At TEENS, Inc. we believe that a community is stronger when the youth play an integral part in it. That is precisely why Chinook West students have to complete nearly 90 hours of community service or internship as an additional graduation requirement.
Students in the past have completed their community service hours at locations including the Nederland Community Center, Nederland Town Hall, Mountain People's Coop, The Good Karma Yoga Center, Nederland Elementary School, Over the Rainbow Preschool and the Nederland Sustainability Project.
Internships are defined as outside learning opportunities of a specific set of skills with the support of a mentor. Students have worked with mentors as radio DJs, radio production assistants, or have learned a musical instrument, hip-hop dance or martial arts.
Additionally, Chinook West students coordinate and fundraise for their Outdoor Education Excursion each year. Fundraising efforts are integrated into the curriculum through successful partnerships with the U.S. Forest Service, Nederland Parks and Recreation Open Space Advisory Board, and many private landowners on a variety of service projects. Examples of projects include trail building, restoration projects and fire mitigation.
The yearly Outdoor Education Excursion has taken many forms over the years. This trip represents a year’s worth of student efforts in fundraising, team building and logistical planning. Examples of recent school trips are listed below.
2006: Students backpacked twelve miles into the Grand Canyon to Havasupai Village and Havasu Falls. Four nights and days were spent hiking, exploring, working service projects, learning about geology, and Native American history, and culminating with a sweat lodge with tribal elders before hiking out.
2007: Students spent two days on a rapid-fire exploration of Yellowstone National Park, studying wolves in the Lamar Valley with park biologists, exploring geysers, and learning about the natural history of Yellowstone. The group then challenged themselves to a three day backpack along the Yellowstone River.
2008: Chinook West embarked on a Southwest tour of the four corners region, with stops at Canyonlands National Park, Chaco Canyon, Jemez Springs, Bandolier National Monument, Santa Fe and Great Sand Dunes National Park. Over the course of 11 days, students participated in service projects and learned about the varied ecosystems and human history of the region.
2009: In partnership with Grand Canyon Youth, this year’s trip will be a four day rafting and camping trip to explore the ancient ruins, rock art, and unique geology of Comb Ridge along the San Juan River in Southern Utah.
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