At RESCHOOL Colorado, we believe that learning happens everywhere. Our Pick-a-Pass Program is designed to expand access to meaningful, hands-on learning experiences in some of Denver’s most beloved cultural institutions. Through this program, families have the autonomy to explore, grow, and engage with the world around them on their own schedule.

What is Pick-a-Pass?

Pick-a-Pass provides year-long memberships to cultural institutions such as the Denver Zoo, Children’s Museum of Denver, and Denver Botanic Gardens. Families can visit these places as often as they like, at times that fit their lives. This flexibility helps create natural opportunities for learning—whether it’s observing animals at the zoo, exploring science at a museum, or enjoying the beauty of the gardens.

The program was created in response to the need for families to access cultural institutions together, rather than through individual child-focused opportunities. Paola Ramirez, RESCHOOL’s Senior Director of Ecosystems and Community Partnerships, identified this gap in 2022, recognizing that families wanted the flexibility to visit institutions on their own terms and schedules. While cultural institutions offer free days and lotteries, Pick-a-Pass gives families the freedom to decide when and how often they visit, with full support in navigating the experience. The program also assists with Spanish access and technological navigation, especially as COVID-19 made accessing passes online more complex for some families.

According to Paola, “Families value collective learning experiences. Pick-a-Passes allow them to keep learning based on their interests, at their own pace, by choosing their pass and visiting as many times as they’d like. Learning is a vibrant process that inspires growth for the whole family.”

What Children Gain

Children using Pick-a-Pass are not just getting tickets to a day of fun. They are gaining access to a world of curiosity and discovery. Each visit to a museum or park offers new questions to explore, new facts to learn, and new interests to pursue. For children, these experiences provide the freedom to learn by doing, alongside their families.

By visiting frequently, families also unlock additional benefits that go beyond admission, such as information about summer camps, special workshops, and events hosted by the institutions. This creates an ongoing cycle of engagement, where children are constantly introduced to new ways of learning.

Why Pick-a-Pass Matters

We believe that learning happens everywhere — and that all families, no matter their background or financial situation, deserve access to rich educational experiences. By providing memberships to places like the Denver Zoo, Denver Botanic Gardens, and Colorado State Parks, Pick-a-Pass gives families the flexibility to choose when, where, and how often they visit these cultural institutions.

One family shared their experience, saying, “I chose this membership because it gave us the opportunity to be outdoors with my family, enjoy the beautiful Colorado weather, and a way for the children to see and learn about all of the animals. I am very grateful for this membership.”

The program also demystifies the process of getting into cultural institutions that aren’t typically free. It provides an entry point to additional opportunities, such as summer camps, event access, and community engagement through frequent visits. This program is designed to shift what representation at cultural institutions looks like, ensuring that low-income and BIPOC families feel welcome in these spaces. Cultural institutions benefit from having a more diverse population participating in their exhibits, camps, and other learning opportunities, and Pick-a-Pass helps drive this change.

Since its inception:

• 99 families and 229 children have benefited from Pick-a-Pass, with an average cost of $200 per family.
• Participating cultural institutions include the Denver Zoo, Butterfly Pavilion, Children’s Museum of Denver, Denver Botanic Gardens, Museo de las Americas, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Meow Wolf.

Moreover, being a member of these cultural institutions unlocks additional benefits, such as priority access to camps, special events, and discounts, further enriching the learning experience. This continuity of access ensures that families can visit multiple times, deepening their connection to these spaces and what they have to offer. You can support this meaningful access by donating $200 to help a family visit a cultural institution of their choice in the Denver metro area or to help extend learning for a family through the Pick-a-Pass Program. Donate here.

At RESCHOOL, we believe in ensuring young people have access to learning everywhere to transform lives and communities. That’s why we are excited to introduce our new Equitable Ecosystems of Learning Online Modules — a dynamic resource designed to help educators, policymakers, and organizations create more inclusive and equitable learning environments.

Our first module, Learning Dollars for Youth: What They Are, How to Design and Implement Them, and Their Impact, is a deep dive into the pivotal role Learning Dollars Programs play in empowering young people. These programs provide the financial support that allows students to explore their passions and access opportunities tailored to their unique needs and interests. By equitably distributing resources, we can help ensure every young person has the chance to thrive, regardless of their background.

This module not only offers actionable insights on designing and implementing these programs but also shares inspiring stories from families who have benefited from Learning Dollars. For instance, one young filmmaker in Denver discovered her passion and gained the skills she needed to continue her learning at the Denver School of the Arts. Another family connected their sons with enriching activities that ignited a love for learning and inspired their mother to become a community advocate, helping others navigate similar opportunities.

These stories remind us of the incredible impact we can have when we work together to build equitable learning ecosystems. At RESCHOOL, we’ve spent over a decade refining our approach, and now, we’re eager to share what we’ve learned with you through this online training series.

Join us in making education more equitable and accessible for all. Let’s continue to innovate, collaborate, and create learning environments where every student can succeed. Information on how to purchase and access the module can be found here.