Providing free nature outings and adventures to youth who would other wise not have such opportunities, Boulder Valley ICO is entirely volunteer run.

See our new website for more information on our program.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Fruita Mountain Biking Trip: Big & Glorious

The 2011 edition of the Fruita mountain biking trip was big (15 kids, 2 youth leaders, and 9 adults) and glorious, owing to skilled support from Scot Colburn (BVICO), Catherine Powers (Casey Middle School), Andy Brannon (Trips for Kids), Andy Stephens (BVICO), and a small army of parents. Special thanks is owed Catherine for having planned many of the outing details even though she was not able to join us on the outing.

The red sandstone vistas were beautiful, the wind bracing, and the riding 100% Fruita perfection. Scot and Andy's photos are below.


Friday, March 18, 2011

Snowshoeing with Pioneer Elementary

Boulder Valley ICO led a single-day snowshoeing trip near in the Indian Peaks wilderness for kids from Pioneer Elementary School. Thanks to Mary Claire Collins, Ira Star, Andy Stephens, Caroline Hogue, and Michael Le Desma for organizing and leading this trip.

Here's a short video from the outing:



And here is a story book version of the outing, courtesy of Lukas Le Desma (age 5):

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Our First Camera-Trapping Outing Was A Huge Success!

Boulder Valley ICO's first-ever outing to combine camera-trapping with water sampling was a huge success. We took 12 kids from Casey Middle School (on the school's Science Day) water sampling, where they measured pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen, and took samples for nitrates and phosphates. Then we met Christian Nunes of the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks agency who guided us to the best location to set up our motion-sensing camera. The camera works... well! Camera in place, we went for pizza before returning to the school.

Thanks to Jackie Esler, Kirk Cunningham, Mary Ellen McCarry, Christian Nunes, and Michael Le Desma for assembling and leading this outing.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Boulder Valley ICO & Place Bridge Academy at Dinosaur Ridge

Our recent trip to Dinosaur Ridge with kids from Place Bridge Academy was great. We had excellent weather and the dinosaur footprints were really cool. Thanks for Margaret Rohan, Carmen Kuri-Moeller, and Andrea Barriga, and Michael Le Desma for putting this trip together.