Cotopaxi Schools are uniquely positioned within a community surrounded by the Arkansas River Valley, mountains, recreation, ranching, and outdoor opportunities. I strongly support conversations about outdoor education, experiential learning, agriculture, physical education, field trips, environmental learning, recreation, and activities that connect students with hands-on experiences beyond the traditional classroom setting. I am advocating for more programs especially during the summer when children are at home and not always engaged in an activity. Our location can sometimes create challenges for the kids to get out and about. The school recently hosted the annual Colorado Hunter Education Safety Course, a valuable program that has been offered each year. I appreciate the continued effort to provide this opportunity to students and community members, and I hope the program continues for years to come. Outdoor learning can strengthen student engagement, creativity, teamwork, and appreciation for the local community and environment.