Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor Recreation programs strive to be a community leader in providing access to our area’s variety of outdoor opportunities. To do so, we offer three unique program buckets – knowledge, skills, and leisure. Within these buckets, we have teen, adult, and family programs that are designed to educate and inspire participants to connect with themselves, one another, and the outdoors.
Locations and dates are highly dependent on weather conditions. Please see below for updated 2023 session information.
HELPFUL LINKS:
2023 Knowledge Sessions
- WILDERNESS FIRST AID COURSE WITH NOLSJanuary 27-29 in Gypsum
Prepare for the unexpected with this engaging, hands-on introduction to wilderness medicine, taught over two or two and a half days. If you like to take short trips relatively close to medical resources, work at wilderness camps, enjoy weekend family outdoor activities, or recreate outdoors, this course is for you.
This course is great for people of all experience levels, and is best suited for those who recreate outdoors where EMS response can be expected in a timely manner (fewer than eight hours). You’ll learn the Patient Assessment System, how to provide effective first aid treatments for injuries and illnesses common in the outdoors, and how to make appropriate evacuation decisions.
You’ll learn both in the classroom and in outdoor settings regardless of weather, so come prepared for wet, muddy, cold or hot environments!
Dates: January 27-29
Ages: 16+ years
Times: 8:30am-5pm each day
Price: $275
Location: Gypsum Rec Center
2023 Skills Sessions
- SKI/SNOWBOARD WAXING & CARE WITH PURL WAXWinter Waxing (Feb 8) and Spring Waxing (Mar 29) in Edwards
Experts recommend waxing your alpine gear every five trips to the mountain. Don’t lose speed on the snow because of something you can easily fix at home! Learn how to wax your skis or snowboard in this hands-on workshop offered in partnership with Purl Wax, a family-owned/operated business based in Eagle County. You’ll learn how to choose the best wax for the conditions, and have expert guidance as you clean and wax your personal equipment.
Bring your own gear (ski/snowboard, we’ll provide the waxing equipment) to this workshop, and leave with a freshly waxed base so you’re ready to hit the slopes! No prior experience needed.
Dates:
- Winter Time Waxing (Feb 8)
- Spring Time Waxing (Mar 29)
Ages: 14+ years
Times: 5:30pm-7pm
Price: $20
Location: Edwards Field House - Belay ClinicsTuesdays (Gypsum) and Thursdays (Edwards)
This 1.5 hour clinic will give you basic information and opportunities to practice belaying, and will provide you the knowledge needed to pass Mountain Recreation’s top rope belay test. In this clinic you will learn climbing knots, harness use, hardware use, belaying technique, climbing communication, how to catch a fall, and how to lower a climber. This class will take place at either the Edwards Field House or Gypsum Recreation Center’s climbing tower, so come ready to climb.
Dates:
- Tuesdays (Gypsum Rec Center)
- Thursdays (Edwards Field House)
Times: 6:30pm-8pm
Ages: 14+ years
Price: $5
2023 Leisure Sessions
- EVOM Family Skate NightSaturday, February 11 in Eagle
If you are an expert or a beginner on ice, it doesn’t matter for this event. Come out and skate at the Eagle Pool and Ice Rink for our EVOM Family Skate! Entrance is free to the event. Skate rentals are $4.
Dates: February 11, 2023
Times: 2:30pm-4:30pm
Location: Eagle Ice Rinks
Price: Free admission, skate rental not included ($4) - Winter Family Campout With EVOMMarch 18-19 at Sylvan Lake State Park
Dates: March 18-19
Program Description: Join Mountain Recreation and EVOM partners for the 2023 Winter Family Campout on March 18th-19th at Sylvan Lake State Park near Eagle, CO. This event is an introductory, hands-on winter “camping” experience for EVOM and Mountain Recreation families.We will stay in the cabins near Sylvan Lake, provide fun activities for the whole family, and connect with one another while connecting with the outdoors! Cabins are outfitted with bunk beds, mattresses, and propane heating. Activities may include snowshoeing, sledding, outdoor cooking, intro to ice fishing, and more. Most of the activities will occur Sunday.
Mountain Recreation will provide dinner on Saturday evening and breakfast and lunch on Sunday, as well as activity specific and overnight camping equipment (sleeping bags, snowshoes, etc.), and staff to help families make the most of their camping experience.
Please bring a pillow and sheets, or email kschroeder@mountainrec.org if you will need to borrow a sleeping bag. Bring snacks and a water bottle that you will be able to refill throughout the weekend.
Check-in is 3 pm on Saturday 3/18 to the cabins. You are welcome to recreate in Sylvan Lake State Park with your family outside of the designated program times for day use
Ages: 4+
Times: Overnight, from Friday, March 17-Saturday, March 18
Price: $10
Location: Sylvan Lake State Park - Grown-Up Camps: Intro to Hut TripsApril 17-19 at Point Breeze Cabin
Dates: April 17-19
Program Description:Have you always wanted to go on a hut trip but weren’t sure how? Or maybe avalanche hazards or lack of adventure buddies have kept you from exploring these backcountry gems…
Join Mountain Recreation Outdoor Recreation staff on a introductory hut trip and we’ll teach you all the basics of going on one of these epic adventures! We’ll pull together all of the logistics (hut booking, food planning, and gear prepping) and on our trip we’ll have opportunities to learn and discuss how you can do this yourself as well as other essential hut trip skills!
Our hike will start at the Tennesee Pass Trailhead and we will hike about 1 mile to our cabin where we will stay for 2 nights in a serene lodgepole pine forest. Any gear you need for this adventure (snowshoes, backpacking pack, sleeping bag, headlamp, etc.) can be borrowed from Mountain Rec.
For more information or any questions, please contact Outdoor Recreation Supervisor – Megan Carter at MCarter@MountainRec.org
Ages: 21+
Times: Overnight, from Mon, Apr 17-Wed, Apr 19
Price: $190
Location: Point Breeze Cabin, Tennessee Pass/Leadville, CO - Community Climbing NightsMondays (Edwards) and Fridays (Gypsum)
Join us for a Community Climbing Night starting in October, where there’s something fun for everyone!
- Are you looking to practice your belay skills before you sign up for a belay clinic/test? Trained volunteers will be available to help you practice your belay technique.
- Do you have a young climber who needs to get their wiggles out? We have belay tested volunteers who can belay your kiddo or teach you how to belay them.
- Want to meet other climbers and perhaps spark a new belay-tionship? Sign-up for a Community Climbing Night in Edwards or Gypsum and come ready to climb!
Our climbing facilities offer opportunities for climbers to boulder, get on ropes, or ascend our climbing towers via an auto-belay. These weekly events are designed to build an inclusive and inviting climbing community for everyone.
Dates: Mondays in Edwards and Fridays in Gypsum–starting in October
Times: 6:30pm-8pm
Ages: 6+, all climbers under 13 must be accompanied by someone who is 16+
Price: $5
Location: Edwards Field House (Mondays) and Gypsum Recreation Center (Fridays)