Cal-Wood Education Center

Background Statement

Nestled in the foothills of Jamestown, less than 20 miles west of Boulder, Cal-Wood Education Center was originally established as Boulder’s school-based residential environmental education center. Over the years, we’ve expanded our programming to serve a wider audience, but we remain deeply connected to Boulder County, with 70% of our participants coming from the area annually.

The center's history began in the late 1970s when Roger and Oral Calvert generously donated their Boulder County ranch and an endowment to The Pilot Trust, which founded Cal-Wood Education Center. In 2003, in partnership with Boulder County Parks and Open Space, a conservation easement was placed on Cal-Wood’s 1,200-acre property to preserve it as a pristine environmental and educational resource for generations to come. Cal-Wood became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2006 and transitioned to a new board model in 2018, featuring a majority of local members strategically selected for their skills and expertise.

Our mission has always been to inspire a lifelong love of the outdoors while fostering environmental stewardship and resilience. Central to this mission is our unwavering commitment to creating equitable access to outdoor education and experiences for underrepresented and under-resourced communities. Through bilingual programs, significant scholarship support, we work to remove barriers and ensure that every family, regardless of background or financial means, can experience the transformative power of nature.

The challenges of 2020 and 2021 marked the most difficult period in Cal-Wood’s history. Pandemic-related program closures led to a loss of $1 million in revenue and significant staff reductions. Compounding these challenges, the Calwood Fire in October 2020 burned more than half of our 1,200-acre property. While our buildings were spared, large areas of our cherished ponderosa pine forest and outdoor classroom suffered 100% tree mortality.

Despite these obstacles, we remain steadfast in our commitment to rebuilding and expanding our impact. The restoration of our land is expected to take 5-10 years and cost millions of dollars. This effort is not only about recovery but also about growth and transformation. We aim to become a national leader in outdoor research and education, focusing on fire ecology, restoration, and mitigation.

Today, Cal-Wood continues to serve thousands of participants annually, offering school programs, summer camps, and bilingual family programs designed to connect people of all ages and backgrounds to the wonders of the natural world. By prioritizing equity and accessibility, we are building a more inclusive community of environmental stewards, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in the outdoors.