Programs

STRUCTURE

Weekly after-school programs for high school students and their parents are conducted throughout the academic year. Instructors for the program are High School educators who are recruited, hired and trained by Colorado Youth Outdoors. The program takes place either in High School classrooms or at outdoor venues, including the Regional Educational Facility at Swift Ponds. This 240-acres site with 12 fishing ponds is currently under development and will eventually be home to CYO headquarters, classrooms and permanent shooting facilities.

There is no cost to participate in the program and enrollment is on a first come first serve basis. The only requirement is that a parent is required to attend with their student. If they are unable to participate, a mentor is provided. View Photos of the Program.

LEVEL 1

GOAL: Provide an introduction to a variety of outdoor experiences that encourage life-long participation between youth and parents.

Participants are introduced to a variety of activities including:
·Fishing ·Trap Shooting ·Wildlife Viewing ·Fly tying ·Map reading and orienteering ·Archery

Classes take place at the high school every other Wednesday from 6:00-7:30 pm September through May and is limited to forty participants per school (twenty students and their parents). Participants must complete Level I in order to progress to Level 2.

LEVEL 2

GOAL: Further the student/parent relationship through deeper understanding and education of our Natural Resources.

At this advanced level we are looking at developing true "outdoorsmen" by exposing participants to more of the following activities:
·Competitive Trap Team ·Lectures on Waterfowl,Fisheries,Big Game,Laws and Regulations,Forests and Plains ·Competitive Archery Team

Students who have previously participated in Level 1 attend every other week programs on Wednesday night from 6:00- 7:30 pm, September through May.

Throughout the year, parents and students participate as a two-person shooting teams, combining scores and working together to become more proficient. In addition to regular meeting times, students and their parents are offered the opportunity to take hunting and fishing excursions.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

Colorado Youth Outdoors...

Helps families find common ground and re-establish quality time together.
Strengthens relationships between youth and parents through hands-on participation in traditional outdoor activities.
Offers fun, recreation based outdoor education that provides youth and parents the opportunity to cultivate a lifelong appreciation of the outdoors and one another.
Promotes a sense of belonging adn inclusiveness among students, helping them become more confident in school and accepting of others.
Eliminates cost barrier commonly associated with these recreations, by operating under a non-fee model that makes the program accessible to all.
Creates benefits to the traditional sports of hunting and fishing by helping spawn a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts.

Mark Johnson, principal at Thompson Valley High School in Loveland writes, "Colorado Youth Outdoors is a great addition to our extracurricular programs at TVHS. CYO does an outstanding job of providing students new skills, knowledge and a positive attitude that will benefit them their whole life."

BRINGING CYO TO YOUR COMMUNITY

We work closely with public school districts throughout Colorado. To bring CYO to a community or high school, sponsors seed the program with a three-year commitment of $9,000 per year. These sponsors make up the Colorado Youth Outdoors Pinecone Society- a small group of dedicated donors who hold a special place in their community for their dedication to fostering family interactions built around the outdoors. (Read more on Funding.)