Early Childhood School Programs

Walking Mountains Science Center and Eagle County Schools have established an agreement to accomplish a mutually beneficial objective of incorporating Natural Science Education into Eagle County School’s preschool classrooms. Introducing high quality environmental education that addresses early childhood science standards to Eagle County Schools cultivates a community of learning, collaboration, and environmental literacy. Walking Mountains Science Center provides monthly educational programs to 25 preschool classes to serve over 300 students. We deliver hour-long lessons in each classroom at each of the 9 elementary schools in Eagle County. Programs are placed-based with a focus on natural science discovery through observation, inquiry, and sensory awareness.

We provide a hands-on approach to learning in an outdoor setting. Our educators are trained in early childhood education, natural science education, and Rocky Mountain ecology. The curriculum taught during Walking Mountains Early Childhood Environmental Education programs helps teachers meet Eagle County School District standards and is integrated with classroom curricula. The hour long program consists of outdoor instruction, as well as hands-on exploration on topics such as animal and plant life cycles, the difference between day and night, weather patterns, and seasonal changes, to name a few. Nature and Place-Based science programs focus on helping students to recognize and observe the natural relationships that occur throughout the Eagle Valley and their place within those systems.

Magic Bus

Since 2013 Walking Mountains Science Center staff members join the Magic Bus, run by the Vail Valley Foundation’s Youth Power 365, weekly at their various locations to work with 3-5 year old children for one hour. The science topics and activities are seasonally appropriate, place-based, and focus on student development of language, observation, inquiry, and sensory awareness.

Private Preschools

Family Learning Center is a local preschool in Eagle County. Walking Mountains Science Center staff teach the preschools classes a one hour lesson once per month. Children are between 2-5 years old and from diverse backgrounds. The science topics and activities are seasonally appropriate, place-based, and focus on student development of language, observation, inquiry, and sensory awareness.