​Fifteen educators from across Colorado convened for a River Ecology and Water in the West courses during the 3nd annual Western Rivers Teacher Workshops during the 2019 Western Colorado University's Summer Teacher Institute. In addition to five days of instruction in the field and classroom, participants learned to use ESRI story maps and Google My Maps to share special watershed topics and create walking field trip maps from their school. 

• view Walking Field Trip Maps
• view Watershed Topic Story Maps

Plans are underway for the 2020 Western Rivers Teacher Workshops at Western Colorado University. If you would like to be added to the educator alert email list, let us know, and we'll keep you up to date on upcoming registration deadlines.

​Monday, August 5, 2019 8:00 am-4:30 pm
Third Street Center, Carbondale, Colorado
$20/participant 

Join Wild Rose Education's Youth Water Leadership Program and Earth Force for a one-day educator professional development event! Participants will be introduced to Earth Force’s award-winning Community Action and Problem Solving Process. The Earth Force Process is a six-step approach that combines the best of action civics, environmental education, and STEM to provide a framework of action for teachers seeking to engage students in hands-on community environmental action projects. This professional development gives West Slope educators the opportunity to understand how incorporating youth voice, student-driven inquiry, democratic decision-making and place-based authentic problem-solving into their classrooms prepares students for life-long environmental stewardship, civic engagement, and collaborative action. Participants will gain a better understanding of how to engage students in learning that makes a difference, for students and communities.
 
Participating educators will receive an Earth Force Educator Guide to the Community Action and Problem-Solving Process, a TIPS Cards reference set, web-based classroom resources, and a digital archive. Earth Force in partnership with Wild Rose Education, provides trained educators ongoing teacher support from class visits to stakeholder outreach, at no cost. 

This workshop is made possible by these generous 2019 Youth Water Leadership Program sponsors. ​

Monday - Friday, June 10-14, 2019
Western State Colorado University, Gunnison, Colorado
Utilize western rivers to meet interdisciplinary academic standards creating relevant place based context for your students.
​Register through the Extended Studies program. 
See last year's participant reflections, photos, and more here. 

River as Text: Ecology (3 days)
Monday-Wednesday June 10-12, 2019, 2 credit course
Learn how to utilize rivers and riparian habitat as the context to meet your curriculum through observations, explorations, discussions, and journaling to create student-centered learning experiences. During this field-based course, participants will explore the three major components of a river ecosystem: aquatic life, water quality, and riparian habitat. Inter-disciplinary field experiences include field trips to local riverside parks, Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery, and Curecanti National Recreation Area. Participants will also create an online Google My Maps river field trip asset map for their school. Physical ability to walk across uneven terrain, stand for long durations, and carry equipment is highly suggested. ​

Water in the West (2 days)
​Thursday-Friday June 13-14, 2019, 1 credit course
Learn how to incorporate the complexities of water management in the West into your curriculum through cross-curricular field and classroom activities and routines. Using questioning, observing, and reflecting routines participants will explore western water management, water law, and watershed geography. Participants will also create an ESRI Story Map using online GIS tools to explore and explain water management concepts and corresponding geography more closely. Field experiences include a Blue Mesa Dam visit, a visit to Taylor Reservoir, and time at Gunnison Mountain Park. Physical ability to walk across uneven terrain and stand for long durations is highly suggested. 

Insiders Tips
1. If you sign up with a group by May 17 everyone gets a discounted rate, up to four people from your school district. 
2. Western State makes the dormitories available during the workshops at a very affordable rate for lodging. 
3. Childcare is available at the Tenderfoot Child and Family Development Center during the courses. 

Eighteen educators from across Colorado, Nebraska, and Nevada convened for a River Ecology and Water Management courses during the 2nd annual Western Rivers Teacher Workshop during Western State Colorado University's Summer Teacher Institute in June 2018. 

