Environmental Institute Expeditions
The Environmental Institute
The Environmental Institute was created in 2019 with the purpose of bringing students outside to engage with nature through hands-on field science experiences. Combining field investigations and adventure education, Environmental Institute programs take students behind the scenes to connect with real-world scientific studies in a cooperative learning environment. We believe in a future where all members of our community have the skills, knowledge, and passions to engage with environmental science topics in a positive way.
Whether you join us for a day trek, hybrid camp, or field expedition, EI programs give participants the chance to take an active role in scientific study, applying the same science and engineering practices students work on in the classroom to projects out in the real world.
The landscape is a laboratory, there are countless phenomena to discover. Join us for one of our programs and get ready to explore!
Our adventure camps are rated based on physical ability levels. Please reference the suggestions below:
- Beginner: Little to no experience camping or hiking. Students should be able to hike Mica Mine Trail or Serpents Trail.
- Intermediate: Some prior experience camping or hiking. Students should be able to hike Serpents Trail and Monument/Wedding Canyon Trail.
- Advanced: A lot of experience camping or hiking. Students need to be able to carry a pack with camping items throughout the day between campsites, and while gaining elevation. Students should be able to hike Mt. Garfield and Liberty Cap Trail.
EUREKA! will be requiring immunization records for all student campers. If the school your student attends is within Colorado, you will not need to upload these records, as we have access to them through a database.
If your student does not attend school yet, or is homeschooled, you must upload immunization records to the account. Registration will not process without uploaded records to each student's account. Please follow these steps to upload the documents.
- Log into Dashboard
- Click FAMILY & FRIENDS on the left
- Click EDIT on the student's account
- On the right, you'll see a button +ADD DOCUMENT
For immunization exemptions, please submit this form.
Additional forms are required for all students participating in overnight programming.
Each student needs to fill, sign, and submit:
If your student carries epinephrine for anaphylaxis or is asthmatic, we will need copies of the following forms filled out and signed:
Forms must be filled and submitted at least 10 days prior to the first day of an overnight camp. Forms can be emailed to abavier@eurekasciencemuseum.org or dropped in person at the museum. Please be thorough in filling out your student's medical information. In order to be successful, our students need to be well-rested, well-fed and have everything they need to feel healthy in the field. Please help us to set your student up for success.
Prior to each camp, we have included a document with a general packing list and basic course policies. Everything on the packing list is required. We have gear to loan, but the sooner we know a student’s needs, the better. If you have any questions about the paperwork process, gear, or course policies, please reach out to us at info@eurekasciencemuseum.org. We are looking forward to getting your student out into the world for a science expedition!
Thank you to our title sponsor, Alpine Bank. Their generous support makes these programs possible.
2021-2022 Environmental Institute Programs
Canyon Explorers
November 22, 2021
K - 3rd Grade
Cost: $45 member / $60 non-member
Join EUREKA! as we explore and investigate science in the field! We'll spend a no-school day strapping on our hiking boots and getting out into the canyon country of the National Monument. The best time to explore the desert is the Fall and we'll bundle up for a day-long field experience full of science, discovery and fun.
Pick up and drop off will take place at the EUREKA! All campers will need to come to camp with a packed lunch, two portable snacks, a large water bottle, and appropriate clothing for hiking including layers and hiking shoes.
Students will travel by bus to a trail head in the National Monument and spend the day on the trail.
Wildlife Explorers
November 23, 2021
3rd - 5th Grade
Cost: $45 members / $60 non-members
Join EUREKA! as we explore and investigate science in the field! We'll get ready for Thanksgiving by spending a day using science to find and investigate wildlife. From Ravens to Eagles to Bighorn Sheep, the National Monument is full of life, and by studying the habitat needs each animal species has we can maximize our chance to see them. Come spend a day honing your wildlife tracking skills and learn the science of animal study.
Pick up and drop off will take place at the EUREKA! All campers will need to come to camp with a packed lunch, two portable snacks, a large water bottle, and appropriate clothing for hiking including layers and hiking shoes.
Students will travel by bus to a trailhead in the National Monument and spend the day on the trail.
