Volunteers needed for Audubon education program

Photos courtesy Becky Gillette
Each year, Audubon Rockies recruits and trains volunteers to help lead standards-based science programs for every student at Pagosa Springs Elementary School, plus dozens of other children from around the region. It’s simple to be a volunteer educator — if you can hike primitive, hilly trails and you love both children and nature, you’re qualified. Previous teaching experience is not required.[/caption]

By Becky Gillette

Special to The SUN

For six weeks each fall, Terry Hershey’s Four Mile Ranch is transformed from a working ranch into an outdoor learning laboratory.

Bringing nature into the classroom and children into nature, Audubon Rockies’ Four Mile Ranch Environmental Education program is an engaging combination of indoor and outdoor learning activities — provided at no cost to participating students.

Audubon staff members teach classroom sessions to review science concepts and vocabulary and prepare students for a day outdoors. At the ranch, trained volunteer educators lead groups of 8-12 children on school-day nature hikes, with hands-on learning, games, play and discovery built in.

Every year, every student at Pagosa Springs Elementary School visits Four Mile Ranch, along with children from Dulce Elementary School, charter schools and home-school families. Since 2007, more than 4,500 local students have taken part.

The full version of this story is available in the print edition and e-edition of the Pagosa Springs SUN. Subscribe today by calling (970)264-2100 or click here.