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Flatirons Branch

Meet Your Branch Leader

Hi there, I’m Hannah, the person behind Rugged Research in Denver and Boulder County. 

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I earned a degree in environmental science with a concentration in biology. I began my career with a year of service in AmeriCorps as an urban forester before working as a field biologist. Since relocating to Colorado, I have contributed to research at the Denver Botanic Gardens and worked within parks and recreation forestry programs. 

 

Throughout my career, I have consistently found opportunities to teach outdoors, developing and leading educational programs across my various roles. I am passionate about connecting with learners of all ages and find joy in helping others cultivate an appreciation for the natural world around them.​ 

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Hannah Romano

I'm excited to welcome your family into our community of young explorers. If you have questions or want to learn more, feel free to reach out anytime: FlatironsRuggedResearch@gmail.com

Why We Teach Outside

At Rugged Research, we believe nature is the best classroom.


Kids learn confidence, curiosity, resilience, creativity, and care by exploring the world with their senses.

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  • Nature boosts focus, peace, and emotional well-being

  • Curiosity becomes the engine for real learning

  • Movement + play help ideas stick

  • Kids build a personal connection to their local ecosystems​

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Our programs blend science, wonder, imagination, and adventure - all led by trained eco-educators who care deeply about kids and the natural world. Click below to learn more about our teaching methodology:

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The Story of Rugged Research

It Started With Two Park Rangers and a Simple Idea

Help kids fall in love with the nature before anyone asks them to save it.

Rugged Research began as a dream shared by two park rangers who wanted to bring the magic of the wild to kids in a way that was real, playful, and full of discovery. After years of leading hikes, teaching science, and watching children light up when they spotted an elk, held a bug, or turned over a log, we realized something simple but profound:


Kids will protect what they love - and they fall in love through experience.

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We started Rugged Research with one guiding idea:

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Help kids fall in love with nature before anyone asks them to save it.

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What began on the trails of Colorado has grown into a movement of educators, explorers, and families helping children rediscover the wonder of the world around them.

 

Our programs blend curiosity-driven science, outdoor adventure, and mindful awareness. Each lesson is a chance to look closer, ask questions, and reconnect with the joy of learning from nature itself.

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We’re proud to see Rugged Research branches spreading across the country, each one shaped by local ecosystems and the people who care for them. Together, we’re building something much bigger than a program - we’re growing a living network of educators who believe that joy and wonder can change the world.

 

​​As Rugged Research grows, our goal remains the same as it was on those early ranger walks: to help every child know nature not as scenery, but as something they are apart of. 

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To learn more about our organization, visit RuggedResearch.Org

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