About the Poudre Learning Center
Our History
A trip up the valley from Greeley reveals numerous channels that the Poudre River has carved into the surrounding high plains topography. For millennia, the Poudre meandered across this nearly flat prairie, shaping the land and supporting the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (Sioux Nation), Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute), hinono’eino’ biito’owu’ (Arapaho), Ndé Kónitsąąíí Gokíyaa (Lipan Apache), and Tséstho’e (Cheyenne) peoples, who have long stewarded this region. The river's waters nourished their communities, and its surrounding landscapes held deep cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance.
With the arrival of Union Colony homesteaders, the Poudre River landscape was altered. Farmers recognized that straightening the river could expand the amount of farmable land, which led to significant modifications to its natural flow. One such channelized section was the Poudre Learning Center site, located west of 83rd Avenue. According to local farmers, teams of horses and plows trenched this area, enabling many years of agricultural use by homesteading families.
In 1986, Hall-Irwin Corporation purchased the site and began gravel mining operations, extracting material for roads, concrete foundations, trails, and roadbeds across the region. The resulting gravel pit was later repurposed as a water storage reservoir for the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District. Recognizing the importance of environmental education, Hall-Irwin Corporation donated 65 acres of Poudre River riparian land to the local community.
In the 1990s, a group of educators and naturalists, led by former director Ray Tschillard, began to envision the Poudre Learning Center as a dedicated space for hands-on environmental education. Their goal was to create a place where students could experience the natural world firsthand, while also providing a space for community members to enjoy nature without leaving Weld County. Rotary clubs, businesses, school districts, and community members came together to support the founding of the PLC. Through these collective efforts, the former Hazelton School was reassembled on the PLC site in the early 2000s.
Poudre Learning Center Today
Today, the Poudre Learning Center continues to offer outdoor education experiences, inspiring curiosity, stewardship, and a deeper connection to the natural world through its dedicated team. Since its beginning in 2005, the number of students visiting the Poudre Learning Center has grown and currently, the PLC sees nearly 10,000 K-12 students visiting each school year. The Poudre Learning Center Foundation funds the Field Experience Ambassador program which leads students in these experiences.
Community Involvement
The Poudre Learning Center partners with industries and communities to enhance their professional development. Organizations include Ember Alliance, school district teams, El Pomar Foundation, Weld Trust, Poudre River Trail Corridor, Weld Community Foundation, BOCES, and Greeley Parks, Recreation and Museums. Much of this work crosses over with the Poudre Learning Center Foundation and creates fundraising opportunities as well.
The impact ranges from 17 to over 500 people depending on the event and crosses over into the PLC educational side as well.
The PLC also partners with CSU, UNC, FRCC, AIMS, Weld County Youth Core and Advocates for disabled adults to provide extension opportunities for their programs. During the 2024-2025 school year the PLC hosted around 500 people on site for these programs and field experiences.