Outdoor Education Center
Facilities
Efficient Appliances
- Kitchen appliances are Energy Star certified and use 20-30% less energy than standard appliances
Energy
- Lights are motion-sensored
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- Placards explaining sustainable practices throughout building
- All-gender bathroom
- Bathrooms have compostable brown hand towels
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Sustainable Materials
- Floors in the kitchen and the bathrooms are made from renewable, natural linseed oil as opposed to petroleum-based vinyl linoleum
- The tile in the bathroom and kitchen is made from natural clay and recycled glass, rather than virgin glass.
- Our deck is made of 95% recycled plastic and is resistant to water and weathering, which means it will last longer than traditional wood
- Our tables in our meeting rooms & cabinets are made from bamboo
- Our cabinets are made from bamboo
- The gear house display and check-out table was made from a silver oak that was cut down on campus, wheat-board (wheat husks), and pine beetle kill boards.
- Hardwood floors were refinished
- Crown molding was maintained instead of being replaced
- Floors in the basement repurposed the 100+ year old concrete and simply grinded and polished them as opposed to putting a new material down
- 120 year old marble bathtub was repurposed to be the fireplace insert in the main boardroom.
Recycled Materials
- Whiteboards are made from recycled glass instead of plastic, which requires fossil fuels to produce
- All of the cork boards in offices are also made from recycled rubber
- Our deck furniture is made of recycled skis and snowboards, a great way of repurposing old outdoor equipment
- The kitchen countertops are made from recycled glass bottles
- The office furniture was repurposed from a business that no longer had a use for them
Water
- Low-flow toilets and faucets
Landscaping
- Meditation walk that goes around our building that incorporates 3 different ecosystems that are found throughout the state of Colorado
- Xeriscape around the building is made up of all native and drought tolerant plants
- Plants watered using reclaimed water through a drip irrigation system
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Bulk Food Pantry
- Quality organic bulk food at affordable prices
- Helps trips eat healthy while reducing unnecessary food waste and packaging
- Bag maker helps ensure exact proportions size and are a reusable source
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The Ahlberg Gear House
- Focus on Reusing
- The Repair center offers a sewing machine, as well as ski tuning/waxing, and backpack repair
- Intentions behind our retail aim to cut down on emissions
- Recycling fuel bottles properly, hosting a gear swap, and having a guide book library and maps for tools are some ways the Gear House aims to be green
The Ritt Kellogg Climbing Wall
- Repurpose retired ropes
- Implement reusable route description cards
- Equipment free to borrow for students
- Sanitizer offered at Ritt Kellogg Climbing Gym
- Vinegar is used to clean holds
- Reused water is also used for cleaning purposes
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The Co-op: Bike & Ski
- Teaches others how to repair their own bikes and skis
- Reuse/recycle tubes
- Donate extra materials to art department
Explore Outdoor Education
Facility Hours
Outdoor Education Center
Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm
Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm
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Please visit each facility page for more information regarding hours for the Gear House, Bike & Ski Co-op and the Ritt Kellogg Climbing Gym.
Contact Us
(719) 389-6803
931 N. Nevada Ave
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
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Last updated: 05/20/2021