Gore Range Natural Science School

Gore Range Natural Science School (GRNSS) is a 501(c ) (3) environmental education school that annually serves over 12,000 residents of, and visitors to, Eagle County, Colorado. Based out of the historic Red Cliff School in the former mining town of Red Cliff, Colorado, GRNSS daily realizes its mission “to raise environmental awareness and inspire stewardship through natural science learning experiences in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain ecosystem.” We do this through a combination of innovative school programs, summer youth science camps, adult seminars, and year-round interpretive programs.

Life-long Vail resident Kim Langmaid founded GRNSS in 1998 with the goal of creating a community-based organization that provides a relevant approach to teaching science and educating students of all ages about the ecology of the natural world. Since its inception, GRNSS has become a community leader in a region-wide effort to grow healthy communities by educating a local citizenry to make informed decisions about the natural environment.

A key component of this involves youth-focused, place-based educational opportunities that turn our “backyard” into a living laboratory. GRNSS provides hands-on, natural science field learning that augments traditional classroom education, develops scientific understanding, and builds a meaningful connection to the natural world. Currently, over 1,000 K-12 students participate annually in GRNSS 3-5 day natural science learning adventures. Programs support state and district level curriculum standards in science, math and geography.