Yampa Valley Science School Overview

Yampa Valley Science School (YVSS) serves all of the Routt County sixth grade students each year in a residential, experiential science camp. Operated in cooperation with local schools since 2000, YVSS incorporates a five day, three night educational curriculum, culminating with a conservation service project. YVSS also engages over 40 Routt County junior and senior high school students each year who participate as “Junior Leaders”, providing mentoring, teaching, and supervision to the sixth grade students. Additionally, Partners in Routt County provides School-Based Mentors each year who serve as “Senior Leaders”, who facilitate the education sessions. 

The goals of YVSS include:

• Providing place-based environmental education through experiential and interactive lesson activities
• Creating links to the communities within the Yampa Valley
• Providing intergenerational links and mentoring opportunities for sixth graders, high school students, college students, and community adults
• Fostering integrated academic education with the public school systems