Wilderness Survival
November 29, 2021
3rd - 5th Grade
Cost: $45 members / $60 non-members
Join EUREKA! as we explore and investigate science in the field! We'll celebrate Thanksgiving by honing our survival skills and learning the science behind the most important outdoor living crafts. Fire building, check! Shelter building, check! Filtering water, check! Come spend a day with our survival instructors and discover what it's like to use science to survive!
Pick up and drop off will take place at the EUREKA! All campers will need to come to camp with a packed lunch, two portable snacks, a large water bottle, and appropriate clothing for hiking including layers and hiking shoes.
Students will travel by bus to a local trailhead and spend the day on the trail.
Science of Ski Touring
January 3, 2022
3rd - 5th Grade
Cost: $45 members / $60 non-members
Geared for beginners, we’ll start the new year learning how to safely navigate the winter landscape on cross-country skis. Cross country skiing provides an incredible opportunity to connect with the winter landscape. Join us for a day of exploration and learn to love a new sport. All ski gear will be provided.
Pick up and drop off will take place at the EUREKA! Students will be transported by bus each day to our ski area. This is a beginner course designed for students interested in getting comfortable on cross country skis.
Please send your campers each day with a backpack, warm boots, clothes to keep them warm and dry in the snow, 2 L of water, a lunch, snacks, and sunscreen.
The Science of Ice
February 21, 2022
3rd - 5th Grade
Cost: $45 members / $55 non-members
We’ll spend this no-school day getting up close and personal with the Ice Caves in Rifle Mountain Park! Each year in mid-winter the limestone walls around Rifle take on magnificent columns, walls, and spires of Ice. We’ll take a day trip up to explore the Ice Palace and learn about freeze-thaw cycles while performing some icey experiments! Bring along a headlamp or flashlight because we'll make time for some limestone cave exploration!
Pick up and drop off will take place at the EUREKA! Students will be transported by bus each day to our ski area.
Please send your campers each day with a backpack, warm boots, clothes to keep them warm and dry in the snow, 2 L of water, a lunch, snacks, and sunscreen.
Fossil Hunters
March 10, 2022
6th - 8th Grade
Cost: $45 members / $55 non-members
Join EUREKA! as we explore and investigate science in the field! We'll learn where and how to search for fossil specimens then gear up and head out to the boundary between Utah and Colorado to search up some fossils! Who knows what minerals we might uncover? Bring your rock hammer and a sense of adventure.
Pick up and drop off will take place at the EUREKA! All campers will need to come to camp with a packed lunch, two portable snacks, a large water bottle, and appropriate clothing for hiking including layers and hiking shoes.
Students will travel by bus to a BLM fossil site and spend the day exploring and searching for specimens.
Science of Rock Climbing
September 27 - September 28, 2021
5th - 9th Grade
Cost: $135 members / $160 non-members
Take your skills to new heights with our Science of Rock Climbing camp. We’ll spend 2 full days getting introduced to the fundamentals of rock climbing while exploring the science of gravity first hand! Learn how to safely belay, build an anchor, read a guidebook, and get hands-on experience with all of the gear you need to have a fun and fulfilling climbing adventure.
This is a beginner-intermediate climbing camp. No prior climbing experience is necessary.
This is a traveling camp. Students will travel by bus each day to our climbing sites in Unaweep Canyon. Students can expect to hike ~1 mile each day.
Pick up and drop off will take place at the EUREKA!. All campers will need to come to camp with a packed lunch, two portable snacks, a large water bottle, and appropriate clothing for hiking including layers and hiking shoes.
The Science of Autumn
October 14 - October 15, 2021
3rd - 5th Grade
Cost: $80 members / $100 non-members
Autumn is a season for change and behind every interesting phenomenon, there is a scientific principle to explore. Come spend 2 no-school days with us in the height of Fall: hiking, learning, and getting hands-on with the best parts of the season. Why do the leaves change? What makes the days shorter? Where do our migrating animals go? We'll find out.
