Colorado Outdoor Education Center

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The Colorado Outdoor Education Center is a non-profit educational institution located in the Rocky Mountains 35 miles west of Colorado Springs, CO. Our mission is to develop the potential of individuals by providing extraordinary educational experiences in the natural world.

COEC is located on 6,000 acres of private land and offers three major programs:

Hiring Year Round

Since 1978, The Nature Place has offered leadership and team development programs for universities, school faculties, and business and professional organizations. It also offers natural history programs and reunions of all types.

Hospitality Jobs

Hiring for May 26th to August 10th, 2027

Big Spring Ranch for Boys and High Trails Ranch for Girls. Since 1948, the camps have provided outstanding, nature-based summer camp programs for children. Young people from more than forty states and a dozen countries gather annually for one of two month long terms. They grow socially and emotionally by living within a nurturing community and experiencing fun and adventure in the out-of-doors.

Summer Camp Jobs

Hiring for Spring & Fall

Since 1967, COEC has been providing resident outdoor education programs for students from many schools in Colorado. The HTOEC curriculum is based on innovative experiential activities which teach natural science, local history, and creative arts.

Outdoor Ed Jobs

Support COEC

Add a note below to designate your gift for the The Scholarship Fund, Greatest Need Fund, or Program Excellence Fund, or choose another way to give.

Parent of Sanborn Camper

One of the best things about Sanborn is it gives our daughter a chance to be independent in a way that no other kids get to be, and that kids even in Denver where we live have an opportunity to be. And our daughter is really, really independent. This gives her a chance to do things on a scale that she loves. As a result of her experiences at Sanborn, she’s become a rock climber in the last year. She’s continued to hike Fourteeners, and she’s continued to become a fierce outdoors woman and loves to camp.

6th Grade HTOEC Student

Today, nature made me feel calm and quiet. Nowadays it is really hard to find time and places that can still experience that.

Guest of The Nature Place

Everything was amazing. The food was great, and I appreciated the allergies being accommodated. The facilitators for the outdoor activities were great. They enhanced the experience so much, making it feel safe and enjoyable, even when going outside one’s comfort zone.

Parent of Sanborn Camper

One of the best things about Sanborn is it gives our daughter a chance to be independent in a way that no other kids get to be, and that kids even in Denver where we live have an opportunity to be. And our daughter is really, really independent. This gives her a chance to do things on a scale that she loves. As a result of her experiences at Sanborn, she’s become a rock climber in the last year. She’s continued to hike Fourteeners, and she’s continued to become a fierce outdoors woman and loves to camp.

Middle School Teacher

I was very impressed at how the discovery groups were still very informative and fun for the students when they only got two half-day groups. The HTOEC instructors and high school counselors all were very engaging and kept the students captivated.

Guest of The Nature Place

I found the facility to be great, very clean, comfortable, and a beautiful site, yoga on the lawn in front of the auditorium with the sun rising at 7am was amazing. Room was great and comfortable.

Events

Fall 2026 Open House

Do you live in or are planning to visit Colorado this fall? You are cordially invited to join us for our inagural Fall 2026 Open House on Friday, October 16th, 2026. We will have guided walking tours of either Big Spring Ranch for Boys or High Trails Ranch for Girls, located in Florissant, CO. Tours will be available, on the hour, from 9am-3p. Feel free to pop in and visit one or both camp locations, meet our staff teams, and check out the facilities (you may even check out the new 4-story treehouse!).

Sanborn Alum Work Day 2027

Date to be announced soon!

About COEC