Though all the Western Rivers Teacher Workshops and Public Lands of the United States educator graduate courses had to take on a virtual reality during the summer of 2020, participants still are actively exploring outside and collecting important citizen science data. While out exploring public lands and riparian corridors (riverfront property) the participants are using the iNaturalist and GLOBE Observer smartphone apps to collect, record, and share their observations. These courses are part of the 2020 Western Colorado University's Teacher Institute typically hosted in and around Gunnison, Colorado. 

As of July 29, teacher participants have collected 284 observations of plant and animal species across Colorado and in Florida (one participant lives near Orlando). Sharing these observations in iNaturalist not only contributes to the scientific community, but also builds a sense of shared community among the participants during this time of virtual learning. View the class findings. And if you know more about the species observed join our learning community and feel free to make comments or suggest an identification after logging into iNaturalist. 

In addition to conducting riparian surveys during the on-your-own field trips, the particiaptns are taking Land Cover and Cloud observations using NASA's GLOBE Observer app. Taking note of disturbed areas, areas with recent change or those with upcoming planned development are the types of areas participants are recording in GLOBE Observer. So far the group has collected 207 observations. View the data points and the observation photos. You too can get outside and collect observation data and contribute it to GLOBE; here's how. 

In light of the current pandemic, we're shifting to the hybrid virtual course format. Wild Rose Education offering four educator summer workshops in partnership with Western Colorado University, The Wilderness Society, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, Colorado School of Mines Teacher Enhancement Program, and the Youth Water Leadership Program.
​Courses and workshops include:

• Public Lands: Designations, History, and Today
  • June 9-29, 2020, hybrid virtual course,  more details and register
• Western Rivers Teacher Workshops
  • Rivers and Geography, June 9-29, 2020, hybrid virtual course, more details and register​
• Leave No Trace Trainer Course for Educators
  • July 20-31, 2020, hybrid virtual course, more details and register
• Youth Community Civic Action Process Educator Workshop
  • July 27 - August 7, 2020, hybrid virtual course, more details and register

Download the flier below and share with colleagues. ​

***  These courses are not exactly 'at your own pace on your own'. There will be specific assignment deadlines, synchronous online meetings/classes, and lots of asynchronous on your activities/readings. We're going to wait to decide on the virtual meeting times to get input from registered participants so we can find a time that works best for most. We'll be starting with a virtual meeting on the first day of the course listed above at a specific time that has not yet been set. Thanks for your patience as we switch these courses from regular in-person field trip courses to hybrid virtual versions in light of Covid-19. Let me know what other questions you may have. 

Instructor: Sarah R. Johnson MAEd
ENVS 510, 2 Credits, $340
Course dates: June 9-29, 2020*
course materials available June 8-August 1, 2020
Virtual Hybrid Course
Audience: Secondary Educators, Community
Register at Western Colorado University

Expand your knowledge of public lands in America. Through interactive discussion based hybrid online learning experience, participants will gain a stronger understanding of federal land designations, history of these lands, and the context in which these places were protected. Participants will get free access to a brand new public land high school curriculum. The course aims to build connections between people and America’s public lands as well as awareness that the lands and waters we love today were once and still are Indigenous lands. Through this virtual format, agency staff from the BLM, US Forest Service, National Park, and Colorado state lands will be guest speakers throughout the course. We will explore the many uses and benefits of public lands, as well as the threats they face locally and nationally. Students will also collect citizen science land cover and tree data from their homes for NASA’s GLOBE Observer program. Activities from other nationally proven curriculum will also be interwoven throughout the course.

***  This course is not exactly 'at your own pace on your own'. There will be specific assignment deadlines, synchronous online meetings/classes, and lots of asynchronous on-your-own activities/readings. We're going to wait to decide on the virtual meeting times*** to get input from registered participants so we can find a time that works best for most. We'll be starting with a virtual meeting on the first day of the course, June 9, 2020 at a specific time that has not yet been set. Thanks for your patience as we switch from two sections of this course that were going to be field-trip based courses to one hybrid virtual version in light of Covid-19. Let me know what other questions you may have. 

