Secondary Field Trip Programs: East Side (Estes Park)

Students discover the ecology of the tundra ecosystem.

NPS Photo.

Field trip programs are offered for grades 6-12 from January through November, with a variety of topics available based on the season. Most programs are limited to a maximum of 60 students per day. All programs are aligned with Colorado State Academic Standards, are inquiry based and many incorporate the scientific method. Teaching materials and resources are offered prior to your program to help you prepare students for your visit.

Programs are free of charge, and an educational fee waiver will be provided upon confirmation. If you do not see what you are looking for, please connect with us to see if we can create a program to fit your curriculum.

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What stream characteristics are needed for aquatic ecology to thrive?

NPS Photo.

Aquatic Ecology

Designed for high school classrooms, students survey the riparian ecosystem and collect data on the water quality and invertebrate population to determine the health of the watershed in Rocky Mountain National Park. This program includes a discussion about the watershed and its challenges. Students analyze the health of the watershed in reference to its suitability as habitat for trout. This field trip is available in summer and early fall, weather permitting. Schedule a field trip.

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How do plants and animals adapt to survive at high elevations?

NPS Photo.

Alpine Tundra Ecology

Students explore the alpine tundra ecosystem. They conduct hoop plots to collect data about the identity and density of current tundra plants and animals. After, they consider how scientists are using this information to help plan for the current and future management of this ecosystem in a changing climate. Available in summer and early fall. Schedule a field trip.

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Can there be too many elk in a meadow?

NPS photo, ASchonlau.

Elk Ecology and Management

Designed for high school classrooms, students investigate the effects of elk in Rocky Mountain National Park. Students use transect lines to collect data on elk densities and impacts on vegetation in the park, participate in a town hall meeting to debate how the elk should be managed, and learn how the park is currently managing the problem. Available in the fall, spring and summer seasons. Schedule a field trip.

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What does fire succession look like?

NPS photo.

Fire Ecology

Students use the scientific method to investigate how a forest recovers after a fire. To investigate the issue, students look for clues, collect data, and evidence along a transect line, and draw conclusions about the role of fire in the montane ecosystem. They then use their new knowledge to determine how the forest is regenerating. Available in fall, spring and summer. Schedule a field trip.

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How are plants and animals adapted to winter environments?

NPS photo.

Winter Ecology

Students snowshoe from Bear Lake to investigate how plants and animals survive the winter conditions that exist in the Rocky Mountains. Students look for evidence of life, discuss the survival strategies of animals and plants, and explore how a changing climate might affect animals designed for eight months of winter conditions. Available only in the winter (typically January - March.) Field trip size is limited to about 30 students/day. Snowshoes are provided at no cost, courtesy of Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Schedule a field trip.

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What survival skills can we use in winter conditions?

NPS photo.

Winter Mountain Safety and Survival

Students learn what materials to bring and what skills to know in order to survive a winter worst-case-scenario. They assess avalanche danger, use transceivers to locate a buried “person” and build a snow shelter. Available only in the winter (typically January - March). Field trip size is limited to about 30 students/day. Snowshoes are provided at no cost, courtesy of Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Schedule a field trip.

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Is this season's snowpack enough for our needs?

NPS photo.

Snow Science

Designed for High School AP classrooms, students explore the science of snow in this hands-on snowshoe hike. Students learn about the characteristics of snow, dig a snow pit to look at layers, investigate and draw conclusions about the role of snow in Colorado’s watersheds and in the subalpine ecosystem. Students learn how this resource may be affected by climate change. Available only in winter (typically January - March). Field trip size is limited to about 30 students/day. Snowshoes are provided at no cost, courtesy of Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Schedule a field trip.

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Do we change nature, or can nature change us too?

NPS photo.

Walk of a Naturalist

Students meet some of the authors and naturalists that were inspired by and shaped the destiny of Rocky Mountain National Park and other special places. Students read and reflect on writings by the authors, and create their own poem or story using the mountains as their inspiration. Available year-round. Schedule a field trip.

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Which ecosystems can we identify here?

NPS photo, ASchonlau.

Ecosystem Transects

Students use transect lines to compare and contrast two of the ecosystems found within the park and identify the characteristics that differentiate one ecosystem from the other. Available in fall, spring and summer. Schedule a field trip.

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