Adventure starts here

K-5 Field trips

Dive into the wonders of nature and science on a field trip led by Catamount Institute. All our outdoor field trips include a factor of adventure while aligning with Colorado Department of Education Standards.

So many students, so little time! We are thrilled to be utilizing all of our resources to get as many kids outside as possible…unfortunately that means we are booked into August at the moment! Our Booking Calendar stretches a year ahead, so please see if any dates for the next 365 days meet your needs.

k-12 students

Learning beyond the classroom

Field trips are a fun and exciting opportunity for students to investigate our outdoor classroom for hands-on discovery and exploration. Catamount Institute offers pre-designed or custom field trips that are encouraging and inspiring for all students in our local natural areas. Our tailored curriculum supports classroom learning and a memory-filled experience with your class. See below for pre-designed field trip descriptions!

Pricing for field trips begins at $7.00 an hour/per student (minimum 20 students).

Now booking for the 2023-2024 school year! Book your field trip to hold a spot. No transportation? We can come to you!


*The booking is NOT final until confirmation from Catamount Institute staff. 

All trips are a minimum of 20 students and a maximum of 80 students. Bookings are based on staff availability at that time. Each tentative reservation will be reviewed by Catamount Staff. You will be contacted at least a month in advance on the status of your booking.

Kindergarten

In The Spotlight

Come outside to explore the powerful effects of the sun through activities of discovering shadows and shapes, making sundials, and learning about animal traits in the forest of Sondermann Park.

Season: Winter, Fall, Spring, Summer Locations: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, a Park or Natural Area near your school, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year), or at your school! (Driving Distance may affect program cost).

Colorado 2020 science standards:

Living in the Woods

Explore through hands-on activities what animals and plants need to grow in natural habitats throughout the Pikes Peak region. Students will learn about how different animals use plants and other resources to survive including adaptation to prepare for weather conditions.

Season: Fall, Spring, Summer 

Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, a park or natural area near your school, or at your school!

(Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

Move it! Move it!

In your classroom, our naturalists will bring an interactive 90 minute program highlighting the movements of an inchworm. This hands-on lesson demonstrates the physical properties of pushing and pulling and will include an interactive story illustrating how different ways animals move.

Season: Fall, Spring, Summer Location: At Your School! (Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

1st Grade

In Our Big Backyard

This interactive program explores how organisms change over time in the forest. Students will play games and explore the forest as they learn about insects, birds, and mammals.

Season: Fall, Spring, Summer 

Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, a park or natural area near your school, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year) or at your school! 

(Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

Small Wonders

Throughout this program, students will explore the habitats of Sondermann Park as they meet and learn about different creatures that live in and around Mesa Creek. The program highlights include hiking in the park, water exploration, games, and a take-home nature craft.

Season: Fall, Spring, Summer 

Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, a park or natural area near your school, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year) or at your school! 

(Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

2nd Grade

Habitats are Where it's at!

Throughout this program, students will explore the habitats of Sondermann Park as they meet and learn about different creatures that live in and around Mesa Creek. The program highlights include hiking in the park, water exploration, games, and a take-home nature craft.

Season: Fall, Spring, Summer 

Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, a park or natural area near your school, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year) or at your school! 

(Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

Wacky and Wonderful Weather

Students will explore how and why weather shapes local ecosystems by experimenting with weather tools, cloud identification, design erosion control and flooding solutions.

Season: Winter, Fall, Spring, Summer 

Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, a park or natural area near your school, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year) or at your school! 

(Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

Field to Forest

Come explore Sondermann Park or other regional parks of your choice as students learn about ways plants thrive in our ecosystem. Discover what a plant needs to grow as well as where and why they grow in certain areas. This trip will include a hike, games, and data collecting activities.

Season: Winter, Fall, Spring, Summer 

Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, a park or natural area near your school, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year) or at your school! 

(Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

3rd Grade

Life on a Log

Discover the interconnections on the forest floor in this active lesson on the life cycles of insects, birds, and mammals. There will also be an introduction to forestry.

Season: Fall, Spring, Summer Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, A Park or Natural Area Near Your School, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year) or At Your School! (Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

Pikes Peak Ecosystems

Throughout this program students will immerse themselves in the two distinct ecosystems of Sondermann Park—the riparian and grasslands ecosystems. Students will learn about the organisms that live in these areas, including information about their life cycles, adaptations, and characteristics.

Season: Winter, Fall, Spring, Summer Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, A Park or Natural Area Near Your School, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year) or At Your School! (Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

Bird Watch!

Grab your binoculars and hit the Colorado birding trail to discover and learn about the amazing animals of birds. Students will become very familiar with the characteristics of birds.

Season: Winter, Fall, Spring, Summer Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, A Park or Natural Area Near Your School, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year) or At Your School! (Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

4th Grade

Soil Safari

Begin an adventure as a geologist to discover the awesome world of soils, rocks, and underground ecosystems. Design a landscape to prevent erosion and flooding.

Season: Fall, Spring, Summer Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, A Park or Natural Area Near Your School, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year) or At Your School! (Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

Renewable Engineering Challenges

Begin the field trip with an energy audit hike and discussion before diving into a hands-on program that examines renewable and nonrenewable energy.  Students will design, build, and test their own wind turbines, hydro dams, and solar ovens (if time and weather permits).

Season: Fall, Spring, Summer Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann

Colorado 2020 science standards:

Dissect It Yourself: DIY Labs

In your classroom, your student will delve into the exploration and dissection of a grasshopper and flower. Students will compare and contrast these biotic organisms and their similarities and differences. Program needs 2.5 hours to complete.

Season: Winter, Fall, Spring, Summer Location:  At Your School! (Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

Map it!

Learn how to use a compass and topographic maps as students explore local parks.

Season: Fall, Spring, Summer Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, A Park or Natural Area Near Your School, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year) or At Your School! (Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

5th Grade

Energy Cycling: The Circle of Life

After taking a hike through Sondermann Park or a regional park of your choice, students will examine skulls to determine their roles in local ecosystems as well as play games to fully comprehend the cycling of energy between organisms.

Season: Fall, Spring, Summer Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, A Park or Natural Area Near Your School, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year) or At Your School! (Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:

Hydro Engineering

Students will take on the challenge of cleaning the water flowing through Mesa Creek by developing and testing water filtration devices. In addition, they will learn about water chemistry and resources for managing water supply.

Season: Fall, Spring, Summer Location: Catamount Institute at Sondermann, A Park or Natural Area Near Your School, Aiken Canyon Preserve (limited spots available per school year) or At Your School! (Driving Distance may affect program cost)

Colorado 2020 science standards:
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