Mountain Park Environmental Center

Description

The MPEC is in its ninth year and has grown from a one-person organization to having 8 full time and 8 part time staff members and over 400 members.

MPEC provides the people of Pueblo County and surrounding communities programming in topics related to Nature. Programs are available for children and adults of all ages. Programs range from guided hikes to book clubs to summer camps to school programs like the award winning Earth Studies Program.

Earth Studies is a comprehensive experiential science education program that brings all Pueblo District 60 5 th grade classes to the Pueblo Mountain Park six times (about once per month) during the school year. Each visit covers different subject matter related to the natural sciences. Lessons cover state and district educational standards in all the major academic fields (science, geography, reading, writing, mathematics, history, health, physical education). Each student receives 7 contact hours per day, x 6 visits = 42 total contact hours per student for the school year. Last year, Earth Studies served 22 schools with 54 fifth grade classes and over 1200 participating students.