*** Course Live Zoom meeting times: Monday/Wednesday 8am-10am MST, June 10-29, 2020.

Instructor: Sarah R. Johnson MAEd
ROE 510, 1 Credit, $170
Course Date:  July 20-31, 2020; 
Virtual Course meetings: July 20, 21, 28, 30, 31; 8am-10am (mountain standard time) 
Location: virtual course
Audience: Outdoor Educator Leaders
COURSE FULL - see other courses 
Using the unique online alternative format developed by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, this LNT Trainer Course will give participants LNT skills and ethics as well as techniques for effectively sharing these low impact practices with students of all ages. This course is specifically for educators who take youth outdoors for single or multi-day courses. Research has shown that this course significantly improves participant knowledge and understanding of how Leave No Trace protects the outdoor places we love. Participants will prepare a lesson to teach virtually during the course (topics organized by the instructor). This virtual alternative curriculum fulfills the requirements of the standard Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics Trainer Course only during the 2020 summer.

***  This course is not exactly 'at your own pace on your own'. There will be specific assignment deadlines, synchronous online meetings/classes, and lots of asynchronous on-your-own activities/readings. We'll be starting with a virtual meeting on the first day of the course, July 20, 2020 at 8am MST. Thanks for your patience as we switch from offering two Western Rivers regular in-person field trip courses to one  combined hybrid virtual version in light of Covid-19. Let me know what other questions you may have. 

Wild Rose Education is thrilled to announce a partnership with The Wilderness Society to pilot and evaluate the effectiveness of the brand new Public Lands in the United States curriculum for learners 16 years and older. The interactive discussion based learning experiences builds stronger understanding of federal land designations, history of these lands, and the context in which these places were protected for participants. The curriculum aims to build connections between people and America’s public lands as well as awareness that the lands and waters we love today were once and still are Indigenous lands. The course also explores the many uses and benefits of public lands, as well as the threats they face locally and nationally. Read more from TWS.

We will be creating evaluation tools, aligning the curriculum to national and Colorado social studies and literacy standards, and also the Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education. 

Contact us if you would like to schedule the curriculum with your community or student group. 

Our Public Lands: Designations, History, and Today 
Aspen Mountain Guide School (11th & 12th grade students)
December, 2019
Aspen High School, Aspen, CO

Our Public Lands: Designations, History, and Today 
Tuesdays, 6:00pm-8:30pm, February 4, 11, and 18, 2020
Colorado Mountain College, Carbondale, CO
$55 non-credit course, Register here

Public Lands for Secondary Educators: Designations, History, and Today
Tuesdays, 5:00pm-7:30pm, February 25, March 3, 10, 2020
Third Street Center, Carbondale, CO 
$40 early registration fee, $50 after Feb. 10th Register here.
Optional 1 graduate-level relicensure credit available for $50 from Colorado School of Mines

Public Lands for Secondary Educators: Designations, History, and Today
8:00am-6:00pm June 11, 12, 13, 2020
Western Colorado University, Gunnison CO
Registration opens in early February 2020
2 graduate credits course description
​
Public Lands Exploration in the Gunnison Valley: Designations, History, and Today
8:00am-6:00pm July 28, 29, 30, 2020
camping at East Elk Creek group site, Curecanti National Recreation Area
Western Colorado University, Gunnison CO
Registration opens in early February 2020
2 graduate credits course description

Email us to be notified when course registrations open. 
​

Wild Rose Education piloted an innovative approach to provide a Leave No Trace Trainer Course for the new Aspen Mountain Guide School students this fall. The 11th and 12th grade students spent the entire month of September during their regular class time learning and practicing the 7 Principles of LNT and the ethics of minimal impact use of public lands. They then worked in small groups to research and then teach mini-lessons on special uses such as mountain biking, camping bear country, hammock camping, winter travel, hunting, fishing, and rock climbing. All the participants are now trained by LNT and have the skills and knowledge to teach LNT Awareness Workshops. 
Aspen Public Radio covered the workshop with this recent news story.
Special thanks to Tim Borden, LNT Master Educator for co-instructing the course and to Aspen Valley Land Trust for the use of the Chapin Wright Marble Basecamp.