Musings from Colorado Rocky Mountain School
Posted on Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
Here’s another dispatch from a Cloudveil pro. The following was submitted by Lisa Raleigh, who directs communications at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School.
Photo: Wilderness Orientation, August 2008 (10 day new student wilderness experience)
Belief in a sustainable future
As a formally trained environmental scientist, and someone who has spent the past 14 years in the outdoor industry, I returned to the academic world somewhat skeptical about the real-life impact of the environmental movement and the role our youth are playing.
Well what a pleasant surprise.
Here at CRMS, high school students come from all corners of the world to engage in college-prep academics. Witnessing these teenagers participate in an active curriculum makes me want to be 15 years old again and shows me that it’s possible to raise the bar on what we can expect of our youth from a community and philanthropic perspective.
In addition to their academic and sports/outdoor obligations, each student is involved in a two day per week afternoon work crew which includes a significant environmental and sustainability component. From growing organic vegetables to composting all our meal waste (napkins included) to the debut of our new half acre solar array done in conjunction with the Aspen Skiing Company and Xcel Energy, I truly believe our future is bright.
And it is our youth that are leading the way. So I toast the next generation, and am confident they will leave a greener, more sustainable and responsible world in their wake.
