Empowering the Next Generation
Photos courtesy of The Keystone Center
One hundred fifty years ago, Old Keystone Village in the Snake River Valley was a bustling sawmill and railroad station serving the transport needs of nearby mining camps. Crumbling cabins, revered for their history, stand side by side the modern log structures of the Keystone Science School.
The 23-acre campus of the school has a commanding view of the Tenmile and Gore Mountain Ranges, and is within walking distance of the Keystone stables. Such a dynamic setting stunningly is conducive to learning.
Well on its way to building its own history, the 32-year-old science school was spawned by the prestigious Keystone Center, the brainchild of Robert W. Craig. And this is where our story begins.
THE KEYSTONE CENTER
Albert Einstein once said, “Solving the big problems we now face cannot be done with the same kind of thinking that got us into these problems.” That statement has held water at any point in history, and still does today.
This, in a nutshell, was the genesis of The Keystone Center, founded in 1975 to ensure present and future generations approach environmental and scientific dilemmas and 
disagreements creatively and productively. In simpler terms, a think tank. And, in this case, a highly esteemed think tank.
Its critically acclaimed reputation is worldwide in scope, attracting leaders from around the globe to its symposiums at Keystone Resort and Washington D.C. Thanks to funding from the Rockefeller and Ford Foundation, the Center recently conducted an esoteric dialogue in “International Implications of High Level Radioactive Waste Management” involving the U.S. Department of State, representatives from Japan, Germany, Sweden, France, Canada, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Robert W. Craig, founder and president emeritus of the Keystone Center explains, “What has and still does distinguish The Keystone Center has been its ability to select and have at the table the best representatives of all parties at interest in a particular issue.”
Craig adds, “We’re proud of our work with the National Environmental Policy Act in resolving to clean air and water and identifying endangered species. We’ve enabled policies to go forward rather than become tied up in courts.”
Before founding The Keystone Center, Craig was executive director and vice president of the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies and co-founder of the Aspen Center for Physics in that resort town to the west of Summit County.
The Center’s projects deal with everything from forest stewardship to working with NASA on potential environmental concerns about future missions to Mars.
Recently, Center president Peter Adler went halfway around the globe to help broker a solution to the devastating pollution created in the Papua New Guinea’s OK Tedi River from the workings in a nearby mine.
Adler is author of Eye of the Storm Leadership, which deals with the art and politics of managing human conflicts. The Keystone Center’s president states, “As we look ahead, we see a growing list of science-intensive political problems that will command future attention. These include emerging technologies, genetically modified organisms, social risk, energy challenges, hunger and malnutrition in the developing world, as well as preparing our future leaders for careers in science and technology.”
EXPANDING THE CENTER
It was clear almost from the start that The Keystone Center needed to divide itself in two:
The Center For Science And Public Policy would solve tough problems using scientific reasoning and proven dispute techniques.
The Professional Education And Leadership programs would train the next generation by writing specific curricula on environmental issues and training middle level teachers and their students. These professional development programs educate 200 teachers and 4,000 intermediate and high school students annually at the campus of the Keystone Science School.
THE KEYSTONE SCIENCE SCHOOL
This unique science school has been a successful branch of the Keystone Center since 1976 with its school groups and summer youth programs.
Its Youth Policy Summit program selects 40 students from ten different schools around the country to work with the science school in partnership with the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology. The staff conducts summits discussing topics such as sustainable energy in transportation, energy efficiency, childhood and adolescent nutrition, and obesity in America.
Ellen Reid, director of the Keystone Science School, is impressed with the impassioned interest by students in this program. In weeklong sessions, high school students work with policy mediators, and present research to each other, as well as to a panel of experts. Through this process, they learn mediation, problem solving and negotiation skills. During one summit on energy efficiency in America, the students’ research was so impressive, the panel of experts agreed that the students would put them out of a job soon.” Reid attributes the success of this program to its bridge between the Keystone Center and the science school.
Many students in the past four years of the Youth Policy Summit program have pursued a career in politics, law or mediation as a result of their experience in the Keystone Science School.
Another program, the School Groups, offers theme-based curriculum tailored to each school’s academic level. The program combines teaching science concepts, team building and scientific research, beneficial for the classroom teacher together with his or her students.
Teachers choose themes that align with their curriculum: forest ecology, fire ecology environmental issues, wolf management, aquatic ecology, mining and water quality environmental issues, and earth science or snow science. Each of these themes is aligned with Colorado Science Standards for kindergarten through 12th grades.
Craig stresses his passion in stimulating the interest of school children in the environment that molds our future. He boasts, “I take pride in the fact that the scope of the programs of the Keystone Science School has been replicated by schools across the country.”
For more information, call The Keystone Center at 970-513-5800, the Keystone Science School at 970-468-2098, or visit www.keystone.org.
Lillian Ross has worked in New York publishing, Montana ad agencies, and the Colorado ski industry. She also has been a travel correspondent for The Denver Post.
