Left Hand Outdoor Challenge

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

Boulder County Parks and Open Space manages approximately 98,000 acres of open space and provides environmental education programs throughout the community. Noting that teens were a historically underserved population in the department’s educational programming, Left Hand Outdoor Challenge was developed as a way to mentor, engage and develop an outdoor leadership ethic in Boulder County teens. The program strives to mold the next generation of open space stewards through hands on skill building and career-based learning challenges in the outdoors. Teens are selected to participate in the Left Hand Outdoor Challenge through a rigorous application process and a job interview with park ranger staff. Participants agree to eight hours per month of learning activities, challenges and volunteer service. Outdoor challenges include wild land firefighting and forest restoration; winter survival skills; orienteering; local food production; Project WILD training; trail crew leadership; and citizen education and outreach. In the inaugural year, 28 teen participants and five program mentors provided 2,000 hours of volunteer service towards facilitating career exploration and local land stewardship. Additionally, the program takes a bold approach to technology by discouraging the use of cell phones and technological devices, and instead encourages a focus on traditional outdoor skills.