Busy Summer at the Lab, Give! Pikes Peak Campaign and Fall Courses
- Willow Pulciani
- Aug 7
- 5 min read
The lab has been full this year in the best possible way. We have welcomed several groups of learners into the space, hosted hands-on study experiences, and moved through a very busy summer of teaching, planning, and preparing for what comes next.
Now, as fall approaches, we are looking ahead to two exciting things: our acceptance into the Pikes Peak Give Campaign and a new round of upcoming courses, including our 4-day Workshop and September Drop-in.
A busy year of learning in the lab
So far this year, we have had several groups come from literally all over the world to study with us at the lab. Each group brings a different energy, perspective, and curiosity, which we feel so excited to be a part of. . Some arrive with a strong science background. Others are stepping into anatomy for the first time...That mix is one of the reasons this work is so meaningful.
This summer has been especially full. Between hosting learners, maintaining the lab, preparing curriculum, and planning for fall, the pace has been steady. It has reminded us why access matters. When people get the chance to study in a focused, respectful, hands-on setting, their questions change. Their confidence grows. Their curiosity becomes more specific... we see this shift in anatomy perspective every single time someone studies with us.
That is the kind of anatomy education we want to keep building.
We have been accepted into the Pikes Peak Give Campaign
We are excited to share that we have been accepted into the Give! Pikes Peak Campaign, a local campaign designed to support philanthropy efforts in our area. To learn more about the upcoming fundraising campaign --> Click Here!
This is so exciting for us at the lab. Acceptance into the campaign gives us a stronger path for connecting with supporters who care about education, science learning, and access for students. We hope that our collaboration with Give! will help us find more connection within our local community as well as connect us with other amazing non-profits in the area. Over the summer, we have been learning, preparing, and getting ready for fundraising efforts this fall.
For us, fundraising has a clear purpose.
We are raising support for Anatomy for Life, our high school program that gives upper-high school students the chance to come study in the lab. This program offers a rare kind of learning experience, especially for students who are interested in health care, science, forensic science, physical therapy, athletic training, research, or simply understanding the human body more deeply.
Give! Pikes Peak is a local non-profit focused on helping raise philanthropy efforts in the Pikes Peak Region
Why Anatomy for Life matters
Anatomy for Life was created to give upper-high school students meaningful access to lab-based learning. Many students are interested in science long before college, but they do not always have access to advanced learning spaces, mentors, or experiences that help them understand what a future in science or health care could look like.
When students walk into the lab, anatomy becomes more than a subject in a textbook. It becomes something they can observe, study, question, and ultimately understand more deeply than they would in the classroom alone.
The program supports:
STEM education high school students can actually experience
Clearer understanding of human anatomy and body systems
Early exposure to possible health and science careers
Confidence for college-level coursework
Respectful, and curiosity-led learning in a real lab environment
Promotion of body acceptance
Life-changing perspective on how our choices affect our bodies
This kind of non-profit high school education can change what students believe is possible for them.
Right now, we charge a nominal fee for Anatomy for Life classes. Our goal is to remove that fee completely so students can attend at no cost. Even a small fee can become a barrier. Some students and families simply cannot afford an extra expense, especially for enrichment learning outside the regular classroom.
By making Anatomy for Life free for students, we can reach more young people and make this opportunity more accessible. That is the heart of our non-profit fundraising work this fall.
Our goal is simple: remove cost as a barrier so more high school students can learn in the lab.
Fall fundraising will help open the doors wider
The work we have done this summer has been preparation for a larger push this fall. Through the Give! Pikes Peak Campaign, we will be inviting community members, families, former students, local supporters, and anyone who believes in science education to help fund Anatomy for Life.
Support for this program helps cover the real costs of offering lab-based education. That includes materials, instruction time, lab preparation, student resources, and the careful work required to create a safe, respectful learning environment.
The more support we raise, the closer we get to making these classes completely free.
This matters because access changes who gets to participate. A student should not miss out on a powerful learning experience because the cost is out of reach. Removing that barrier helps us serve students who may not otherwise have a path into this kind of learning.
Lab Director Jim Pulciani leads a group of students through the muscles in the hip
Upcoming courses this fall
Alongside our fundraising work, we also have upcoming opportunities for you to get into the lab.
4-day Workshop
Our 4-day Workshop is designed for people who want a more complete, focused anatomy learning experience. Over several days, participants have time to build understanding, ask deeper questions, and spend meaningful time deepening their understanding of anatomy.
This course is a strong fit for learners who want more than a single session and are ready to spend concentrated time in the lab. We'd also like to mention that this class is approved for 28 CE hours for licensed massage therapists.
September Drop-in
The September Drop-in is a great option for those who want a shorter lab experience or who may be experiencing the lab for the first time. Drop-in sessions are useful for returning learners, curious first-time participants, and anyone who wants extra time with anatomy in a guided setting.
If you have been waiting for the right time to visit the lab, September is a good chance to come in.
Looking ahead with gratitude
This year has already brought a lot of movement, learning, and growth. We are grateful for every group that has come to study, every student who has asked a thoughtful question, and every supporter who has encouraged the work happening in the lab.
The next season is about opening the doors wider.
With the Pikes Peak Give Campaign ahead, we are preparing to raise the funds needed to make Anatomy for Life free for students. At the same time, our fall courses are creating more opportunities for people to come study, learn, and connect with anatomy in a hands-on way.
Thank you for following along, supporting the lab, and helping make this kind of education possible.
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