Don't let the cold weather season keep you from getting outside!
It's the first full month of winter ... and we have a full slate of outdoor fun for explorers of all ages. Here's the rundown of what we have coming up for the next month!
Camp Backcountry
Camp Backcountry: School Break Camp: January 18
If Douglas County schools are out, Camp Backcountry is in! Take a break from the books and come join us for an unforgettable adventure! School Break Days are the perfect opportunity for both new and returning campers to come explore with us during the school year.
Final Day for Summer Camp Backcountry Earlybird Pricing: January 31 Camp Backcountry is where kids' true nature is found. Campers (ages 7-17) get filled with fresh air, useful skills, and adventures at our Nature, Horse, Art, Expedition, High Adventure, and Leader-in-Training camps. Our week-long, full-day camp offers kids a daily dose of dirt, environmental education, and exploration of our 13-square-mile wildlife habitat conservation property to spark a love of all things wild!
Nature Programs
The sun is shining, the snow is glittering, and we are ready for a Winter Wonderland Adventure! Join us for some time with the animals, a story around the fire, roasted apples, and exploring in the Backcountry forest! Ages 2-6
Bring the concepts you teach at home to life! The BWA provides a half-day, close-to-home opportunity for exploration and learning in a natural setting. Each week we offer a different environmental or life science topic! All of our programs emphasize exploration and have a hands-on approach to scientific inquiry. Our lessons are built with the Colorado State Education Standards in mind. Ages 7-13
Avoid cabin fever with a family hike at the Backcountry Base Camp. Depending on the weather and conditions, we'll do a short nature hike, build snowmen, play with the chickens, meet our horses, and relax in the fresh air. After the hike, post up next to the fire to roast marshmallows and make s'mores (the possibility of a campfire is pending conditions). All ages.
Wellness Walk: January 28 Walk the dirt roads in the reserved part of the Backcountry Wilderness Area and you'll forget you're only 15 minutes from home. Grab a coffee--and bring binoculars if you want to spot local wildlife--for a relaxed, guided excursion. Fresh air and a scenic view make this jaunt to improve health and nature know-how a perfect way to spend your mid-morning. Free, but registration is required. Wellness Walks are supported by the Backcountry Conservation and Education Fund nonprofit.
Leave your flashlight behind and let the full moon guide this hike into the Backcountry Wilderness Area. Put your senses on full alert as you take in the sights and sounds of the night. A naturalist will share how humans and animals see in the darkness versus the daylight, and how your eyes may not be able to see what's really out there. Ages 7+ recommended
Fort Village Marketplace (youth program): January 30 Let the kids build a community from the ground up! We'll start by constructing a town—made of natural material forts—and then let the kids' creativity drive the interactions. From creating things to "sell" to hosting a storefront and making trades, the village becomes exactly what the kids want it to be! Ages 7-13
Horse Programs
Pony Rides: January 9, 16, 23, & 30 Hand-led pony rides are available for the young horse enthusiast with our ponies Cabo and Ziggi! Walk along with your child as they enjoy the ride. Ages 3-6 Little Equestrians: January 10, 17, 24, & 31
Little Equestrians is the perfect bridge from pony programs to horseback riding lessons! This 30-minute, private pony-riding lesson firms up the basics of safe— and fun—riding with more attention to details between the rider, instructor, and the pony. Ages 3-6
Reach your equestrian goals--from learning to saddle up your steed to maneuvering with ease--in our small group lessons. Our instructors will teach to the level of each rider and riders will benefit from one another. Riders will learn western riding. Ages 7+
Get to know the horse beyond the hooves. This equestrian program will introduce all things horses including equine basics, grooming, tacking, horse safety, and riding. The theme will change with each session, but there will be a horse basics lesson at the beginning of each class for new attendees and a review for returners. Ages 7-13
Before you slide up into the saddle, take the time to get to know horse basics. Soak in knowledge like reading a horse's body language, catching and haltering, hand-walking a horse, getting to know brushes and tools, and learning how to tack up and untack a horse. This 1.5-hour class is a requirement for any beginner who wants to move into riding lessons. This class is groundwork only, no riding. Ages 7+
The low-distraction environment paired with individual attention will propel your horsemanship and riding skills at a rapid pace during this one-hour lesson. Riders, ages 5 to 99, can choose between Western or English lessons depending on their interest. Email Carly Steiger to schedule.
Mark Your Calendar
Join us for a beer (or two) at Living The Dream Brewing Co. as we raise funds and awareness for the Backcountry Conservation and Education Fund nonprofit! From 6-9 p.m., $1 from each beer sold will benefit the nonprofit. We'll be at Living the Dream, a Backcountry Backer sponsor, the second Thursday of each month!
Highlands Ranch residents can enter the annual Elk Hunt Drawings from January 15-February 19.
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