Big wilderness. Sharp eyes. Four happy paws. Join outdoor educator Carolyn King and her trusty trail dog, Dandy, on an interactive journey through the wild mountains, rivers, and canyons of Northwest Colorado.

Full Description & Course Overview

Welcome to Carolyn & Dandy’s Great Outdoors Discovery School, where the Rocky Mountain backcountry becomes an open-air classroom for curious young explorers. Designed specifically for kids ages 6 to 14, our online adventure courses blend real-world outdoor exploration with engaging, self-paced digital learning.

Guided by Carolyn King and her keen-nosed canine partner, Dandy Da Dog, students venture across the diverse landscapes of Routt, Moffat, and Rio Blanco counties. From tracking elk through the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and uncovering ancient fossils in Moffat County’s canyons, to discovering river ecology along the Yampa and spotting wild mustangs in Sand Wash Basin, each course turns nature study into an unforgettable detective mission.

What Makes Our Discovery School Unique:

• Interactive Wildlife Challenges: Kids learn real animal tracking, wilderness safety, geology, and leave-no-trace ethics through fun video lessons and quizzes.

• Hands-On Field Logs: Printable companion worksheets and offline outdoor assignments get children away from the screen and exploring their own backyards and local trails.

• Earn Badges & Certificates: Young trackers unlock official downloadable badges, certificates, and achievements stamped by Dandy himself as they complete modules.

• Family-Friendly & Flexible: Perfect for homeschool curriculums, weekend trail prep, or young nature lovers eager to explore the American West.

Lace up your hiking boots, pack your detective kit, and join Carolyn and Dandy on the trail today. Adventure is waiting just outside your front door!

Short Social Media / Ad Blurb

Turn trail walks into wildlife investigations! At Carolyn & Dandy’s Great Outdoors Discovery School, kids learn animal tracking, river science, and wilderness skills across Colorado’s wild country. Enroll your junior explorer today to start earning field badges and tracking clues with Dandy Da Dog!

Course 1: Dandy’s Wildlife Detective Academy

Setting: Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest (Routt County) & Flat Tops Wilderness (Rio Blanco County)

Target Age: 6–10

Focus: Identifying local animals, tracking clues, and understanding native habitats.

• Module 1: Paws, Claws, and Hooves – Distinguishing between elk, moose, black bear, mountain lion, and mule deer tracks.

• Module 2: Scat, Scratches, and Homes – How to spot beaver dams on the Yampa River, bear claw marks on aspen trees, and raptor nests.

• Module 3: The Wild Horse Secret – Discovering the wild mustang herds of Sand Wash Basin in Moffat County.

• Tutor LMS Pro Features:

  • Kids Mode: Simplified dashboard for young explorers.

  • Pin-an-Image & Matching Quizzes: Kids click directly on animal tracks to match them with the right creature.

  • Assignment Upload: “Backyard Tracker” assignment where kids photograph or draw tracks in their local area and submit them for feedback.

  • Reward: Certified Junior Wildlife Tracker custom certificate with Dandy’s paw print.

Course 2: Fossil Hunters & Canyon Explorers

Setting: Dinosaur National Monument & Browns Park (Moffat County)

Target Age: 7–12

Focus: Geology, paleontology, canyon formation, and prehistoric creatures.

• Module 1: Time Travel to the Jurassic – The ancient dinosaurs of Moffat County (Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, and Camarasaurus).

• Module 2: How Water Carves Stone – How the Green and Yampa Rivers carved dramatic canyons over millions of years.

• Module 3: Rock Hound Basics – Identifying sedimentary layers, river stones, and fossil impressions.

• Tutor LMS Pro Features:

  • H5P / Multimedia Integration: Interactive 360° virtual canyon tours and fossil digs embedded into lessons.

  • Audio Assignments: Kids record short audio clips describing their favorite dinosaur fossil discovery.

  • Reward: Master Junior Paleontologist badge & printable field pass.

Course 3: River Runners & Splash Science

Setting: The Yampa & White Rivers (Routt, Moffat, and Rio Blanco Counties)

Target Age: 8–13

Focus: Watershed ecology, native fish conservation, and river safety.

• Module 1: The Last Free-Flowing Giant – What makes the wild Yampa River unique and how snowpack in Steamboat Springs feeds the river basin.

• Module 2: Underwater Neighbors – Native endangered fish (Colorado Pikeminnow, Razorback Sucker) vs. trout species.

• Module 3: River Safety & Leave No Trace – Life jacket safety, river etiquette, and keeping Colorado waters clean.

• Tutor LMS Pro Features:

  • Content Drip: Release weekly modules before a weekend family river or lake trip.

  • Video Lessons: Embedded trailside micro-videos of Carolyn and Dandy near the water.

  • True/False & Puzzle Quizzes: Interactive water-safety scenarios.

  • Reward: River Steward Certificate of Completion.

Course 4: Dandy’s Trail Survival & Outdoor Skills

Setting: Flat Tops Trail / Routt County Backcountry

Target Age: 8–14

Focus: Practical mountain safety, map navigation, and wilderness preparedness.

• Module 1: The 10 Essentials in Carolyn’s Backpack – What every young hiker needs, plus safety gear for trail dogs like Dandy.

• Module 2: Reading the Mountains – Basic topographic map reading, compass orientation, and using landmarks (like Sleeping Giant or Hahn’s Peak).

• Module 3: Mountain Weather & Shelter – Afternoon lightning drills, staying warm in sudden Rocky Mountain temperature drops, and basic knot-tying.

• Tutor LMS Pro Features:

  • Prerequisites: Require completion of safety video lessons before taking practical trail quizzes.

  • Parent-Child Companion Worksheets: Downloadable PDF checklists via lesson attachments.

  • Reward: Wilderness Pathfinder Badge.

Course 5: Four Seasons of Northwest Colorado Nature Art

Setting: Aspen groves and sagebrush valleys across all three counties

Target Age: 5–11

Focus: Observational journaling, wildflower identification, and winter snow science.

• Module 1: Wildflowers of the High Country – Identifying Columbine, Indian Paintbrush, and Sagebrush.

• Module 2: Autumn of Gold – Why aspen leaves turn vibrant yellow in the Routt National Forest.

• Module 3: Snow Patrol – How snow protects animals beneath the drifts and identifying winter animal adaptations.

• Tutor LMS Pro Features:

  • Visual Assignment Gallery: Students upload drawings or pressed plant pages directly into the platform.

  • Image Draw/Tagging Quizzes: Children label plant parts and leaf shapes interactively.

  • Reward: Junior Naturalist & Trail Artist Certificate