Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge provides a unique experience for youth of all ages to learn about wildlife in their natural habitat throughout the year. Its close proximity to the Denver metro area makes it an ideal destination for hands-on outdoor learning.

Field Trips

Take your students on a field trip to a National Wildlife Refuge to view and learn about the wildlife and habitat anytime of the year. Each field trip is grade specific and correlated to Colorado Model Content Standards.

Teacher-led field trips to the Refuge are typically self-guided. The Refuge requires a ratio of 1 adult to every 10 students. There are outdoor lunch facilities available for use. 

Depending on selected dates, rangers may be available to lead a 20-minute refuge introduction. Due to the high demand of our free field trip visits and limited space*, all educators and group leaders are required to schedule their group's trip in advance with the Urban Park Ranger. Scheduling is available the following time: 

  • September through May: Wednesday through Friday from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, 

For availability and scheduling, contact the Refuge at RockyMountainArsenal@fws.gov.

*Priority given to Title I Schools 

Fieldtrip Introduction (K-5)

Have a fieldtrip scheduled to RMA? Show this introduction video to your students before your trip! 

The video will go over what to expect and some rules to follow while at the Refuge:

English - https://vimeo.com/902361244/ecfc3733bf?share=copy

Español - https://vimeo.com/912284305/eea6846dee?share=copy

Fieldtrip Guides (K-7)

  • K-1 Teacher-Led Guide

Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Grades K-1 Teacher Led Guide
K-1 Teacher-Led Guide

After completing this guide, students will be able to:

Identify elements of nature found on the Refuge by completing a scavenger hunt.Illustrate an imaginary animal with physical adaptations (body parts) to help it surviveSelect what plants and animals need to live and...
  • K-1 Teacher-Led Trail Hike

Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Grades K-1 Teacher Led Trail Hike English.pdf
K-1 Teacher-Led Trail Hike 

After completing this guided hike, students will be able to:

Illustrate elements of nature that they see, hear, smell, and touchRecord Refuge flora and fauna observed on your hikeAnalyze and distinguish wildlife signs such as tracks and scat along the...
Guía de Excursión en Español para Grados K-1 del Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR.pdf
Caminata K-1 en Español guiada por maestros 

Después de completar esta caminata guiada, los estudiantes podrán:

Ilustrar los elementos de la naturaleza que ven, oyen, huelen y tocan.Registrar la flora y fauna del refugio observadas durante la caminata.Analizar y distinguir señales de...
  • Grades 2-3 Teacher-Led Guide

Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Grades 2-3 Teacher Led Booklet.pdf
Grades 2-3 Teacher-Led Guide

After Completing this guide, students will be able to:

Identify how living in groups helps prairie dogs obtain food, defend themselves, and cope with changesDistinguish how different organisms live in different placesInfer that different organisms vary in how they...
  • Grades 2-3 Teacher-Led Trail Hike

Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Grades 2-3 Teacher Led Hike English.pdf
Grades 2-3 Teacher-Led Trail Hike

After completing this guide, students will be able to:

Translate using Spanish to describe how many and what color plants and animals live in the prairieDescribe and list adaptations that help black-footed ferrets avoid predators or catch prey, and why they...
Guía de Excursión en Español para Grados 2-3 del Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR..pdf
Caminata 2-3 en Español guiada por maestros 

Después de completar esta guía, los estudiantes podrán:

Traducir usando el ingles para describir cuántas plantas y animales, y de qué color, viven en la pradera.Describir y enumerar las adaptaciones que ayudan a los hurones de patas negras a...
  • Grades 4-5 Teacher-Led Guide

Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Grades 4-5 Teacher Led Booklet.pdf
Grades 4-5 Teacher-Led Guide

After completing this guide, students will be able to:

Recognize that societal activities have had major effects on land, ocean, atmosphere, and even outer spaceCompare how living things have similar characteristics, but also differences that can be described and...
  • Grades 4-5 Teacher-Led Trail Hike

Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Grades 4-5 Teacher Led Trail Hike English.pdf
Grades 4-5 Teacher-Led Trail Hike

After completing this guide, students will be able to:

Record the weather and explain how the weather can affect what plants and animals you may seeDistinguish which birds are here during different seasonsPractice translating aquatic terms to English or...
Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Grades 4-5 Teacher Led Trail Hike Spanish.pdf
Grades 4-5 Teacher-Led Trail Hike Spanish

Después de completar esta guía, los estudiantes podrán:

Registrar el clima y explicar cómo afecta a las plantas y animales que pueden observarDistinguir qué aves hay aquí durante las diferentes estaciones.Practicar la traducción de términos acuáticos...
  • Grades 6-7 Teacher-Led Guide

Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR Grades 6-7 Teacher Led Booklet.pdf
Grades 6-7 Teacher-Led Guide

After completing this guide, students will be able to:

Relate how changes in environmental conditions can affect the survival of individual organisms, populations, and entire speciesShow how Earth's natural resources provide the foundation for human society's...