River Institute Inspires Teaching Through a Watershed Lens

7/7/2017

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.

Learning all about watersheds and how they work

Institute Feedback from Participants

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!

Reflection on the River Institute from Sarah Johnson, Instructor

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.