The Summer Youth Programs of the Keystone Science School open the doors to discovery for children 6 to 11 years. Visitors on vacation or full-time residents can enroll in one-day to four-day programs, some of which involve camping in the great outdoors.
Joel Egbert, Summer Camp and Outreach director, boasts the doubling size of the summer camp enrollment. “The kids are so enthusiastic about our summer programs, partly because of our new observatory. Mr. Craig donated a yurt complete with a great telescope; kids are lined up every evening to study the heavens.”
The schools many programs include:
DAY CAMP PROGRAM for the 6- to 11-year-old crowd. Just right for budding adventurers who love the outdoors, but may not be ready for overnights away from home. Choose to come for one day or each day of these weeklong theme sessions. Cost is $275 per week or $60 per day ($75 for adventure days).
Awesome Animal Adventures, June 23-June 27. Discover how so many creatures live together and how we humans fit into the puzzle.
Celebration Sensation, June 30-July 3. Celebrate nature–rivers, trees, wildflowers.
Time Twist Explosion, July 7-July 11. Build a time machine; visit historic sites and venture back to dinosaur days or journey to the future.
Soak and Slimy Super Heroes, July 14-July 18. Prepare to get soaked during amazing experiments.
Party Like a Rock Star, July 21-July 25. Learn about Colorado geology and daytime astronomy. The week includes an overnight observatory experience.
Pirates in Paradise, July 28-August 1. Rafting is included in this week of discovering the treasures of the science school.
DISCOVERY CAMP, for ages 7 to 13. Campers go whitewater rafting, backpacking, wilderness camping and set their sights to the sky, learning about birds, weather and astronomy. Sessions are June 23-28, July 7-12, July 14-19, July 21-26, and July 28-August 2. Cost is $600 per camper.
COUNSELOR ASSISTANT PROGRAM, for teens 14 to 17 years. An application of intent is required for this leadership development program. These future counselors assist in leading programs and organizing activities. This program is available for all dates of the Discovery Camp and the June 30-July 3 Introduction to Discovery. Cost is $450 per counselor assistant.
KEYSTONE MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES, for teens age 13-17. A training/adventure program combining leadership skills in a wilderness expedition package. Each ten-day session includes backpacking and whitewater rafting. Choose July 23-July 2, July 7-July 16, or July 21-July 30. Cost is $1000 per adventurer.
Scholarships are available for all programs. Accommodations are modern and meals are chef-prepared. To register for programs, call 970-468-2098. For more information, visit www.keystone.org.
For the Scientists of Tomorrow
The Summer Youth Programs of the Keystone Science School open the doors to discovery for children 6 to 11 years. Visitors on vacation or full-time residents can enroll in 
one-day to four-day programs, some of which involve camping in the great outdoors.
Joel Egbert, Summer Camp and Outreach director, boasts the doubling size of the summer camp enrollment. “The kids are so enthusiastic about our summer programs, partly because of our new observatory. Mr. Craig donated a yurt complete with a great telescope; kids are lined up every evening to study the heavens.”
The schools many programs include:
DAY CAMP PROGRAM for the 6- to 11-year-old crowd. Just right for budding adventurers who love the outdoors, but may not be ready for overnights away from home. Choose to come for one day or each day of these weeklong theme sessions. Cost is $275 per week or $60 per day ($75 for adventure days).
Awesome Animal Adventures, June 23-June 27. Discover how so many creatures live together and how we humans fit into the puzzle.
Celebration Sensation, June 30-July 3. Celebrate nature–rivers, trees, wildflowers.
Time Twist Explosion, July 7-July 11. Build a time machine; visit historic sites and venture back to dinosaur days or journey to the future.
Soak and Slimy Super Heroes, July 14-July 18. Prepare to get soaked during amazing experiments.
Party Like a Rock Star, July 21-July 25. Learn about Colorado geology and daytime astronomy. The week includes an overnight observatory experience.
Pirates in Paradise, July 28-August 1. Rafting is included in this week of discovering the treasures of the science school.
DISCOVERY CAMP, for ages 7 to 13. Campers go whitewater rafting, backpacking, wilderness camping and set their sights to the sky, learning about birds, weather and astronomy. Sessions are June 23-28, July 7-12, July 14-19, July 21-26, and July 28-August 2. Cost is $600 per camper.
COUNSELOR ASSISTANT PROGRAM, for teens 14 to 17 years. An application of intent is required for this leadership development program. These future counselors assist in leading programs and organizing activities. This program is available for all dates of the Discovery Camp and the June 30-July 3 Introduction to Discovery. Cost is $450 per counselor assistant.
KEYSTONE MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES, for teens age 13-17. A training/adventure program combining leadership skills in a wilderness expedition package. Each ten-day session includes backpacking and whitewater rafting. Choose July 23-July 2, July 7-July 16, or July 21-July 30. Cost is $1000 per adventurer.
Scholarships are available for all programs. Accommodations are modern and meals are chef-prepared. To register for programs, call 970-468-2098. For more information, visit www.keystone.org.
