Youth Outdoor Education Program

Inspiring confidence and academic achievement through outdoor education Since 1999

Our Youth Education Program has proven success in providing multidisciplinary education linking Colorado Department of Education model content standards with Colorado's greatest natural resource: the mountains.

Bringing the mountains to students

We bring the mountains to students with camps and field trips that teach mountain weather, avalanche science, physics of rock climbing, altitude physiology, conservation, and a variety of other topics.

Providing positive group learning environments

We provide a positive group learning environment where youth interact with adult volunteers and instructors to learn life skills such as team-building and leadership, helping to prepare youth for a successful future.


“While I was in the mountains, I realized how beautiful it was. Over where I live, there is mainly just a lot of barren land and few large trees. In the mountains there are tons of beautiful forests and rivers and and lakes. Everything there is just pure nature,and it also makes me realize just how important preserving these natural features are.” – Jerry Madlock, program participant from Denver School of Science and Technology.

Alpine Start Teen Program

Outdoor adventures for 15-18 year olds.

Alpine Start enables teens and young adults interested in outdoor recreation and mountain exploration to get out and do something!

Alpine Start offers a variety of programming throughout the year, ranging from rock-climbing, hiking and backpacking to working with local environmental organizations. Through outdoor adventuring and stewardship opportunities, participants are offered numerous fun and exciting opportunities to be physically active, challenge themselves, and work together in planning and reaching goals. 

Inspired by a term used by climbers, ‘Alpine Start’ denotes beginning a mountain ascent in the earliest hours of the morning, in order to maximize climbing time, minimize risk, and increase the chances of reaching the summit. Through challenging outdoor experiences, the Alpine Start Program of the CMC equips teens with the skills and knowledge necessary to build their outdoor skills and increase their chances of success. 

Check out our summer programs under YEP's Individual Student opportunities! 
For more information contact Carmen Stagg.