About

The Outdoor Lab Foundation's non-profit mission is to inspire community support for, and advocate on behalf of, Jeffco Schools Outdoor Lab Program. Founded in 1957, Outdoor Lab Program develops stewardship of self, community, and environment in students. A distinct program within Jeffco Public Schools, Outdoor Lab exposes youth to the outdoors and develops passion and competencies in environmental awareness and conservation. It engages all Jefferson County sixth-grade students (approximately 5,000 per year) in an immersive, residential, environmental, and civic education experience. Moreover, Outdoor Lab recruits approximately 1,000 high school leaders and another 40 high school graduates as interns each year, making the overall experience one that is scaffolded and positively develops young people over multiple years in myriad respects. There are very few programs like Outdoor Lab in the country and, as citizens, we are fortunate in Jefferson County to have it tied to our public school system.