Wild Rose Education News

Seeing Things Whole, John Wesley Powell and an Understanding of the American West

10/8/2018

Wednesday, November 14, 2018, 6pm Pitkin County Building, Main Street, Aspen
Thursday, November 15, 6pm, Third Street Center, 520 S. Third Street, Carbondale, CO
Co-sponsored by Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board and Wild Rose Education
Free and Open to the Public

John Wesley Powell recognized inherent problems in our vision of settlement of the West more than a century ago, and his prescient ideas may help guide us into the future. Join author and river guide Christa Sadler as she discusses John Wesley Powell the man, the scientist, the explorer, and the visionary policy maker from her new book The Colorado, about the human relationship with the Colorado River Basin.

Although most people are familiar with John Wesley Powell as the intrepid one-armed Civil War veteran who became the first European to explore the canyons of the Colorado and Green Rivers in 1869 and again in 1871-72, it is the work that Powell did following his epic journeys for which he truly should be famous. Powell understood the challenges of life in a land of little water like few others of his time, and his ideas for settlement of this region were visionary. As water becomes scarcer and more precious in the West, Powell’s ideas may provide valuable guidance for water managers at all levels in the coming decades.

The Colorado River Basin is one of the driest river basins in the world, yet it has nonetheless birthed extraordinary landscapes and entire civilizations. The waters of this desert basin now support more than 40 million people—more than 10% of the country’s population depends in part or entirely on the waters of the Colorado River and its tributaries. The Colorado examines nine episodes in the history of our interaction with the Colorado River, from early prehistoric cultures to the Spanish explorations of the lower reaches of the river, the dam building frenzy of the early and middle 20th century, industrial agriculture and the current use of water throughout the region. This book provides important history and context to one of the country’s most important—and most endangered—watersheds.

AUTHOR BIO
As a rafting guide on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon and elsewhere in the region, Christa Sadler has called the rivers of the Colorado River Basin home for more than three decades. She holds a Masters Degree in Earth sciences and paleontology from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor's Degree in physical anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley. Christa has been writing and teaching in the landscapes shaped by the Colorado River since 1988 and has published several books and articles about the region. She can be contacted at www.thisearthpress.com.

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Celebrating 2nd Annual Western Rivers Teacher Workshop

6/29/2018

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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.

Reflections from Participants

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.

Participant Feedback

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.

Participants' Story Maps

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Youth Designed Logos for Youth Water Leadership Program

6/5/2018

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Now in the program's second year, we are excited to share the new logos for the Youth Water Leadership Program and the local Healthy Rivers Youth Water Summit in the Roaring Fork Watershed. Designed by a local college student these two bright youthful marks are distinct yet closely related and elevate the program and its future expansion.

Meet the Designer: Olivia Koski
In the spirit of the Youth Water Leadership Program, it is a priority to highlight the work of local youth. In this case we did not only highlight, we hired Olivia Koski and she delivered a very professional design process and quality final product while also adding these pieces to her own portfolio of work.
Olivia is currently a student in Colorado Mountain College's New Media program where she studies graphic design. Olivia grew up in the Roaring Fork Valley and currently lives outside of Carbondale, Colorado.
We look forward to hiring her again: Olivia Jo Design & Studio

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Lens on Climate Change Film Shorts Public Screening

5/25/2018

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Brought to the Roaring Fork Valley by the Youth Water Leadership Program, all are invited to attend the free film screenings at the Third Street Center on Saturday, June 16 at 2pm. RSVP here

Free and open to the public. Families welcome!

Hosted by Wild Rose Education's Youth Water Leadership Program. Facilitated by Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and CU-Boulder. Sponsors include Third Street Center, Community Office for Resource Efficiency, CLEER, Solar Rollers, and Two Rivers Unitarian Universalists.

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News and Updates

Seeing Things Whole, John Wesley Powell and an Understanding of the American West

Celebrating 2nd Annual Western Rivers Teacher Workshop

Reflections from Participants

Participant Feedback

Participants' Story Maps

Youth Designed Logos for Youth Water Leadership Program

Lens on Climate Change Film Shorts Public Screening

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