$50 raised by 1 donor
0% complete
$50,000 Goal
Give students an experience they'll never forget! Your gift to ELK provides hands-on science education and life-changing outdoor adventures, helping youth to explore STEM related career fields and expand their horizons. Together, we can inspire a diverse generation of leaders to reach for the stars!
“I am especially moved by the way ELK tirelessly connects with partners across the nation to secure resources and opportunities for students like me. Your work is not just about education, it’s about empowerment, justice, and building a better future. Each act of support you’ve offered, each value you've instilled, brings hope and strength to those of us striving to make a difference … I feel more determined than ever to use my voice and my career in engineering to uplift my community and advocate for environmental justice. The values, principles, and confidence that ELK has given me will echo through every project I undertake. Thank you for propelling me forward, like a finely tuned engine of purpose, each gear of support and bolt of belief driving me toward a future I’m now equipped to build.” – ELK Alumna and David L. Bucknam Memorial Fund Scholarship Recipient
“Like many other moms, I want my children to grow up with opportunity, with values, with strong mental health, and with a deep sense of community. And that is exactly what ELK has given them. It fills us with hope to see our children learning, connecting with nature, building healthy friendships, and most importantly, discovering that they do have a place and a purpose in this world.” – ELK Parent
“Traveling with you was life changing. Thank you for all the laughter and fun times! I enjoyed the mountain and wildlife sights, swimming in the hot springs, feeding the rainbow trout, relaxing hikes, and eating smores at the campfire, and, most importantly, building long-life bonds with the ELK family.” – ELK Youth
“In the beginning, I had no idea what I wanted to be in life. Yet my exposure to careers in natural fields, the pride of working hard on a service project, and the absolute joy of a kid being amazed by stories is what led me to want to pursue environmental science.” – ELK Urban Ranger
Cultivating a diverse community of leaders and environmental stewards by increasing outdoor equity.
We envision a world in which all people are caretakers of themselves, each other, and the natural world.
ELK was founded in 1996 by two wildlife biologists from Montbello who recognized the need to dismantle the systems of oppression that prevent young people and their families to connect with nature and thrive in the environmental and outdoor community. Their goal was to educate youth about natural resources, environmental education, and science-related career paths.
Today, ELK serves some of the most racially diverse neighborhoods in the Denver Metro area. They are also among the City’s most impoverished neighborhoods, with a quarter of families living in poverty, which is high compared to the rest of metro Denver. ELK annually serves more than 6,000 underserved youth of color (ages 5-25) and their families year-round, in-school and after-school, and family programs. ELK’s approach to serving these challenges over time has helped create a unique set of programs that address the challenges that have existed since its inception.
Organization name
Environmental Learning for Kids
other names
ELK
1996
Tax id (EIN)
84-1436605
Category
Education, Youth Development
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
12680 Albrook DriveDenver County, CO, US
Adams County, CO, US
Aurora, CO, US