Conferences & Events for Early July

Campsite by Grizzly Creek, Glenwood Canyon, Colorado

JULY 9th, 2016 VOLUNTEER TRAIL STEWARD DAY. Join the Mountain Park Environmental Center on the trails of Pueblo Mountain Park so these trails can receive some needed TLC. Individuals 12 years of age and up are welcome to participate in these trails projects that will keep Pueblo Mountain Park’s trails safe and enjoyable for all who wish to connect with Nature. They will meet in the Horseshoe Lodge parking lot at 8:00 am and will conclude trail work at 12 noon.  Participants should bring water (at least 2 liters), snacks, hiking boots, work gloves, and sunscreen.  Additionally, a sun hat is highly encouraged, along with rain gear. 8am-noon. For more information visit www.hikeandlearn.org.

JULY 19th – 23rd, 2016: BEER, FILMS, AND FUN in Lake City. This festival is hosted by the Lake Fork Valley Conservancy whose mission is to facilitate long term environmental and economic sustainability in the headwaters of the Colorado River Basin, focusing on the Lake Fork of the Gunnison and Cebolla Creek valleys. Venues Include: Mountaineer Movie Theatre, Lake City Arts Center, and Lake Fork Memorial Park. Go to http://www.lfvc.org/ for detailed information.

JULY 30th, 2016: Gunnison Public Lands Initiative Hike - Lost Lake and Beckwith Pass. The Western Slope Conservation Center & the Gunnison Public Lands Initiative are hosting a hike to learn about the Gunnison Public Lands Initiative and how it could designate new special management and conservation areas in the upper North Fork watershed! The Beckwith Pass trail traverses a section of land that the Gunnison Public Lands Initiative has proposed for permanent protection of water, wildlife, and recreation. Come learn how GPLI and the Conservation Center are working to protect this area -- and what you can do to help! 7:00 am carpool from Conservation Center office.

AUGUST 3rd – 5th, 2016: The Annual San Juan Mining and Reclamation Conference. This conference is designed to educate the public and other stakeholders on the science and policy of mining, mine lands remediation, and water quality as it relates to non-point source pollution, improving mining practices, and addressing water quality impairments through workshops, field tours, and presentations. This year’s conference is scheduled to be held in Durango and Silverton, Colorado.  For more information click HERE.

AUGUST 24th - 26th, 2016: The Colorado Water Congress Summer Conference and Membership MeetingThe 2016 conference will be held at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort. A don't miss event for those who wish to stay informed about water issues in Colorado while engaging in numerous professional development activities. Registration is now open.

SEPTEMBER 16th - 18th, 2016: The 5th Annual Pedal The Plains Bicycle Tour features the open range and star-filled nights of Southeast Colorado; a region steeped in history and bound together by its hometown values! Join them this fall and roam vast beautiful grasslands and pedal along the Santa Fe Trail Scenic Byway; visit Bent’s Old Fort; befriend local farmers and ranchers; and have a boot-stomp’n good ol’ time! For more information click HERE.

3-Day Tour, 151 miles
September 16-18
Ordway • Fowler • La Junta
Registration Includes: Jersey, Water Bottle, Finisher's Medal, Locally Sourced Lunches, Beer Gardens, Live Entertainment, Educational Offerings and Route Support.

Century Ride, 100 miles
September 17
Fowler to La Junta
Registration Includes: Jersey, Finisher’s Medal, Pancake Breakfast, Locally Sourced Lunch, Beer Garden, Live Entertainment, Educational Offerings, Route Support and Shuttle Service.

Family Fun Ride, 5 miles
September 17
La Junta
Registration Includes: T-shirt, Lapel Pin, Pancake Breakfast, Aid Station, Games, Best Bike Decorating Contest and Best Costume Contest.

SEPTEMBER 16th, 2016: The Greenway Foundation Blue Moon After Party on the Bridge will be held on the Historic 19th Street Bridge, one night after The Greenway Foundation's annual, Noble Energy Gala on the Bridge. The 2016 event featuring eats, cocktails, and amazing live music - all included in the ticket price! Proceeds from the Blue Moon After Party on the Bridge support The Greenway Foundation's longstanding efforts to protect and enhance the South Platte River and its tributaries, and to engage the Metro Denver community with their river through educational programming and free cultural events. For information and tickets click HERE.

SEPTEMBER 22nd, 2016: Careers in Natural Resources Summit. Your organization will learn how to develop training modules tailored for your participants to build pathways to careers in natural resources. Attending organizations will receive a toolkit including hard copies of the career manual, “A How-To Guide for Pursuing a Career in Natural Resources” and digital resources including training activities, presentations, and more! This event is FREE and lunch will be provided due to support from Colorado State Forest Service, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, and US Forest Service. Registration will open this summer. For more information go to the Colorado Youth Corps Association.

SEPTEMBER 23rd - 25th, 2016: Colorado Annual Student Water Field Conference hosted by Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Colo. Itinerary includes dinner at Fruita State Park, a tour of river restoration and diversions along Colorado River’s Riverfront Trail in Grand Junction, followed by a farm tour and a farm dinner in the lower Grand Valley. Students work in groups to develop plans for sharing what they have learned when they return home. For additional information, contact Gigi Richard at: 970.248.1689, grichard@coloradomesa.edu.

SEPTEMBER 25th – 28th, 2016: Geological Society of America (GSA) 2016 meeting to be held in Denver. GSA’s mission includes: Scientific Research, Scientific Communication, Geologic Time, Technological Innovation, Geologic Hazards, Sustainability, and Natural Resources. Registration, technical programs, poster sessions, and exhibits will be held at the Colorado Convention Center. GSA Field Trips will also depart from the Colorado Convention Center. The Hyatt Regency Denver at CCC is the headquarter hotel where the majority of non-technical events will be held. Meeting abstracts are due July 12. For more information click HERE.

OCTOBER 7th, 2016: 2016 West Slope EE Conference - Bringing Colorado's EE Plan to Life. This conference will be held from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Ridgway State Park Group Event Facility, located in Pa-Co-Chu-Puk area of the park. Join environmental education (EE) providers and supporters from agencies, nonprofits, schools, and environmental, nature, conservation fields for an engaging summit. Learn more about the Colorado Environmental Education Plan, network and share ideas, and find inspiration from innovative EE leaders. For more information and registration go to www.caee.org.

OCTOBER 11th - 13th, 2016: Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference: A River Runs Out of It: Building Strong Upstream Communities. The Colorado Watershed Assembly in partnership with the Colorado Foundation for Water Education and the Colorado Riparian Association hosts this conference focused on cooperation and collaboration throughout Colorado in natural resource conservation, protection, and enhancement. Registration Opens July 2016! Visit our Conference Page for more information.

NOVEMBER 2nd & 3rd, 2016: The Sixth Annual Upper Colorado River Basin Forum will be held at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. The theme is"Complex Systems in Flux: Changing Relationships between Water, People and the Environment." They have a CALL FOR ABSTRACTS on presentation proposals from water managers, policy makers, scholars and other stakeholders. The call for abstracts is available here.