Since the late 1990s, Trees, Water & People has worked with the City of Fort Collins and the Poudre School District to create outdoor learning laboratories. Thanks the City's WaterSHED program, created by the Stormwater Department, and the hard work and support from hundreds of volunteers, these "living laboratories" give teachers and kids a great hands-on way to study the natural world.

TWP and our enthusiastic volunteers have planted trees and shrubs, grasses and other native wetland plants, built trails, put in bat boxes and benches, and installed educational signs and stations. These projects help to involve young people in taking care of our parks, natural areas, and other open spaces. It is how our future stewards are made and it is a powerful way to help everyone develop civic pride and responsibility.

These areas have become thriving urban wetlands, home to native plants, birds, bats, and insects. Students use the wetlands to learn about water quality monitoring, observe wildlife, and study plants and insects. Three outdoor classrooms have been created through this cooperative effort: Dragonfly's Lair, located near Johnson and Webber Elementary Schools in southwest Fort Collins; Blue Mesa, near Beattie Elementary School in southwest Fort Collins; and Walden Pond, located near Boltz Junior High School in south-central Fort Collins. Each area is the result of up to five years of planting, trail building, and maintenance efforts by a wide range of community volunteers.

Our outdoor classroom program has been possible because of our great sponsors and supporters, including Hewlett-Packard, REI, Front Range Community College, the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Program, and First National Bank.