Registration for Spring 2025 Great School Escapes is open! Registration for each day is limited to 24 participants and will close automatically when full.
Our Great School Escapes take place on Poudre School District school-out days and are available for students in grades K-5. Each Great School Escape runs 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Check out our FAQ document for more information about Great School Escapes.
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Program Dates and Descriptions
Art Adventures
February 17th
Let nature nurture your inner artist! We’ll explore arts and crafts using natural materials and take inspiration from the beautiful things we find at the ELC. We’ll learn some artistic techniques and use new skills to draw, paint, color, and sculpt our own magical masterpieces!
Geology Rocks!
March 3rd
Let’s get familiar with the forces of nature! Ever wonder what your backyard looked like when dinosaurs roamed Fort Collins? Why the Rocky Mountains are so rocky? How come some rocks are pretty cool and others are just plain ol’ gray? Colorado is a special state, geologically speaking, so we’ll learn about the kinds of rocks that live here and investigate the fascinating formations that make up our mountains, plateaus, and plains.
Backyard Safari
April 18th
Become a wildlife biologist for a day filled with birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians! We’ll seek out critters common to the ELC using tracks, burrows, nests, and other signs of animal activity. We’ll watch wildlife and wonder what they are up to and learn what we can do to make sure our favorite creatures and their habitats are safe and healthy!
Registration Process
Registration for Spring 2025 Great School Escapes
Online registration is required for Great School Escapes. Registration is first come first served. Each Great School Escape is capped at 24 participants; once 24 participants have been registered, the event will automatically be removed from our online store.
You will have the option either to pay for Great School Escapes online with a credit card at the time of registration, mail us a check after registering, or pay on the day of the program (exact change or check). Payment for Great School Escapes is due in full by the day of the program.
Schedule
Great School Escapes run from 8:30am to 3:30pm. Drop off and pick up for Great School Escapes will take place at the ELC property. Please note, in case of cold weather, we may move the program to the CSU main campus where we have access to a warm indoor space. A decision will be made about moving the program to the CSU main campus 24-48 hours in advance.
Please note that if the weather forecast is favorable, we will spend the entire day at the ELC property and most of the day will be spent outside.
Prices
The cost for each Great School Escape is $50 per child for current ELC members and $75 per child for non-members. Learn more about membership benefits and prices.
We offer several need-based scholarships for these programs. Please request a scholarship prior to registering for these programs.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Cancellations made up to two weeks prior to the day of the program will receive a full refund. After two weeks prior, no refunds will be given, but you may request a credit towards future programs. Cancellations must be made in writing and emailed to [email protected].