Garfield Re-2 Launches Outdoor Recreation Pathway at Coal Ridge

Glenwood Springs —Garfield Re-2 is betting big on the idea that a high school diploma shouldn't be the end of the road. It should be the start.

The district recently got the green light from the Colorado Department of Education for two new career-connected learning pathways. One is exercise science at Rifle High School. The other is outdoor recreation leadership at Coal Ridge High School.

This isn't a sudden pivot. It's the latest move in a two-year push to tie classroom lessons to real-world jobs. The district has already rolled out programs in health sciences, engineering, business, and tech. Now they're adding muscle to the outdoor and wellness sectors.

Make no mistake, this matters for local employers. The region needs workers who understand the terrain and the body.

At Coal Ridge, students won't just read about rivers. They'll take classes in fly fishing, rock climbing, and river guiding. At Rifle, the focus shifts to the human machine. New courses cover coding, entrepreneurship, and IB Exercise Science.

Jacob Pingel, the district's director of secondary curriculum, frames it simply. He wants students to see what's possible before they leave campus. Every pathway is designed to let them test-drive a career. They get to talk to pros, build skills, and decide if that life fits them.

There's a secondary benefit that officials often gloss over. It helps keep teachers around. Pingel noted that building these programs reignites the passion in educators. It gives them a reason to stay and innovate. That stability is worth watching in a rural labor market.

The infrastructure exists to support this. Partnerships with Colorado Mountain College and Garfield BOCES open doors to concurrent enrollment. Students can earn college credit while still in high school. They can also access specialized training in areas like cybersecurity and pilot ground school.

These new tracks sit alongside older, established programs in agriculture, welding, and automotive tech. The result is a menu of options. A student interested in the outdoors has a clear path. One focused on health and fitness has a clear path.

The goal is practical. Graduate with experience. Earn credentials that matter to employers. Have a foot in the door before the job hunt begins.

Pingel’s statement about helping students make informed decisions cuts to the heart of it. Right now, many choices are made in the dark. These pathways turn on the lights.

Whether this translates into higher retention rates for young adults in Garfield County is the next metric to watch. For now, the curriculum is set. The classrooms are ready. The students are enrolling.

The rest is execution.