Time for program: 3 hours
Max students: 75
How do people, plants, and animals work together to build healthy communities?
Students will discover how community helpers at CSU Spur work together to care for people, plants, and animals. For PreK and kindergarten, students will explore careers such as veterinarians, farmers, chefs, water scientists, and horse care specialists while learning how living things meet their basic needs through observation, play, and art. For first and second grade, students will investigate the life cycles of plants and pollinators, examine how organisms depend on one another within ecosystems, and explore the important role pollinators play in supporting healthy plants, animals, and communities through hands-on scientific investigations.
Time for program: 3.5 hours
Max students: 100
How can my interests and skills help me make a difference in my community?
Students will explore the diverse careers that support animals, plants, food systems, and communities at CSU Spur. Through hands-on activities, observation, and discussion, they will discover how professionals use science, problem-solving, and teamwork to care for living things and improve the world around them. Along the way, students will begin to connect their own interests and skills to future careers in science, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and sustainability.
Time for program: 3 hours
Max students: 65
How do veterinarians help animals live healthy lives?
What does it take to keep animals happy and healthy? In this hands-on program, students will investigate how veterinarians and animal care professionals support the health and well-being of animals. Through observation, discussion, and exploration of the CSU Spur campus, they will discover what animals need to thrive; learn about responsible animal care; and examine how horses and other animals receive specialized care. Along the way, students will explore how science, communication, and compassion work together to promote animal health.
Time for program: 3.5 hours
Max students: 50
How does water impact our lives? How do we communicate the importance of water in order to protect it?
In this water-focused program, students will explore water as a powerful force in both nature and human stories across time. Through storytelling, discussion, and play, students will investigate how water impacts their daily lives and communities. Throughout the program, students will consider how humans can respect, use, and protect water as an essential natural resource.
Time for program: 3.5 hours
Max students: 100
What can students be when they grow up, and how do they get there?
In this deep dive into career exploration, students will investigate how veterinarians, scientists, and researchers use research, technology, and creative thinking to solve real-world problems. Through facilitated programming from partners, such as Denver Water and Cam’s Ag Academy, students will explore career pathways in agriculture, water, and animal care. Students will reflect on how their interests and strengths may connect to future careers that support communities, animals, and the environment.
Time for program: 3.5 hours
Max students: 100
How does science shape the food we grow, create, and enjoy?
What’s the difference between flavor and taste, and how is the food we eat created? In this hands-on food science program, students will explore how scientists use the five senses to study and develop new food products. They will investigate how food is grown in systems such as hydroponics, and how it moves from farm to table through sustainable food systems. Along the way, students will think like food scientists as they observe, test, and create connections between science, food, and everyday life.
Time for program: 3.5 hours
Max students: 100
How can different career paths help address challenges in our world?
What does it take to turn curiosity into a career in science? In this hands-on exploration, middle school students will investigate careers in veterinary medicine, food science, agriculture, and environmental research. Through facilitated, interactive experiences, students will engage with real-world challenges, make connections between school subjects and career pathways, and explore the skills and education needed for future success in STEM fields.
Time for program: 3 hours
Max students: 100
How can students pursue a career in veterinary medicine and animal science?
Students will discover the science and skills behind veterinary medicine as they explore how veterinarians diagnose, treat, and care for animals. Through a virtual reality exploration of animal anatomy, hands-on practice with introductory veterinary techniques such as suturing, and conversations with professionals, students will gain insight into the knowledge, technology, and careers that support animal health. Students will also explore translational medicine and how research with animals helps advance treatments and improve healthcare for both people and animals.
Time for program: 3.5 hours
Max students: 60
How is water in Colorado managed, shared, and protected?
Students will explore how water is managed, protected, and shared in Colorado through science and real-world decision-making. Focusing on topics such as water quality, water rights, and watershed systems, students will investigate how geography, climate, and human use shape access to this essential resource. Through facilitated programming with our partner, Denver Water, students will analyze real-world water challenges and consider how communities balance the needs of people, agriculture, and the environment.
Time for program: 3.5 hours
Max students: 60
How do human decisions impact environmental, food, and water systems?
Students will explore how environmental systems and human choices are connected in shaping sustainable communities. Through hands-on investigations, they will examine urban heat islands and how cities are impacted by design and land use, explore the relationships between climate, water, and food systems, and investigate principles of sustainable building design. Across these experiences, students will consider how science and innovation can be used to address real-world environmental challenges.
Time for program: 3.5 hours
Max students: 100
How do STEM careers contribute to solving challenges in communities and the environment?
High school students will engage in an immersive exploration of career pathways at CSU Spur focused on animal health, food systems, and environmental science. Through facilitated, hands-on experiences, students will investigate how veterinarians, researchers, and other professionals apply science and innovation to address real-world challenges. This program emphasizes career readiness, post-secondary planning, and real-world applications of STEM, helping students identify potential pathways aligned with their interests and future goals.
Time for program: 3.5 hours
Max students: 30
How do living systems connect to produce and sustain our food?
In this hands-on program, students will explore the science behind food production and soil health. They will investigate how plants are grown in a year-round greenhouse and how ingredients are transformed into food products in the Ardent Mills Teaching and Culinary Center, including a sensory exploration of taste and flavor. Students will also dig into soil science by examining soil health, including post-fire environments, and exploring how soil composition can provide clues about ecosystem health. Throughout the program, students will engage with real-world careers such as sensory scientists, culinary professionals, plant researchers, and soil scientists.
Time for program: 3.5 hours
Max students: 30
How do communities monitor, manage, and protect drinking water sources?
Students will explore how communities monitor, manage, and protect drinking water sources through authentic field investigations. Using Get Wet Backpacks, students will collect and analyze water quality data, including dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, and temperature, while examining biological indicators such as macroinvertebrates to assess stream health. In partnership with Denver Water, students will design and test a water filtration system and evaluate engineering solutions for improving water quality and access.
Time for program: 3 hours, 15 minutes
Max students: 30
How do education, skills, and experience prepare people for careers in veterinary science?
Students will explore career pathways in veterinary medicine through immersive experiences across CSU Spur. They will observe live surgery at the Humane Colorado on show surgical areas, engage with veterinary-focused virtual reality simulations, and explore equine health practices at the equine sports medicine and rehabilitation facility. Students will examine how veterinary professionals use science and technology to diagnose, treat, and prevent animal health challenges while considering the role of human care in animal well-being.
Afternoon programming is offered from 1-3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. When registering, please select your preferred date, and a staff member will contact you to coordinate the theme and details of your field trip. This is a great choice for homeschool groups and afterschool clubs!
