Gore Range Natural Science School

Mission: To raise environmental awareness and inspire stewardship in Colorado's Rocky Mountain ecosystem.

The school is a non-advocacy, non-profit (501[c]3) organization that believes in the power of education to inspire and empower individuals to create positive change in their communities and surrounding landscapes.

GRNSS History

GRNSS was founded in 1998 by a small group of environmentally concerned individuals. These individuals shared the belief that science education, combined with the experience of being immersed in the beauty and wildness of the natural world, has the power to inspire individuals to create positive change in their communities and surrounding landscapes. The persistent efforts of GRNSS’s Board of Directors and staff, bolstered by generous support from the local community, have allowed the School to flourish. In five short years, GRNSS has established itself as an important educational asset in the Eagle River Valley.

The core of GRNSS’s programming is accomplished in partnership with the Eagle and Lake County School Districts. This year, GRNSS will provide 1,500 K-12 students with 3-5 day outdoor learning experiences designed to enrich traditional classroom education, develop scientific understanding, and build a connection to the natural world. In addition, GRNSS’s educational programs will reach out to more than 5,000 youth and adults through community initiatives, including summer learning adventures for youth, a year-long adult seminar series, the Nature Discovery Center atop Vail Mountain, the Eagle County Youth Conservation Corps, and continuing education opportunities for school teachers.