BLUFF LAKE OUTDOOR HOMESCHOOL ENRICHMENT
Registration for the 2025/26 school year opens on January 27th!
Bluff Lake Outdoor Homeschool Enrichment combines place-based natural science with experiential learning and community-building. Our staff ensures your child grows in their knowledge of ecology while gaining skills in teamwork and outdoor activities. The program is conducted year-round (weather permitting) at Bluff Lake Nature Center. A variety of activities, experiments, challenges, service projects, explorations, and just plain fun help our participants build nature knowledge, self-awareness, and skills outdoors.
This tuition-free program is designed to supplement your homeschool curriculum with social development, conceptual understandings of ecology, and practical applications of outdoor skills in our unique setting. We have age-appropriate options for grades K-6.
Questions? contact mark@blufflake.org
2025-26 School Year Logistics
LOCATION:
Bluff Lake Nature Center (building by parking lot)
11255 E. MLK Jr. Blvd, Denver CO 80238
9:00am-3:00pm, Daily Drop-off & Pick-up
COST:
If your student is already enrolled in an options program, or if you would like to join part-way through the year there is a pro-rated cost of $3,100/year per student. There is a $100 discount for siblings. Need based scholarships are available - you can apply here.
YEARLY SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE:
34 Week Long Program from September 2nd, 2025 thru May 22nd, 2026
Fall Trimester September 2nd**-November 21st
**First Monday session will be held on Tuesday September 2nd due to Labor Day on the 1st. (Classes that fall on Holiday Mondays will be held on the Tuesday immediately following them.)
Themes: Ecosystems & Team/Community Building
Fall Break November 24th - 29th
Winter Trimester December 1st – February 27th
Themes: Adaptations, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Safety & Risk Management
Winter Break December 22nd - January 2nd
Spring Trimester March 2nd - May 22nd
Themes: Biodiversity, Leadership & Stewardship
Spring Break TBD
AGES/DAYS OF THE WEEK:
Mondays: Kindergarten-1st
Wednesdays: 5th-6th
Thursdays: 2nd-4th
STUDENT TO STAFF RATIO:
16 students per day along with 2 staff members
DAILY SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE:
9:00am-3:00pm, Daily Drop-off & Pick-up at location listed above
Sample Daily Schedule:
9:00-9:15 am Check-In time
9:15-9:30 am Community and introduction to the day’s topic
9:30-10:30 am Morning Activity #1 (hike, lesson, skill development)
10:30-11:00 pm Snack Time
11:00-12:00 pm Morning Activity #2 (hike, lesson, skill development)
12:00-12:30 pm Lunch
12:30-1:30 pm Afternoon Activity #1 (hike, lesson, skill development)
1:30-2:00 pm Snack and Free Time
2:00-3:00 pm Afternoon Activity #2 (hike, lesson, skill development)
Students will engage and learn with the following activities:
Social and Community Development
Mindfulness practices
Leadership / Followership
Challenge Course
Teambuilding Games
Service-Learning Projects
Group Problem-Solving
Outdoor Skills and Experience
Fire building and safety
Basic first aid
Leave No Trace practices
Clothing and shelters
Hydration / Nutrition
Navigation and travel techniques
Place-Based Environmental Science
Flora and fauna
Colorado’s life zones
Astronomy
Weather patterns
Geology
Water Cycle
Ecological concepts
Contact Us:
School Programs Manager - Mark McMullen Bushman (mark@blufflake.org)
