OUTDOOR EDUCATION
1968 marked the beginning of outdoor and experiential education in the Aspen School District (ASD). Since its inception, the program has expanded greatly to offer beyond-classroom educational experiences in which students participate in a variety of challenges and outdoor activities–hiking, climbing, rafting, ropes courses and group initiatives in the wilderness. Over the years, the high school program has evolved to include a variety of national destinations for cultural, artistic, urban or community-based learning.
Outdoor and experiential education across all grades within ASD involves carefully chosen activities that are supported by reflection and critical analysis–and are structured to require each participant to take initiative, make decisions and be accountable for results. These experiences offer significant growth opportunities for students that are often life changing.
“It is rare for a public school to be able to provide a program like this. Outdoor education promotes the development of perseverance, empathy, compassion, and the ability to recognize and appreciate each other’s differences. It’s a learning experience that simply cannot be replicated in the classroom. Reaching the 50-year milestone is a true testament to the collective dedication and support of both the ASD staff and the Aspen community as a whole.”
“My favorite part of avalanche trail was going on a hike through the woods. The whole thing was my favorite part. It was pretty rad!”
The Aspen public school’s Outdoor Ed program has been alive and well for over 50 years. With the first trip embarked upon in 1968, our students have been hiking, skinning, using Aspen trees for sunscreen, camping and surviving a solo. The results – determination, tenacity and a love for our great outdoors. Outdoor Ed is the pulse of our public education. It is the program that sets our kids apart when they head off to college.
Outdoor Education Gallery
