While kids are home right now, find ways to engage students with the outdoors through virtual field trips, lessons and activities. Whether it's getting creative with activities inside, or exploring your backyard and neighborhood, CMC's Youth Education Program has resources to keep your youth excited about the mountains.
We have videos ranging from 2-15 minutes, quick activities, lesson plans, and worksheets on a variety of topics so outdoor enthusiasts of all ages can discover something new! Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to see all of our content.
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Explore your own backyard and neighboring local spaces, learn about plants and ecology, and hone your observation and inference skills with these fun games and activities!
If your student is at home more often, you may be looking for activities to do outside while maintaining social distancing guidelines. Here are three ideas to get you started: Mapping your senses, cleaning up your neighborhood, and plant identification (PlantSnap app).
Video
In this fun active game, mimic how some Colorado animals move and learn about predators and prey.
In this activity, learn about your surroundings by using each of your 5 senses- touch, sound, sight, smell, and taste! Test your ability to use each of your senses at 5 different stations and learn about 5 animals that are masters of each of the senses along the way!
Activity Guide
Use your skills of deduction while learning a little more about some Colorado animals!
Instructions/Lesson Plan
Learn about bird adaptations, local Colorado birds, and tips and tools for identification.
Learn to draw a Northern Flicker, and discover some fun facts about this unique woodpecker. Video
More tutorials for drawing other birds and animals: https://www.wedrawanimals.com/
In this introductory lesson, learn about what makes a bird: test your bird knowledge, follow along to a story about birds, then go on a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood!
Bonus Worksheet here
Birds make a variety of noises for different reasons. Learn about why birds may call and sing, and in this interactive game using your sense of sound, find your bird mate while avoiding predators!
Learn how to easily identify birds using the Merlin Bird ID app.
Then try to complete this Front Range Colorado Birds Scavenger Hunt!
Where do birds live? Can you design a bird from a selection of wings, feet, and beaks that make it well suited/adapted for a particular habitat?
Birds get around in different ways, and these movements are interesting to observe and imitate. Learn how birds move through this “Birdy Says” (like Simon Says) game.
What is a mammal? Learn about mammal adaptations, local Colorado mammals, and create animal tracks.
Learn about some characteristics that are unique to all mammals, find out more about some mammal groups, then test your knowledge by guessing the categories of some mammals from around the world!
Video: What is a Mammal?
Colorado mammals are specially adapted to their environments. Observe some skins, skulls, and feet and learn more about what special adaptations these four Colorado mammals have!
Video: Colorado Mammal Adaptation Stations
Learn about the rock cycle, identify different types of rocks, and learn how fossils and volcanoes are formed!
Learn about the rock cycle by singing a song to the tune of row, row, row your boat!
Play with play doh as you learn about the rock cycle and recreate three different types of rock: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous.
1st-5th
Bonus activity 3-8th
Journey back in time to uncover how fossils of animals that lived long ago are formed! In this edible experiment, create your own fossils inside of sedimentary rock and enjoy a tasty treat afterwards!
What skills do you need to recreate safely outside: understanding Colorado's mountain weather, packing the 10 essentials, orienteering, shelter building, knot tying, and more!
Follow along to complete the 10 essentials race and packs your bag for a day of adventure. Along the way, learn the 10 Essentials you should bring to make sure you're prepared for time in the great outdoors!
In this quick and easy experiment, learn how Colorado’s Rocky Mountains plays a role in in it's unique weather.
How can clouds help us predict weather? Learn about the the three types of clouds and make your own cloud journal
Follow along and you will learn interesting facts about lightning and have a better understanding of dangerous mountain hazards and overall lightning safety.
Use the flashcards below (or make your own) and continue to learn and quiz yourself about lightning safety
Practice three basic climbing & mountaineering knots at home (figure 8 follow through, stopper knot, and clove hitch) no special gear or equipment needed
Learn one of the basics of map reading and navigation through a fun lesson and activity. All you will need to participate is: Play-Doh, fishing line or wire, writing utensil and a piece of paper.
Tune in for a historic account of the first successful climb of Mt. Everest and watch a Mountaineering Gear Show and Tell. Afterwards, make sure to test your Mt. Everest knowledge with our Mt. Everest Fact Match.
30 mins-1 hour
What does it take to hike a 14er? Follow along to plan and prepare for the challenge of summiting one of Colorado's famous 14,000 ft. peaks.
What does our environment and ecosystem do for us? Learn about our watersheds, the importance of pollinators, basic leave no trace principles, and what you can do to help protect our public lands.
Learn about the 7 Leave No Trace Principles, and an easy way to remember them by using these hand signals!
Test your knowledge of the 7 Leave No Trace Principles by matching these scenarios to their LNT principle.
Online Matching Game
What ecosystem services does nature provide for us? Learn about the importance of keeping our watersheds clean (pt 1: water pollution) while you design and create your own basic natural water filter (pt 2: nature as a water filter)
Looking for more tips, tricks and skills for older youth or adults? Check out our CMC Online University!
For more information about YEP Online Resources, please contact Stacey Halvorsen.
YEP relies on contributions from generous donors to provide opportunities for youth, families, and educators in our outdoor community. You can "bring the mountains" to a child in our community with a tax-deductible gift to YEP today.