• Never underestimate the power of giving your students a voice and a magnifying glass!
• I feel that this class was helpful to me by giving me more knowledge, ideas, and empowerment to lead students in outdoor science experiences myself.  I feel that this class gave me more tools that I could use to creatively teach many different science standards outdoors, particularly about rivers and streams.
• This course left me with more questions than answers, which is a very good thing from my social science perspective. The content and discussion will continue to inform the questions and perspectives I explore personally, as well as shape the strategies and activities I employ as an educator.
• I became a better observer by the sustained practice of looking closely and thoughtfully at my environment, but in this class I learned more about how to help my students become better observers.   
• The teaching strategies that were used in this class were good models of teaching strategies that I can use for my students who are learning English as a second language, whether in science or in another subject.  
• I think that what I learned in this class will help me better consider and articulate what all students need to be curious and inquisitive learners.
• I will remember that it is most important to instill an intrinsic love of learning and active curiosity,  rather than teaching students that their job as learners is to find a right answer.
• I feel I gained such new understanding about macro-invertebrates through the way Sarah intentionally led us through the process of exploring, observing, asking questions, making connections, discovering scientific mysteries, and making evidence based explanations...
• One of the most significant insights that I come away with is not only giving students time to observe the natural world but teaching them how to observe the natural world.
• My ways of teaching students about the river have changed after taking this class.
• The course made me think about our water differently and what I can do to help conserve and teach others about the importance of our water.
• After this course I have come to see that we live in an arid west and because of many things, water is being used up. I need to be even more intentional about the way I think about and use water.
• I will start with myself and thinking about how I can help. Then, I will teach my students the facts and encourage them to look past themselves and into the solution. One small stone thrown into a lake creates a ripple that continues over the surface of the lake. My goal is to create a lot of ripples because my students know the facts and have a heart to help.

• I felt the class (instructor) did an excellent job of bridging the gaps and providing valuable insights, resources, and activities for any type of teacher in any environment.
• Outstanding field trips and impressive, compelling speakers. Wow! 
• Instruction was intentionally well-modeled, engaging, and hands-on, providing many ready-to-go classroom activities, and a variety of resources and lesson ideas.
• The workshop has helped me realize how to make my classes student-centered.
• The workshop information was mostly appropriate for students I teach and I felt I left with projects I could use immediately (mapping water basins, relief maps, buckets, vocabulary list, and a deeper understanding of local water issues).
• The class is so applicable to living here in southern Nevada.
• Excellent use of pedagogy, content, and discussion! VERY applicable for teachers!
• I really enjoyed all aspects of the class, even those that I didn't see a direct path for what I teach. It was nice to participate with a group of experienced teachers and hear their perspectives on the activities and lessons we learned.
• This class emphasized the process of science and the need for curiosity in learning.
• I'm looking forward to showing the kids the story map program so that they can use it in the class.

a project of  Extended Studies Summer Teacher Institute

River Ecology Course (3 days)
Monday-Wednesday June 18-20, 2018, 2 credit course: $260; additional $10 course fee
During this interdisciplinary field-based course, participants will explore the three major components of a river ecosystem: aquatic life, water quality, and riparian habitat. Field experiences include field trips to local riverside parks, Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery, and Curecanti National Recreation Area.

Water Management Course (2 days)
Thursday-Friday June 21-22, 2018, 1 credit course: $150; additional $10 course fee
During this interdisciplinary field-based course participants will explore western water management, water law, and watershed geography. Field experiences include a Blue Mesa Dam and Hydropower Plant tour and Taylor Reservoir tour.

Insiders Tips
1. If you sign up with a group everyone gets a discounted rate, the bigger the group the larger the discount for all. 
2. Western State makes the dormitories available during the workshops at a very affordable rate for lodging. 
3. Come and stay all week for both classes and then enjoy the Gunnison River Festival at the end of the week. 

