A Field Trip Every Week
NRCP’s Answer to District 70’s Four Day School Week

Are you the parent of a District 70 student(s)? Are you wondering, just what exactly are you going to do on Fridays during the school year? We here at NRCP think we have just the thing for you.

We will be offering a full day Friday program that meets both of the “No Child ….” Initiatives, that’s “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) and “No Child Left Inside” (NCLI.) NCLB, the initiative that outlines what our children should be achieving academically and NCLI, the initiative that concerns our children’s health and well-being.

To address No Child Left Behind, NRCP already has a number of programs that address Colorado Academic Standards that will be incorporated into our weekly meetings, plus we will be working with local science teachers to build a program that supplements what students are studying in the classroom.

No Child Left Inside is an initiative that is growing in popularity as people become more aware of the benefits of nature and the outdoors for children. A growing body of research is showing that access to nature contributes to the health and well-being of young people, and helps form a foundation for the development of responsible environmental behavior.

According to the Children, Youth and Environments Center for Research and Design at the University of Colorado At Denver and Health Science Center, children gain the following benefits from connections with nature:

Each week, our program will provide the positive outdoor experiences that many children today are growing up without. We are excited to offer your student a field trip every week. Your child will be able to witness and study the seasonal changes that take place in the Riparian and Prairie habitats over the course of the school year. Your student will get regular encounters with our birds of prey, and spend time studying the life of the Arkansas River. We will hike for miles, learn to navigate, plant in our gardens and just plain enjoy ourselves outdoors.

Our Friday program will have 2 learning levels. An elementary age group of 3rd – 5th graders and a middle school group of 6th – 8th graders. The older group will be charged with helping teach and mentor the younger group.

The cost will be $25/Friday for NRCP members, $30 for non-members. For those in need, scholarships will be available. The program will run on District 70’s quarterly schedule and students will register for each quarter. The program will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Being a parent of two District 70 students myself, I have looked into the Friday childcare possibilities and I know you will have many choices. But, if you are looking for a program that will have academic challenges, nature exploration, and hours of enjoyment being outside, please considers this unique opportunity that NRCP has to offer. Please call John at 719-549-2414 for more information about this program and to register. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.