet and touch live small animals that walk, crawl, slither, and hop

Details

Resource Type: 
Lesson Plan
Activity
Resource Topic: 
Mammals
Fish
Reptiles and amphibians
Insects
Ecology
Language: 
English
Grade Levels: 
Preschool-Kindergarten
Contact Organization: 
Denver Zoo
Contact: 
Brenna Massa
outreach@denverzoo.org
720-337-1634

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