School Programs at Roxborough
Nestled between the plains and mountains, Roxborough is the ideal place to bring school groups.
Pre K—6
Guided Hikes for School Groups Roxborough State Park is a special place to bring school groups. It offers unsurpassed beauty of a billion years of geologic history. Roxborough’s unique location, nestled between the plains and mountains, provides an ideal environment for abundant wildlife and plant communities. Coyote, deer, golden eagles, red fox, bear, and mountain lion share this natural haven with a landscape resplendent with grassland, shrubland, montane, and riparian ecosystems. All programs are designed with the state education standards in mind to accommodate your curriculum needs.
Special Considerations
Pre-K/1st Grade
The Wildlife of Roxborough Theme—Every niche holds clues about Roxborough’s wildlife.
Wildlife is abundant at Roxborough. Clues of their presence are found on the trails, in their scat, in their homes, and within the footprints they leave behind. Through these clues, you can discover what they ate, where they walked and with whom they made their journey. Come along on our journey that will answer the question, who lives here?
Trails: Fountain Valley or Willow Creek Objectives/State Standards Introduced: Recognize clues about animal life, as found in scat—Science 3.1, 3.2; Describe the many types of homes wildlife inhabit—Science 3.1; Identify animals via their footprints—Science 3.1; and relate how the features of an animal are reflective of their lifestyle— Science 3.1.
2nd/3rd Grade
The Plant Life of Roxborough Theme: Roxborough’s plant life paints the landscape with colorful hues throughout the seasons. Plant life exists in many forms including seeds, flowers, trees, shrubs, grasses, and mosses. This hike will focus on identifying many of these plants and their contribution to the local environment.
Trails: Fountain Valley or Willow Creek Objectives/State Standards Introduced: Recognize the way plants reproduce—Science 3.1, 3.4; Understand the different ways that seeds disperse— Science 3.1, 3.2, 3.4; Understand how seed dispersal is linked to weather and wild life factors- Science 3.1; Relate the appearance of plants to seasonal changes—Science 3.1, 4.2. 4th Grade
The Ecosystems of Roxborough Theme—Roxborough’s ecosystems are shaped by many defining factors.
This guided hike focuses on the 4 distinct ecosystems of Roxborough State Park. Through vegetation, ecotones and topography the children will understand the differences between Roxborough’s ecosystems. The children are exposed to the elements that make Roxborough unique and beautiful.
Trails: Fountain Valley and Lyons Overlook Objectives/State Standards Introduced: Distinguish between 4 different ecosystems- Science 3.1; Recognize that ecotones result from blending communities- Science 3.1; Understand that ecosystems are a direct result of how elevation, soil type, topography, and moisture interact with the area - Science 3.1.
The Geology of Roxborough Theme: Each pebble at Roxborough has a unique story to tell. This hike will take the students on a 1.2 billion-year journey through the eyes of a pebble. Through a small representation of a rock, the children will glimpse the forces of weathering, erosion, geologic uplift, and time. They will see the beautiful sandstones of the Dakota, Lyons, and Fountain Formations.
Trails: Fountain Valley or Willow Creek Objectives and State Standards Introduced: Recognize the physical changes geologic formations undergo—Science 4.1; Understand how time and geologic materials work together to change the physical landscape—Science 4.1; Relate the journey of a single pebble to complex geologic processes— Science 2.3, 4.1; Interpret the history of an area based on its geology— Science 4.1.
5th/6th Grade
The Ecosystems of Roxborough Theme: From grassland to tree line, the ecosystems of Roxborough are shaped by a variety of conditions.
There are four distinct ecosystems at Roxborough State Park: riparian, grasslands, shrubland, and montane. The transition zones that blend them enhance the park’s beauty. Variations of the park are due to differences in elevation, soil type, topography, and water availability. This hike provides an in depth look at these incredible living environments.
Trails: Fountain Valley or Willow Creek Objectives/State Standards Introduced: Distinguish between 4 different ecosystems —Science 3.1; Recognize ecotones result from blending communities—Science 3.1; Understand that ecosystems are a direct result of how elevation, soil type, topography, and moisture interact with the area —Science 3.1.
The Geology of Roxborough Theme: Roxborough reveals clues to an ancient Denver. Roxborough’s geology represents 1.2 billion years of history. The formations along the Front Range have undergone geologic uplift, erosion, and lithification. The five formations represented at Roxborough give us a glimpse into the many different landscapes that existed during an ancient Denver.
Trails: Fountain Valley or Willow Creek Objectives/State Standards Introduced: Recognize the physical changes geologic formations undergo—Science 4.1; Understand how time and geologic material work together to change the physical landscape—Science 4.1; Understand complex geologic processes— Science 2.3, 4.1; Interpret the areas physical history based on its geology—Science 4.1.
For scheduling information contact: Angel Tobin, Volunteer & Interpretive Services Manager at Phone: 303 973-3959 or Email: angel.tobin@state.co.us. View the Driving Directions to Roxborough State Park.