October Newsletter: Fall Has Been Busy at Coombs Outdoors!
While Coombs programs traditionally take a break between summer and winter, this fall we’ve launched our first season of after school programs to continue to support our kids and families during an unconventional school year with limited classroom time.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, the new Coombs Fall Program extends outdoor opportunities for kids K-12 as well as providing a quiet space for students to work on homework and participate in online school, away from the distractions of home.
Elementary and middle school groups meet twice a week after school, while high school students meet once a week (all day on Fridays) when they’re off school completely. Middle and high schoolers use the first half of programs as study hall, followed by an outdoor activity in town or along the trails nearby.
"We heard from Middle School teachers that kids are struggling to turn in work online this year,” said Laura Gaylord, Program Manager. “Now, since the start of programs, participants have started turning in assignments on time and arriving to class prepared. In addition to providing a quiet and productive space without cellphones we are also able to help students reach out to their teachers via email to improve communication and make sure they are doing all they can to maintain their grades"
“I actually do my homework because otherwise I get distracted at home”
“It’s a great way for me to get out of my house, otherwise I am stuck there all day and bored”
-Coombs Middle School Participants
To make this all happen, we rented the other half of our office building—the new Coombs Room—to create a spacious and welcoming environment for kids to visit and spend time doing homework.
After study hall, outdoor activities are different each day, including kick ball, scavenger hunts, trail work, fly fishing lessons, TCSAR workshops, and more. Here are a few of the highlights!
"Students told me they were excited about having a place to study and some of them had their homework turned in on time for the first time"
- Brianna Olivares, Jackson Hole Middle School Spanish Teacher and Coombs Volunteer
Fly fishing on the Snake River with Jackson Hole Fly Fishing School.
Trail work in the Bridger-Teton National Forest with Mountain Bike the Tetons.
Thank you to the Community Foundation for making fall programs possible!
A generous grant from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole helped Coombs Outdoors cover the cost of a new van, the new Coombs Room, and fall program staff.
An additional thank you to our program partners for donating equipment and activities for all fall outdoor programs!
Mountain Bike the Tetons, Jackson Hole Fly Fishing School, Rendezvous River Sports, Hoback Sports, Wheel Wranglers, Teton County School District, Teton Conservation District, Hole Bowl, Teton Science Schools, Slow Food in the Tetons, Teton Raptor Center, Wildlife Art Museum