100 Elk Outdoor Center

Every donation you make up to the $5,000 goal will be doubled! 

The 100 Elk Outdoor Center, a public program of the A/U Ranches in beautiful Buena Vista, Colorado, provides outdoor education and character development programs for schools and groups in the fall and spring. In 2023, we served more than 1,800 participants in our programs, including five new schools. Transportation expenses continue to present challenges for schools that wish to run their program at our facility. Our staff is committed to doing what we can to help offset these costs so students can visit us at our site and participate in these programs rich with nature and adventure.

This year, we continued our focus on three categories of activities, all of which were offered in the great outdoors:

1. Challenge activities, including two high ropes courses, rock climbing, archery and horseback riding
2. Community-building activities, including canoeing, low ropes courses and team-building sessions that focus on problem-solving, communicating as a team and fostering friendship
3. Ecology activities, which help foster a love for and understanding of the outdoors; we lead eco hikes and teach survival skills as well as play group games that simulate how ecosystems and the food web work

Your impact

• $1,800 to replace and update gear, helmets, ropes, hardware, etc.
• $100 will cover a child's transportation cost to 100 Elk Outdoor Center
• $75 will cover activities for one child's outdoor education experience per one day
• $50 will cover meals and lodging for one child's outdoor education experience per one day