We’ve all heard the statistics about record levels of obesity, ADD, diabetes, and heart disease; but these blights of the modern era of fast food, always-on electronic media, and an ever more sedentary lifestyle may not necessarily be associated in our minds with a decline in performance in the sciences and engineering. They should be.

For Stacie Gilmore, Director of Environmental Learning for Kids, the current health and science crises are two sides of the same coin. When she sees a school full of kids who have never stepped along the banks of a Colorado river or hiked a Fourteener, she sees both a medical and educational crisis, and one that disproportionally affects the urban poor, many of whom rarely visit a city park much less a blooming mountain meadow.

In an effort to reverse the dangerous trend of neglecting our own connection to the outdoors, Stacie and her husband Scott started Environmental Learning for Kids in 1996. Their goal was to not only expose kids to the wonder and beauty of the outdoors, but to give them the guidance and mentoring that would foster in them a love for science and a sense of stewardship for the natural world. It’s a one-two punch to inspire an environmental ethic in kids whose ecological and career horizons are otherwise limited.

Kids in ELK are encouraged to ask questions about the world of bugs, fish, and birds so that they can take their new passion and understanding into whatever field they choose to pursue. Their mentoring programs help kids find traction in the world of college applications standardized tests, moving them toward a career that is driven by their passions but never loses sight of the importance of conservation and stewardship.

To meet Stacie and hear more about her remarkable work, check out the video below.

If you are interested in volunteering or donating to ELK, we would encourage you to check out their site, www.elkkids.org. Keep an eye on the Beanstalk website and Facebook page for more from this incredible organization, as well as incredible local leaders doing all kinds of good work.