Operating entirely outdoors, Bluff Lake Forest School connects children ages 3-7 with the natural world through exploration and inquiry. Educators are present to guide children’s learning and engagement with the natural environment, as well as facilitate and scaffold their learning. We focus on pre-academic skills including but not limited to critical thinking, problem solving, risk assessment, and social emotional competence. We encourage collaborative learning and independent problem solving. .

Bluff Lake Outdoor Homeschool Enrichment combines place-based natural science with experiential learning and community-building. Our staff ensures your child grows in their knowledge of ecology while gaining skills in teamwork and outdoor activities. The program is conducted August-May and is designed to supplement your homeschool curriculum with social development, conceptual understandings of ecology, and practical applications of outdoor skills in our unique setting. We have age-appropriate options for grades K-6.

Bluff Lake Summer Camp is an outdoor nature based program where we have all the mud, sun, dirt, rain, and bugs campers could want! Each session features a live animal encounter led by Nature’s Educators, a Junior Counselor scavenger hunt, and an end-of-session award ceremony.

Each week of camp will be unique depending on the selected theme. However, each week is filled with activities, crafts, games, running, laughing, building, experimenting, and learning.

This program is perfect for teens ages 13-17 to gain valuable leadership experience while having a great time! Junior Counselors (JCs) will assist the Camp Counselors in the daily activities of camp as they learn about working with kids, leadership styles, outdoor skills, and being a strong role model. To give them time to build on learning and feedback, They will receive mentoring from Camp Counselors, develop fun and rewarding connections with the young campers, and bond with each other. Each Junior Counselor will leave camp with professional written feedback, and contacts for jobs and references.

Our field trips consist of a facilitated program, exploration time, and lunch time at the end of the program. We offer a variety of topics for ages ECE through 8th including Sensory Discovery, All About Animals, Ecosystem Mission, Nature Cycles, Healthy Habitats, Water Mission, Prairie Dog Mission, and Outdoor Survival. We encourage Title I Schools to visit us as fees are waived and bussing is reimbursed!

Our stewardship field trips consist of a facilitated program followed by a hands on stewardship activity. We offer a variety of topics for grades 6-12 including Leave No Trace + LNT, Healthy Habitats + Invasive Plant Removal, and Beavers! Keystone Species + Beaver Deterrent. We encourage Title I Schools to visit us as fees are waived and bussing is reimbursed!

Give your child a fun, educational opportunity in the natural world! Through games and activities, we will learn about the environment while exploring the diverse habitats of Bluff Lake. Students ages 5-12 are eligible. See our nature-based educational themes below!

Looking for a way to get your child outdoors during school breaks? Sign them up for BLNC's Mini Camps! Meaningful activities will take place outdoors, and may include hiking, crafts, exploration, nature lessons, games, and more! Every day has a different theme and registration for multiple days

We offer field trips for Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and multi-age troops. Our environmental educators will guide scouts through exploration hikes and interactive activities. Field trips can be designed to fulfill nature-related badge requirements, or customized to your troop's specific interests.

Celebrate a birthday at Bluff Lake! Our facilitators can lead your guests through games and activities for the desired amount of time. You do not have to have facilitators for the entire party, but you must have enough adult chaperones for any portion that is not facilitated (suggested: no more than 10 kids per adult chaperone).

Our monthly walks are typically volunteer led, occuring monthly on Saturdays and Sundays. These programs are geared towards adults, but are welcome to all ages! We currently offer Bird Walks, earth Listening Circles, Guided Site Tours, La Naturaleza Habla Español, Nature Wonder Wanders, and Qigong and Mindfullness.

Join us for free themed Saturday events all year long! Bring the whole family and participate in scavenger hunts, campfire s’mores, owl walks, nature crafts, or live animal encounters. Each event is run by the Bluff Lake Education Team with help from our friends at Denver Botanic Gardens, Nature’s Educators, the Urban Farm, the Nature Conservancy, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and many more! After your crafts and activities we encourage you to take a walk and explore, or head to the creek to catch some crawfish!