November 2025 

For a fifth grader from Denver, a school trip to YMCA of the Rockies might be the first time they've ever stood in the middle of a forest and really listened to it. It might be the first time they've tracked an animal through the snow, or watched the way light changes on a mountain at dusk. For many students, it changes something. 

"The kids talked nonstop about their experiences all the way home. I saw kids smelling trees and plants, talking about how they would miss the view or the deer. To hear a kid say things like that about our Colorado wilderness fills my heart." 

— 5th Grade Science Teacher 

A generous YMCA family, aligned with their passion for the outdoors and Rocky Mountain National Park, has made a $100,000 Climbing Higher pledge to Estes Park Center's Environmental Education Program — helping the program grow and reach more students. 

Last year, Estes Park Center's Environmental Education program served over 5,900 students. This gift supports the work of expanding that reach — bringing more schools, more students, and more first-time mountain experiences into contact with the natural world that surrounds this place. 

The Environmental Education program is part of the Climbing Higher campaign at YMCA of the Rockies.