ABOUT US
vision + approach
Post Pigeon is a nonprofit organization working to increase exposure and access to the outdoors by bringing public lands and leadership into the classroom, virtually.
Our Mission
Our programs help students get introduced to and curious about the outdoors, connected to outdoor leaders who can answer their questions, and inspired to get involved as stewards of their own communities.
Our Vision
We want to change the idea of where "access" to the outdoors begins. By meeting students where they already are, we can transform classrooms into hubs of exploration, discovery, and adventure for the next generation of explorers and planetary stewards.
Our overarching vision is for students to develop a lifelong relationship with the outdoors, using our org's in-classroom activations and connections to National Parks as the entryway. By unleashing the curiosity of students and galvanizing young leaders that reflect the image of our nation, we can build a world where all students feel safe and welcomed in the outdoors.
Our Story
Post Pigeon began with a couple of big questions:
🌎How can we help ignite the next generation of planetary stewards?
💡What if EVERY student could explore America’s public lands—without leaving their classroom?
🔍How do we put student voice and curiosity at the center of these questions?
Post Pigeon is a proud Colorado organization based in Boulder County. Our founding team brought together a diverse set of experiences and skillsets, united by a shared mission to create opportunities for young people to get curious, get connected, and get involved with our public lands.
Our Founding Team
Valerie Quirk
The idea for Post Pigeon EDU began in the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education where Co-Founder Valerie pursued her M.S.Ed, studying inequities in public lands access for historically marginalized communities. While she had few experiences with public lands and outdoor recreation as a child, Valerie fell in love with National Parks, public lands, and the outdoors in adulthood. Upon completion of her degree, Valerie moved back to Colorado to dive headfirst into Post Pigeon.
Bryce Peterson
Born and raised in Boulder County, Bryce grew up immersed in the outdoors and remains a passionate advocate for connecting young people with the natural world. Bryce comes from a technology and operations background. He built our platform that enables automated program delivery and correspondence between classrooms and Parks, among other things.
Paula Haskins
A Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) for over 35 years, Paula started her career as a 5th grade educator at Pioneer Elementary (now Escuela Bilingüe Pioneer Elementary), retiring as an esteemed Literacy Specialist at Alicia Sanchez Elementary in Lafayette. Paula was dedicated throughout her career to empowering her students and elevating their voices – bringing innovative, student-centered opportunities to her classrooms and afterschool enrichment programs.
Our Mission
Our programs help students get introduced to and curious about the outdoors, connected to outdoor leaders who can answer their questions, and inspired to get involved as leaders and stewards of their own communities.
Our Vision
We want to change the idea of where "access" to the outdoors begins. By meeting students where they already are, we can transform classrooms into hubs of exploration, discovery, and adventure for the next generation of explorers and planetary stewards.
Our overarching vision is for students to develop a lifelong relationship with the outdoors, using our org's in-classroom activations and connections to National Parks as the entryway. By unleashing the curiosity of students and galvanizing young leaders that reflect the image of our nation, we can build a world where all students feel safe and welcomed in the outdoors.
Our Mission
Our programs help students get introduced to and curious about the outdoors, connected to outdoor leaders who can answer their questions, and inspired to get involved as stewards of their own communities.
Our Vision
We want to change the idea of where "access" to the outdoors begins. By meeting students where they already are, we can transform classrooms into hubs of exploration, discovery, and adventure for the next generation of explorers and planetary stewards.
Our overarching vision is for students to develop a lifelong relationship with the outdoors, using our org's in-classroom activations and connections to National Parks as the entryway. By unleashing the curiosity of students and galvanizing young leaders that reflect the image of our nation, we can build a world where all students feel safe and welcomed in the outdoors.
Our Approach
Since the beginning we have engaged with educators, students, National Park Rangers, outdoor education leaders, and our extended community members to learn, collaborate, and partner to create and continuously improve our programs. Co-creation and collaboration are at the center of everything that we do.
Get Curious.
Through our free educational curriculum, students are introduced to National Parks and the importance of environmental stewardship, in addition to learning about the flora, fauna, history, and geology of their selected park.
Get Connected.
Educators then engage their students’ curiosity through inquiry-centered activities, and get student questions answered by National Park Rangers and other outdoor leaders from across the country in the form of personalized, asynchronous video messages.
Get Involved.
After connecting with a National Park Ranger, students are then asked to investigate how they can become environmental stewards and advocates for the green spaces in their own community. Lastly, we then connect students to programs that will get them physically outdoors, at a free or reduced cost.
Get Curious.
Through our free educational curriculum, students are introduced to National Parks and the importance of environmental stewardship, in addition to learning about the flora, fauna, history, and geology of their selected park.
Get Connected.
Educators then engage their students’ curiosity through inquiry-centered activities, and get student questions answered by National Park Rangers and other outdoor leaders from across the country in the form of personalized, asynchronous video messages.
Get Involved.
After connecting with a National Park Ranger, students are then asked to investigate how they can become environmental stewards and advocates for the green spaces in their own community. Lastly, we then connect students to programs that will get them physically outdoors, at a free or reduced cost.
Our Ecosystem
While we hope to serve as an entryway for students to get curious about the outdoors, we also recognize the importance of real-world experiences in our public lands other incredible organizations in our ecosystem provide. If Post Pigeon acts as the spark, these organizations focused on bringing people physically into these places can serve as the fire that sustains a lifelong relationship with our public lands and the outdoors. We work to connect our classrooms with these orgs and contribute to an ecosystem of exposure, experience, and access.
Our Ecosystem
While we hope to serve as an entryway for students to get curious about the outdoors, we also recognize the importance of real-world experiences in our public lands other incredible organizations in our ecosystem provide. If Post Pigeon acts as the spark, these organizations focused on bringing people physically into these places can serve as the fire that sustains a lifelong relationship with our public lands and the outdoors. We work to connect our classrooms with these orgs and contribute to an ecosystem of exposure, experience, and access.
A note from our founders…
Hello!
Valerie and Bryce here.
We are beyond excited to have you here! As devoted outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers ourselves, we are grateful everyday that we get to share this excitement and passion with new students.
We are constantly inspired by the thoughtful, poignant, and often hilarious questions kids ask in our programs every single day. Ultimately, we believe wholeheartedly in lifelong learning, cultivating curiosity, and students having a big voice in shaping the direction of their own education and ultimately, world.
Keep exploring!
-Valerie and Bryce
A note from our founders…
Hello!
Valerie and Bryce here.
We are beyond excited to have you here! As devoted outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers ourselves, we are grateful everyday that we get to share this excitement and passion with new students.
We are constantly inspired by the thoughtful, poignant, and often hilarious questions kids ask in our programs every single day. Ultimately, we believe wholeheartedly in lifelong learning, cultivating curiosity, and students having a big voice in shaping the direction of their own education and ultimately, world.
Keep exploring!
-Valerie and Bryce
QUESTIONS?
Have questions about our program?
Interested in a potential partnership?
Want to get involved?
Reach out!