ACES Ed

Our Ed Programs

Sparking wonder in the classroom and the outdoors

Our extensive education programs kindle curiosity and prepare students to excel in science at an early age. Since 1975, ACES Ed has partnered with local schools to provide environmental education in the classroom and in the field through hands-on exploration and investigation. Regarded as “a science classroom without boundaries,” ACES Ed curriculum is aligned with national and state science standards, and classroom lessons are deeply integrated with field programs at sites in the Roaring Fork Valley and western Garfield County. Our mission is to foster generations of ecologically literate citizens who are stewards of our planet.

In the Schools

In the Schools

ACES provides nationally acclaimed, full-time, environmental education at Aspen Elementary School, Basalt Elementary School, Crystal River Elementary School in Carbondale, and Kathryn Senor Elementary School in New Castle.

School Field Programs

School Field Programs

Our field programs elevate traditional education by blending science, critical thinking, and outdoor, hands-on learning. Students study geology while hiking at Maroon Lake, harvest potatoes at Rock Bottom Ranch, track winter animals in the snow, dig snow pits to analyze the snowpack at the top of Aspen Mountain, and more!

Expanded Colorado Programming

Expanded Colorado Programming

ACES Ed has expanded its programs 200% in the past five years. We work with schools from Aspen to Parachute.

ACES Educators would be happy to visit your school to facilitate lessons based on any environmental science topic. These lessons may be in conjunction with a field experience, and/or in a series of in-school lessons. Additionally, ACES can provide a variety of teacher training opportunities. If you have questions about any of our education programs, please email edprograms@aspennature.org.

Meet Our Team

Andrea Aust

Education Director

Denali Barron

Senior Educator

Lillian Bell

Community Programs Coordinator

Anna Bornstein

Educator - Aspen Elementary School

Amanda Carotenuto

Educator - Basalt Elementary School

Chloe Comcowich

Educator - Aspen Elementary School

Mackenzie Crabb

Educator - Kathryn Senor Elementary School

Skylar Gardner

Educator - Basalt Elementary School

Kate Huun

Educator - Crystal River Elementary School

Trisha Lavery

Community Programs Coordinator

Sara Lynch

Educator - Aspen Elementary School

Mason Marsh

Naturalist / Field Programs Educator

Phebe Meyers

Community Programs Director

Leo Moss

Educator - Crystal River Elementary School

Nadia Perez

Educator - Kathryn Senor Elementary School

Adrianna Schwaiger

Naturalist / Field Programs Educator

Izzy Tils

Educator - Basalt Elementary School

Emily Williams

Field Programs Coordinator

Kamille Winslow

School Programs Manager

Support ACES ED

Honor future generations by investing in their education. Our Children’s Education Fund supports all of our ACES Ed programs, including our daily environmental science classes. Your donation will help us achieve our mission, “educating for environmental responsibility.”