High Trails Outdoor Education Center

High Trails Outdoor Education Center offers 2-, 3-, and 4-day residential outdoor education programs for 4th-6th grade students. The programs focus on science and history and include discovery groups, hikes, free play, and community building. The site also describes evening programs such as the Nature Carnival, cookouts across property, and the High Trails Folk Dance.

Programs

• 2, 3, and 4-day residential outdoor education programs — 4th-6th grade · Focus on science and history, with discovery groups, hikes, free play, and community building.
• Evening Programs — Includes the Nature Carnival, cookouts across property, and the High Trails Folk Dance.

At a glance

• Ages: 10–15 years old
• General schedule: 2-, 3-, and 4-day programs; the site also describes evening programs and says students attend 2.5- and 6-hour lessons during the day.

About the provider

High Trails Outdoor Education Center was founded in 1948. Its mission states that it provides educational experiences in the outdoors in which children and adults gain greater skills, knowledge, and understanding of the relationships of all living things, of working together as a team, and of growing positively as a person.

The program states it is designed to meet state standards for 6th, 5th, and 4th grade students. It also states that High Trails and the Colorado Outdoor Education Center admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to participants.

What families say

“I think that everybody needs a special spot in life, out in nature. A place where they feel calm, a place to think, or get inspiration for things.” — former 6th grade student

“When I’m out in nature, I’m free. I let the wind take my imagination wherever it wants to go.” — former 5th grade student

“High Trails is a place where you can feel wild for real.” — former 5th grade student

Last updated October 26, 2026.