The first annual Gunnison River Teacher Institute was a success! Western State Colorado University's Extended Studies Program and the Colorado Water Workshop collaborated to create the teacher institute.  Teachers participated from the Gunnison, South Platte, and Arkansas Basins. Through many hands-on interactive activities they learned how to incorporate watershed thinking into their curriculum to create relevant context and connections for their students.

The fast paced week long rigorous 3 graduate credit course included  tools for teaching western water management, river ecology, fisheries, and geography of the Colorado River Basin.  Field experiences included a hike to Morrow Point Reservoir and up East Elk Creek with Curecanti National Recreation Area, Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery tour, Spring Creek river ecology field day with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Colorado Trout Unlimited, tour of Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, whitewater rafting on the Taylor River, and a visit to Coldharbour Ranch.

The second half of the week teachers participated in the 42nd annual Colorado Water Workshop conference engaging with water resource professionals from across Colorado learning about current water issues and innovative management strategies. Participating in the Gunnison River Festival was also included throughout the week including water trivia night, live music, and a celebration at the Gunnison Whitewater Park.

• This course has motivated me to go from wanting to learn more about my own back yard to the actually doing.
• Another thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. The class was wonderful.
• Great info, speakers and field trips! 
• Well thought out and planned. visiting Coldharbour was the perfect mix of "think" and "brain break" activities. So enjoyable!   Wow, I soaked in and thoroughly enjoyed the entire workshop. I wish we had more time to delve deeper. I look forward to building on to the new knowledge through possible future workshops.
• I will use activities learning during the workshop in lesson plans for MS. Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems.
• I will make my lessons more relative to CO water
• I want more ‘at the river’ experiences
• I am in Alaska now and much more observant of my surroundings because of the class.
• I feel that everything was well planned out and packed to overflowing in order to get as much out of the course as possible; and I was still left wanting more. Maybe a two week course with more hands on projects to help solidify learning? 
• The workshop was attended primarily for personal gain to broaden my general watershed knowledge. The information will be very useful as I become more involved in school and community projects regarding water. This course has encouraged and motivated me to want to be a more inquisitive person regarding my surroundings. I am so EXCITED to use the new skills learned to "play" in my own backyard. Thank you for that!

View all story maps created by teacher participants and their feedback. 

The 2018 River Teacher Institute planning is underway and details will be announced in January 2018. Sign up here to get information about upcoming workshop details. 

 Wild Rose Education's, Sarah Johnson has coordinated the Colorado Foundation for Water Education's Water Educator Network (WEN)  February 2016 through June 2017. This latest report  celebrates the collective impacts of the WEN during the past 5 months. 
Celebrating the great water education happening around the state and finding ways to support educators to increase effectiveness across the state has been the goal of the WEN. Read the entire report here. 

The first annual water education workshop at Shadowcliff in Grand Lake, Colorado laid the groundwork for many more teacher watershed education workshops in the coming years. Educators participating included early childhood  to high school teachers as well as  non-formal educators. The successful partnership between Rotary Club of Grand Lake, Shadowcliff, Outstanding Grand Lake, Grand Environmental Services, and the Grand Lake Chamber made this Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) workshop for Grand County educators and others from Winter Park and Golden Colorado. 

Teachers responded from the workshop on how they plan to change their instructional practices based on what they learned at the workshop:

• I will get more in depth on Watershed and vocabulary. 
• I will provide more hands-on science based activities.
• I will be creating more hands on learning opportunities. 
• I now have many more "tools in my toolbox". I'm excited to try new things! 
• I will make my lessons more interactive. 
• I have been looking to incorporating more project-based learning. 
• I found the activities adaptable to meet grade level expectations and standards.

Overall feedback from the Project WET workshop: 

• It was great!!! 
• Really like the new 2.0 version of the Book.  Love the pics and layout.
• Great workshop! Looking forward to diving deeper into the Project WET book!
• I loved it!

We are already working on creating the 2018 Grand Lake Headwaters Watershed Education Workshop. Sign up here to get information about upcoming workshop details.