Two adults and four children pose and smile while wearing Family Outdoor Club t-shirts

Register at Bear Creek or Fountain Creek Nature Center, Tuesday- Saturday between 9am and 4pm

Overview:

An El Paso County Parks “Family Outdoor Club” is a loosely organized group made up of families who plan and go on free or low-cost outings in nature to become happier, healthier, and smarter. They register as a club at the nature centers and receive a variety of benefits including an “Outdoor Activity Passport” to inspire various outings. It is part of a national trend to help parents, grandparents, and caregivers reconnect themselves and their children to nature. The program is completely FREE for participants. Your investment is spending time outdoors with your and other families in our El Paso County Open Spaces and on our trails.

Process:

  • Two or more families join together to form an “Outdoor Club”. One representative comes to either Bear Creek or Fountain Creek Nature Center to register the club.
  • Bumper Stickers (one per person) are given to the Club Representative to hand out along with one “Family Outdoor Clubs Passport” booklet. All club work can be recorded in this booklet.
  • Prizes are awarded for the following criteria:
    • IMPORTANT NOTE: The Passport Booklet needs to be shown to a staff person to receive prize(s).
    • Completing 3 Open Space or Trail areas by the Club visiting said area and doing the activities listed, including adding birds and Mammals to the “Bird List” and “Mammal List” in the booklet. The Club Representative can bring the Passport booklet to either Nature Center and receive enough carabiners for each person in the Club.
    • Completing 6 Open Space or Trail areas by the Club visiting said area and doing the activities listed, including adding birds and Mammals to the “Bird List” and “Mammal List” in the booklet. The Club Representative can bring the Passport booklet to either Nature Center and receive $30 in Nature Bucks to be divided evenly among the Club’s families. Nature Bucks can be spent at either Nature Center for programs.
    • Completing 9 Open Space or Trail areas by the Club visiting said area and doing the activities listed, including adding birds and Mammals to the “Bird List” and “Mammal List” in the booklet. The Club can bring the Passport booklet to either Nature Center and receive a T-Shirt for each Club member. We encourage ALL the Club members to come get their T-shirts together so that we can take pictures of a VERY successful Outdoors Club!
    • After completing nine Open Space adventures (which is only half), our hope is that your motivation to be outside and enjoying nature will come from inside you.
  • When you are at either Bear Creek or Fountain Creek Nature Center, you may check out a backpack containing useful tools (binoculars, compass, maps, etc.) to enhance your visits. There is no cost, but a Driver’s License will need to be left at the Nature Center and will be returned when your club returns the backpack.
  • We encourage you to take pictures of your adventures! You can email them to Brenda McCreight (brendamccreight@elpasoco.com) so the Nature Centers can post your success on our Facebook page.

FAMILY OUTDOOR CLUBS REGISTRATION FORM & WAIVER

For more information or questions, call Bear Creek Nature Center at 719-520-6387 or Fountain Creek Nature Center at 719-520-6745