Catamount Institute

06/03/2026

As we kick off another fabulous season of Catamount Institute summer camps, we are delighted to report that our team and campers will be riding in style on their outings this summer. Thanks to our many wonderful supporters, we were able to secure two gently used 15-passenger Ford Transit vans. We look forward to many miles of adventures as we meet our mission to connect kids to the outdoors.

06/02/2026

Come join our awesome Catamount Institute team and help us connect more kids to the outdoors! We're hiring a Part-Time Development and Communications Coordinator. Please spread the word and for more information, please visit: catamountinstitute.org

06/02/2026

What a wild start to summer camp! 🐾

Today kicked off the first week of our Wild Summer Life theme, and it was all about animals! Campers spotted a few deer, learned about habitats, made trail tubes to discover what other critters call Sondermann Park home, and helped keep those habitats clean along the way.

We can’t wait for more wildlife discoveries this week! 🌿🦌

05/28/2026

Catamount Institute Summer Camp staff and volunteer training is in full swing, and we had a fabulous day of learning at our Mountain Campus in Woodland Park. We were delighted to be joined Julie Francis, Catamount Institute's co-founder, who share some of her environmental education wisdom and insights with the team. We ended the day with a fun talent show that highlighted the many gifts of our team. We can't wait to kick off our summer camps next week, welcome our campers, and connect them to the outdoors!

05/23/2026

We are so excited to welcome our new seasonal Camp Counselors, Alli, Tegwyn, and Bode! All three participated and found a connection to the outdoors in our E3 partnership program with Woodland Park School District RE-2 and are now joining our team!

Sophia is also joining us as our Generation Wild Intern, and Shelby is returning this summer as our Heather Campbell Chaney Fellow!

We had a successful first week of training, filled with team-building, program preparation, safety practice, and lots of excitement for the summer ahead. We are so grateful for this energetic and dedicated group, and we can’t wait to see the positive impact they’ll have on our campers this season.

Here’s to a summer full of adventure, learning, and connection! 🌿☀️

05/19/2026

Aiden's Adventure 5K Fun Run is coming up on Saturday, June 6th at Fountain Creek Regional Park. This 5K is in honor of Aiden Clark Branford, a beautiful 5-year-old who left this earth way too soon in a tragic accident. Aiden had a major impact on his community and anybody he came in contact with.
Aiden had taken part in Catamount Institute programs so part of the proceeds from the event will be donated to us to allow other kids to connect to the outdoors.
Scan the QR Code or visit www.aidensadventure5K.com to register and help honor Aiden.

05/18/2026

Catamount Institute is proud to parter with Palmer Land Conservancy to honor the late Heather Campbell Chaney through the Heather Campbell Chaney Environmental Fellowship Fund.

For 25 years, Heather's dad, Charlie, has worked tirelessly to fund the fellowship annually, ensuring each summer brings a new steward to Palmer's protected lands and an educator to Catamount Institute. But now, Charlie is focused on something bigger: transforming the fellowship into a perpetual endowment.

Your gift can help anchor the fellowship's future, ensuring Heather's spark becomes a steady, eternal flame. Your donation supports:

· Establishing the perpetual endowment that will fund fellows forever

· Bringing children outside to build wonder and responsibility for nature

· Ensuring future fellows can continue monitoring Palmer's forever-protected properties

· Creating environmental and conservation leaders for generations to come

Read more about Heather and her father Charlie's vision to have Heather's memory continue to spread goodness in this world in the link. We hope you will consider a donation to the fund.

As Colorado grows, protecting what makes our home special is vital. Join us in conserving the land and water that unite us.  Donate today!

05/16/2026

We had a great time exploring, discovering, and learning during today’s geocaching program! 🧭🌲 Our participants worked together to navigate trails, solve clues, and uncover hidden treasures while building outdoor skills and curiosity along the way. We found two caches, and we are excited to find more in the future!

A huge thank you to our amazing neighborhood partner, Wolf Ranch, and community partner, Norwood Development, for your continued support and collaboration. We’re grateful to work with a community that values outdoor learning, adventure, and connection. We couldn’t do it without you! 💚