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Parks.

Rivers.

Forests.

 Programs for All Ages

GEAR TO GO

Gear to Go is our program to put the often expensive and hard to find outdoor equipment in the hands of kids and families.

 

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SKI FIELD TRIP

We offer all 4th and 6th graders in Delta County and Olathe a chance to experience winter on the Grand Mesa. If you are a local educator or youth leader and would like to schedule an additional ski field trip- contact us! We also offer ski lending for classrooms. See Gear to Go for details.

 

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CUSTOM PROGRAMS

Contact Tori Swift (torreya.swift@deltaschools.com) for details.

 

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BIKE FIELD TRIP

Building confidence riding a bike requires new challenges to develop trail skills. That is why we offer field trips on our trails and bike parks at Confluence (Delta) or Crossroads (Hotchkiss). Contact us about custom-designed bike field trips for 4th-High School or bike lending to teachers. See Gear to Go.

 

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SUP FIELD TRIP

The Nature Connection has a SUP trailer that can accommodate groups large and small. Mid April – June 1st @ Crawford State Park . June 1st – Mid November @ Sweitzer State Park in Delta

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ROCK CLIMBING

Rocks & Ropes will be piloted with limited schools in 2023. Contact us for details:

Request a Program Sign the Climbing Waiver

Age-Based Programs

For Delta County School District & Olathe Students

K-3rd Grade

Learn to Bike

Designed for elementary students in K-3rd grade, this brand new program (in 2020) helps students build confidence on bikes and teaches stewardship of our trails. Nature Connection staff and volunteers will bring a trailer full of bikes to a participating school and offer instruction to students during PE class.

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Conservation Days

Brings 3rd grade students from throughout Delta County out of their classrooms for a hands-on environmental education experience in the spring, hosted by our partner Western Slope Conservation Center and others at the Paonia River Park.  

7th Grade

Rock & Ropes

Stay tuned for future rock climbing and ropes course activities to support socio-emotional development, team building and leadership.

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9th-12th Grade

Summer Jobs & Internships

Jobs and internships are available through the Nature Connection each summer. Some positions include: Summer camp counselors, water sports leader at Sweitzer State Park, social media internships, bike techs, Wilder Bunch trail crew and backcountry youth trail crew with the Forest Service. We help partner organizations recruit high school students for other outdoor positions throughout the county. Check out our position openings page in the spring to apply!

Raft Trips

9th grade students explore the Gunnison River by watercraft while learning about geology, desert ecology and the cultural history of our area. Students will visit the Eagle Rock Shelter- the oldest continually occupied archeological site in North America. They will also experience the beauty and fragility of the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area on single a day raft trip with our partners at Western Slope SUP

Rock & Ropes

Stay tuned for future rock climbing and ropes course activities to support socio-emotional development, team building and leadership.

Contact us to Learn More →

Cross-Country Ski Day

High school teachers can contact us for a winter adventure on their national forest as a custom field trip. Our staff may also be able to support teaching avalanche safety, snowpack tests and understand how interconnected they are to the local landscape. Another option is taking a group of students xc skiing by becoming a member of our Gear to Go Program. 

High School Climbing Team

To learn more about the High School Climbing program:

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Mountain Bike Clubs and Teams

Do you want to learn more about the High School Mountain Bike Clubs and Teams? Email a coach!

Wilderness First Aid Training

Stay tuned to learn more about the High School Wilderness First Aid Training.

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