About Us
Meet Your Branch Leader
Hi there, I’m Kimberly Mathers, the person behind Rugged Research in Metro Detroit. My mission is simple: help kids fall in love with nature through wonder, curiosity, and hands-on exploration.
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I’ve worked with children and families for over 15 years, and I believe learning is most powerful when it’s joyful, embodied, and connected to the real world. Whether we’re flipping over logs to see what lies beneath, following animal tracks, or learning the stories behind local ecosystems, I love watching kids light up as they explore the outdoor world.
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When your child comes to Rugged Research, they aren’t just learning about nature - they’re living in it, playing in it, and building a relationship with the world around them.
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Outside of Rugged Research programs, you can usually find me enjoying the outdoors myself! I am a passionate scuba diver and snowboarder and I love to explore nature with my dog as much as possible. I’m so excited to explore with your kids!
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Join Us Outside!
We’re 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:
📩 Email: [your email]
🌿 Follow along: [links]
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
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Curiosity becomes the engine for real learning
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Movement + play help ideas stick
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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.
Our Eco-Ed Philosophy
We follow the Rugged Research Eco-Ed principles that guide every branch:
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Wonder & Joy
We start with amazement - the spark that makes kids want to explore.
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Hands-On Discovery
Kids learn by touching, moving, and investigating the world around them.
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Local Ecosystems as the Classroom
Parks, trails, rivers, forests, and fields become living laboratories.
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Connection & Care
Through relationship with nature, kids learn empathy, gratitude, and stewardship.
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