This is a traveling camp. Students will travel by bus each day up to the Grand Mesa where they will engage in a short hike and several fall-themed outdoor science lessons. Time will be made for games, lessons, site-seeing, and reflection.
Students will depart from EUREKA at 9AM, and return by 5PM. They will need to come with a packed lunch, 2 portable snacks, and a water bottle, in addition to warm clothing.
Winter Wild Adventures
December 20 - December 23, 2021
3rd - 5th Grade
Cost: $160 members / $180 non-members
Grab your thick boots and warm jacket and join us for a week of day trips dedicated to getting you hands-on with winter! Each day will be filled with science and adventure activities while we learn firsthand the wonders of winter on the West Slope
Monday: Learn how scientists measure snow, the science of avalanches and make time for some sledding on the Grand Mesa
Tuesday: Spend a day on snowshoes on the Grand Mesa as we look for winter animal signs and think about what makes a winter ecosystem unique.
Wednesday: Compare the Mesa to the desert as we spend a day learning about winter desert ecology and take a hike in our own backyard through the National Monument
Pick up and drop off will take place at the EUREKA! All campers will need to come to camp with a packed lunch, two portable snacks, a large water bottle, and appropriate clothing for hiking including layers and hiking shoes. Students will travel by bus to a local trailhead and spend the day on the trail.
Winter clothing (winter jacket, water-resistant shoes, such as hiking boots, scarves, gloves, and hats) is required. Snowshoes will be provided.
Winter Wild Adventures
December 28 - December 30, 2021
6th - 9th Grade
Cost: $120 members / $150 non-members
Grab your thick boots and warm jacket and join us for a week of day trips dedicated to getting you hands-on with winter! Each day will be filled with science and adventure activities while we learn firsthand the wonders of winter on the West Slope
Monday: Learn how scientists measure snow, the science of avalanches and make time for some sledding on the Grand Mesa
Tuesday: Spend a day on snowshoes on the Grand Mesa as we look for winter animal signs and think about what makes a winter ecosystem unique.
Wednesday: Compare the Mesa to the desert as we spend a day learning about winter desert ecology and take a hike in our own backyard through the National Monument
Pick up and drop off will take place at the EUREKA! All campers will need to come to camp with a packed lunch, two portable snacks, a large water bottle, and appropriate clothing for hiking including layers and hiking shoes. Students will travel by bus to a local trailhead and spend the day on the trail.
Winter clothing (winter jacket, water-resistant shoes, such as hiking boots, scarves, gloves, and hats) is required. Snowshoes will be provided.
Science of Ski Touring
January 17 - January 18, 2022
5th - 9th Grade
Cost: $80 members / $100 non-members
Geared for beginners, we’ll start the new year learning how to safely navigate the winter landscape on cross-country skis. Cross country skiing provides an incredible opportunity to connect with the winter landscape. Join us for a day of exploration and learn to love a new sport. All ski gear will be provided.
Pick up and drop off will take place at the EUREKA! Students will be transported by bus each day to our ski area. This is a beginner course designed for students interested in getting comfortable on cross country skis.
Please send your campers each day with a backpack, warm boots, clothes to keep them warm and dry in the snow, 2 L of water, a lunch, snacks, and sunscreen.
Science, Snowshoeing, and Sledding, Oh My!
March 23 - March 25, 2022
3rd - 5th Grade
Cost: $120 members / $150 non-members
During the Spring we find ourselves warming up, why does the Grand Mesa stay so cold? During this adventure camp, we'll spend 3 spring break days learning about snow science. Why is weather different at higher elevations? What sort of animals spend the winter here? How do the trees and plants survive. We'll strike out each day (on snowshoes) to answer these questions and more about our spring Grand Mesa landscape.
Pick up and drop off will take place each day at the EUREKA! All campers will need to come to camp with a packed lunch, two portable snacks, a large water bottle, and appropriate clothing for hiking including layers and heavy boots.
Students will travel by bus to the Grand Mesa and spend the day on the trail.
Winter clothing (winter jacket, water-resistant shoes, such as hiking boots, scarves, gloves, and hats) is required. Snowshoes will be provided.