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"Education must become the number one priority of the world. It is no longer enough to understand the past or even the present. Man must learn to anticipate direction and change, and teachers must help students acquire knowledge, ethical standards, and lifestyles which recognize man's personal responsibility to a quality environment."
Roger Stuart Calvert (pictured at right in 1964)
Photo by Dr. Oakleigh Thorne, II
Our Mission Statement
To offer a unique outdoor educational experience to youth and adults in a manner that will carry on the vision of Roger and Oral Calvert. To this end Cal-Wood's goals are: 1) to help all who come to Cal-Wood develop a greater appreciation or the natural world; 2) to offer environmental education to those who would not otherwise experience it; and 3) to provide unique outdoor education opportunities in a special mountain setting.
A Brief History of Cal-Wood
The Calvert's bequeathed their Boulder County foothills ranch in the late 1970's, along with an endowment, to the Pilot Trust with a vision that their land be used as a place for people to learn about the environment. Shortly thereafter, their special 1,000-acre mountain property was established as a private, non-profit education center called Cal-Wood. The name Cal-Wood honors and combines the names of Calvert and Larry Wood, a close friend who was instrumental in the establishment of the organization. Cal-Wood Education Center has now conducted programs for over twenty-five years that honor the Calvert's love for sharing nature with others, particularly children. Cal-Wood remains owned and operated by the Pilot Trust.
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The early 1990's saw Cal-Wood shift its programmatic emphasis towards innovative professional development and adult programs, typically incorporating conservation themes. In 1994 a difficult, but necessary, decision was made by the trustees to cease operations for a few years and let the land rest. Rafael Salgado, Cal-Wood's current Executive Director, was hired in 1998 to re-start operations. Under his leadership, Cal-Wood re-established school programs as the organizations' focus, specifically outreaching to low-income, multi-cultural groups. Additionally, we continue to support our mission through collaborative efforts with a variety of organizations on trainings, retreats, and camps.
In October of 2003 Cal-Wood made a significant and permanent commitment as stewards of this valuable foothills ecosystem. In cooperation with Boulder County Parks and Open Space a conservation easement was placed on the Cal-Wood property! This easement ensures that Cal-Wood will never be significantly developed and will always be a pristine environmental and educational resource. Likewise, it will empower Cal-Wood to practice the best possible conservation approach that honors the integrity and future history of this magnificent land.
Please visit the Cal-Wood News page for more info.
Where We Are
Cal-Wood is located on 1,200 acres of ponderosa pine and spruce/fir forest, at elevation 7,800 feet, surrounded by the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest . Abundant wild life includes deer, elk, mountain lion, black bear, bobcat, coyote, and countless species of birds and small mammals. We are 15 miles northwest of downtown Boulder , just outside Jamestown , Colorado . Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains , Cal-Wood is within an easy drive of the greater Denver-Boulder metropolitan area - 35 minutes from Boulder and just one hour from downtown Denver.
Download Map/Directions to Cal-Wood
Cal-Wood trail map
Cal-Wood aerial map