Case for Support
Purpose: Since 1962 the Rocky Mountain Nature Association has offered a summertime educational program, known today as Rocky Mountain Field Seminars. Known as a "university without walls" it classes have appealed largely to adults. Only in the last few years have courses been offered for kids, largely in the field of art. Such field classes should be expanded as swiftly as possible and marketed to families of vacationers and local residents alike.
History: The well-known alpine ecologist, Dr. Bettie Willard, started the Rocky Mountain Field Seminar program in 1962. Over the years the audience for these classes tended to be park aficionados who were also well-educated. Those attending numbered close to a thousand participants annually. Instructors were primarily specialists in natural history fields, not unlike Dr. Willard, and drawn from the ranks of college professors. Hence the appeal of these courses has always been limited by virtue of their specialization and directed primarily to those most interested in the park.
Opportunity: With its long experience in the educational field, Rocky Mountain Field Seminars is prepared to shift its emphasis from specialized adult learning and broaden its appeal to families and capture the interests of children.
Necessity: Not every child may be interested in art or drawing or even bird watching or history. But few would question the importance of introducing young people to nature in a positive way. These days fewer kids than ever live where nature abounds. Field classes must be made appealing to urban families with children, particularly in terms of subject matter and cost. Families with small children may not be able to afford typical field seminars, which many times cost $65 to $100 per person. Special events, like "a morning with a naturalist" or similar appeals to children's interests, must be explored to expose children to forests, meadows, and flowers. Sponsors for such programs may be individual donors or corporations.
Annual need: New program development, married with marketing analysis, needs to be part of the Nature Association's commitment to address the educational interests of the coming generation. At a minimum, $30,000 should be invested in educational experimentation and sponsored field programs. Rocky Mountain National Park attracts families from across the nation. Too many children (and their parents) don't know what they are missing. The park is an educational gem waiting to be discovered.