Aspen Science Center expands rural access to science education

The Aspen Science Center is expanding programs for learners of all ages in Colorado’s Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys, where rural communities have fewer places to engage with science in person. Based at the Third Street Center in Carbondale, the nonprofit was founded in 2005 to widen access to science education in the region.

Executive Director Alex Tarika said the center delivered 524 programs in 2026, compared with 177 in 2023. She also described growing demand, including participants who return regularly and schools that book the same field trip year after year.

Programs for students and families

The center offers after-school activities, summer camps and programs in libraries. Robotics and technology are among its most popular offerings, Tarika said. The center runs after-school robotics at each elementary school in Aspen and started programs this year at Basalt Middle School and Crystal River Elementary School.

Two paid internships give high school and college-age students opportunities to explore careers in STEM education and develop leadership skills in their communities. Tarika said the center aims to offer programming for every age level, including children who first joined in elementary school and have since become middle or high school students.

Why local access matters

The Roaring Fork Valley does not have a science museum like those in Denver or Grand Junction, Tarika said. Rural areas can also have limited funding for schools and nonprofits, making local programs an important way for residents to take part in hands-on science learning.

Tarika said science education can help people make sense of everyday topics, from health care and cooking to technology in cars. She also pointed to school budget cuts and museum closures as concerns that may reduce opportunities for in-person learning. The center has offered library programs since 2021, and some libraries have asked it to expand those offerings.

This report draws on information from Aspen Public Radio.