School-based Programs: The First Step on the Pathway to Success
Veronica Legette has been a busy bee since she started with Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK) in October. As our Education Coordinator for School-based Programs, she facilitates about three programs every week during peak season. She regularly runs programs with three schools in our Far-Northeast Denver neighborhood of Montbello: Academy 360, Monarch Montessori, and Barney Ford Elementary. As Monarch and Barney Ford are new partners for ELK programs, Veronica is especially excited to work with them to “help learners build personal connections to nature in spaces where access to the outdoors is not a guarantee.” Veronica is a veritable social butterfly, meeting dozens of partners and quickly becoming beloved by students. She even has the wings to prove it!
Every week, Veronica visits schools to teach about topics like animal adaptations, life cycles, food webs, and water conservation. These lessons are valuable supplements to schools’ regular curricula. Some schools in the Far-Northeast Denver area don’t have science classes, but ELK ensures students don’t miss out on important subjects that can inspire a passion for nature and science. Veronica says, “Programs and lessons like these help students develop a sense of connection, respect, and responsibility towards the natural world and explain how living systems are interconnected. They are designed to foster critical thinking, problem solving, environmental stewardship, and empathy.” The content is aligned with Colorado Academic Standards, which means Veronica supports teachers in cultivating the skills and knowledge the students need to meet expectations. But she does it in a way that’s anything but standard. Veronica’s programs are always interactive, giving students a chance for hands-on learning, creativity, and problem solving. Most importantly, they’re just fun!
ELK makes science approachable by making it enjoyable. Students get to be detectives who unravel the mystery of hidden “biofacts” (parts of Colorado wildlife like antlers or fur) by exploring with their sense of touch and asking questions about the animal’s life and behavior before ultimately identifying it. They get their wiggles out by doing dance moves that represent different parts of animal and plant life cycles. They get to connect with their classmates and learn how all living things are connected through food webs by tossing yarn to someone with a picture of a living thing that eats or is eaten by their own animal, plant, or fungus. They get to share their favorite animal adaptations and work together to draw “class pets” that include the zany combinations of features like rabbit legs, a turtle shell, and a giraffe neck. They get to build dream habitats for animal figurines. They get to uncover shark teeth and gems as they carefully break open plaster “dig kits.” They get to record observations in nature journals, feeling like real scientists in the process.
When possible, ELK’s School-based Programs even give students and teachers extra time to go outside and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors. It’s exciting enough when programs take place on schools’ own playgrounds, but even more special is when classes get to take field trips to places like the ELK Education Center and Montbello Open Space Park or the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge! The shift away from traditional classroom routines makes students more engaged, curious, and enthusiastic about learning. In some cases, students even discover a newfound love for science and the natural world.
Many of the activities I mentioned above were part of the science series Veronica taught at Academy 360 this year, but she’s been hard at work developing new and creative programs. In the fall, she’ll be launching a biomimicry series, senses series, and scat and tracks program, which everyone is excited about. Teachers and students alike learn from, and look forward to, ELK’s School-based Programs. After one class, the teacher even messaged Veronica, “The students absolutely loved the hands-on science lessons, and we even kept working on our nature journals after our recess break … [We] can’t wait to see you next time!” And, luckily, there’s always a next time! With so much excitement already built this school year, Veronica is keeping the momentum alive by connecting students with even more ways to learn, grow, and stay curious.
As the school year winds down, Veronica is getting ELK students involved with summer camps at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Bluff Lake Nature Center, and the Denver Zoo. She’s also staying connected with community partners like Anythink Libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, and the City of Aurora. In general, she’s continuing to expand the reach of ELK’s School-based Programs, making sure students have enriching experiences both in and out of the classroom.
That’s why we say School-based Programs are the first step on our pathway to success. These early sparks of curiosity inspire students to become life-long learners with ELK. A lot of the time, they get their family and friends involved, too. They come back year after year for fishing clinics, camping trips, volunteer events, and more. By igniting a love of learning and nature early on, ELK’s School-based Programs help lay the foundation for a well-rounded education that goes beyond the classroom. These experiences nurture the next generation of leaders and environmental stewards — young people who are curious, confident, and ready to make a difference in their communities.
About Environmental Learning for Kids: Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK) is a local Denver nonprofit that creates a sense of belonging, self-discovery, and adventure in the outdoors for underrepresented young people of color and their families, transforming youth into environmental stewards and trailblazers that promote equitable outdoor access, sustainable practices, and community uplift. Learn more at elkkkids.org.
About the Author: Lauren Keller is ELK’s Events & Marketing Coordinator. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida but has done meaningful work in Colorado since graduating from Colorado College with a BA in Environmental Studies in 2021. Lauren is passionate about harnessing visual media to share the wonder of the natural world with everyone. She is currently pursuing an MA in Biology with a focus on conservation communications. In her free time, you can find Lauren reading, playing games, cooking new foods, or searching for wild animals to photograph.
