Walking Mountains Science Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and was founded in 1998 (under the name Gore Range Natural Science School) after our founder, Kim Langmaid, recognized a need for region-wide environmental science education in the Eagle Valley that involves students K-12 in the natural world.
Today, we are an educational resource for our region, offering year-round programming at our four locations; the Tang Campus in Avon, the Nature Discovery Center atop Vail Mountain, the Vail Nature Center near the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, and our Sweetwater property in western Eagle County. Our programs are aligned with state and national curriculum standards and annually serve more than 4,000 students in 23 public and private schools located throughout the Eagle Valley. The public school population that we serve looks a great deal like many inner cities, with 52% Hispanic, 42% eligible for free and reduced lunch, and 35% classified as English Language Learners. Our programs are a necessary experience for disadvantaged students that might not otherwise have the opportunity to engage in hands-on science learning in the outdoors. With our LEED Platinum Science Center in Avon completed in 2011, school children now come to the Science Center for programs, learning in state of the art classrooms and using the greater outdoors as the primary classroom.
In addition, we serve 61,000+ residents and visitors in the Eagle Valley (Vail Valley) through engaging adult and family programs in natural science and sustainability offered in partnership with the US Forest Service, Vail Resorts, Vail Recreation District, Town of Vail, Eagle County, and others. Our total annual reach for all program areas exceeds 200,000+ individuals.