May 17, 2023 | Discover Your Nonprofit’s Path to Digital Transformation – For Free | River Network. Join Felipe Reyes, Director of Customer Development at TechSoup, to learn about the TechSoup Digital Assessment Tool (DAT), a free web-based application that helps nonprofit organizations assess their technology needs and understand their digital capabilities. You will have the opportunity to do the Introductory Assessment module during this session. It provides customized recommendations and tools to manage the digital transformation journey.
May 18th, 2023 | Community Engagement and Inclusion | Community Resource Center. Nonprofits do well to include community in organizational planning, programs, and development. This session will help participants understand the role community-led programming can play in meeting their missions, developing more inclusive and equitable engagement processes, and creating sustainable change. We will focus on tools, systems, and approaches for inclusive community engagement. This session will explore tools and tactics for participatory community engagement providing participants with tangible resources for engaging diverse stakeholders and centering community in decision making processes.
May 18th-19th, 2023 | Virtual CMAT Member Training. Join on March 3 to learn about CMAT and how it can benefit your community. A team of experts will discuss the program and provide information on how to access its resources. The CMATs are available to help your community develop and implement strategic plans, build partnerships, and provide training to enhance wildfire mitigation and preparedness. With the increasing threat of wildfires, it is essential that communities take proactive steps to mitigate risk and build resilience. By partnering with CMATs, you can take advantage of the support and resources to realize a more fire-adapted future. The deadline to apply is April 28th, the end of the day.
May 22nd, 2023 | Camelina Field Day | Colorado Water Ag Alliance. Learn about Camelina, an oilseed crop that: Has an established market as a biofuel. Can be planted in fall or early spring for May/ June harvest. Uses less water than other crops grown in Western CO & Eastern UT. Is fast growing with few inputs.
May 24th, 2023 | Nonprofit Board Leadership | Community Resource Center. This training is for Executive Directors, Board Members, and any staff interested in increasing their skills and knowledge of nonprofit governance. Topics to be covered include shared and separate roles and responsibilities, nonprofit lifecycles, board recruitment strategies, board meetings, tips for board chairs, and ideas for engaging board members. Opportunities for peer learning and support will be provided, so please bring a current board question or challenge to share and discuss.
June 7th, 2023 | After the Flames Webinar Series | COCO. Join COCO as they host Chris Sturm, Watershed Program Coordinator with Colorado Water Conservation Board, for a presentation and discussion in working to understand the susceptibility of Colorado’s watersheds to post-wildfire impacts and to plan and prepare for them before fires occur. The Wildfire Ready Watersheds Program provides guidance to help predict where and what post-fire impacts will be felt in local communities. The program provides a detailed work plan that community groups can use to refine and add detail to the study in ways that reflect local priorities and values. Importantly, the Wildfire Ready Watersheds Program also provides guidance on actions that may be taken to reduce the impact of these post-fire hazards on infrastructure and natural resources – both before, and after, a wildfire occurs.
June 7th-8th, 2023 | The Future of Forests. As wildfires continue to ravage the west, burning more and more of the landscape, many are left wondering, how will these fire-affected forests will recover? In this FREE teacher workshop, University of Colorado Boulder curriculum developers lead participants through “The Future of Forests”, a MS/HS curriculum connected to NGSS life science standards that explores patterns of post-fire recovery (or lack thereof) across the west and inspires classrooms to engage in citizen science using NASA's GLOBE Observer land cover app. Participants will engage with online interactives from the National Forest Service, authentic datasets, and App-based labs in this 2-day online teacher workshop.
July 10th-14th, 2023 | Durango: Crossroads of agriculture and education. If you’re new to Agriculture in the Classroom or if you’d like to learn about agriculture and natural resources in the southwest, this five-day course is for you. Ranching, farming, produce, water, and integrating agriculture into your school are just a few of the topics that you will learn about through on-site tours and presentations from industry experts. PreK-12 formal and informal educators in all disciplines from across the Four Corners region and beyond are welcome. Registration of $95 includes 2.5 Continuing Education Units (37.5 clock hours) and 3 graduate level credits from Colorado State University
June 15th, 2023 | Nonprofit Financial Leadership | Community Resource Center. Build your organizational capacity around nonprofit accounting practices, financial oversight, and internal controls. Join for an overview of the critical components of financial management for nonprofit organizations. This workshop will provide participants with an understanding of basic financial management terminology, policies and best practices for success. Topics include understanding a nonprofit board of director’s financial oversight responsibilities, best practices around internal controls, year-end reporting requirements, an overview of financial statements including cash flow, and statement of activities.
June 16th, 2023 | Automated Weeder Demos. See machines in operation on the CSU Arkansas Valley Research Center weeding onions and broccoli (both are also proxies for other low and high density crops possible). Learn more about leading automated weeders for vegetable farms (removing weeds both between and in row). Meet company representatives for more information.
July 17th-August 3rd, 2023 | Earth Corps Field Studies Program | RMFI. Earth Corps is an 18-day field studies course that provides motivated, environmentally conscious undergraduate students the opportunity to live and learn in the incredible natural classroom of the Colorado mountains. The program began in 2002 and in 2014, it won the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education Higher Education Award. The application deadline is April 10, 2023.
July 18-20, 2023 | Denver: The science of animal agriculture. A NEW, three-day professional development opportunity focused on immersive learning experiences in science education. From veterinary science to climate impacts of livestock production to food production, participants will learn directly from industry experts and be equipped with lessons and resources that can be immediately used in the classroom. While this session will be science-focused, it is open to all preK-12 grade formal and informal educators from Colorado and surrounding states. Registration of $45 includes 1.5 Continuing Education Units (22.5 clock hours) and 1 graduate level credit from Colorado State University.
July 20th, 2023 | Get Grants | Community Resource Center. Join CRC for a comprehensive grant writing workshop and learn best practices in grant writing and tips for success when writing the Colorado Common Grant Application. We will understand the essential elements included in a grant proposal and how to craft a compelling case for support through interactive exercises. A review of grant terminology, sources of grant funding, and research tools including the Colorado Grants Guide™ will be discussed.
August 10th, 2023 | Glenwood Springs Water & Fire Resiliency Tour | Colorado WaterWise. On this tour, we'll learn from Glenwood Water Department staff about the critical steps they took to protect their watershed and water quality in order to be able to continue to supply safe, clean water to their residents immediately following the fire and into the future. These actions have included a new pipeline to create a redundant system at the Roaring Fork pump station, a mixing vault outside the City's water plant to support water quality and provide additional system redundancy, upgrades to the water plant that allow for advanced water quality treatment given continued impacts from the burn scar area, and upgrades to No Name Creek's diversion structures to protect the raw water delivery system, reduce sediment load, and improve plant performance. Depending on weather and snowpack, this tour will visit the No Name Intake System or the City's Water Plant and Roaring Fork Intake.
Watershed Academy’s new Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module Ready - The EPA Watershed Academy has released their new Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module. This module is intended for water quality and hazard mitigation professionals that are interested in integrating water quality issues and/or nature-based solutions into state or local Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs), and highlights the benefits of working across water quality and hazard mitigation programs. Modules in this series can be used as training tools to help planners from both worlds explore activities of mutual interest and benefit. Case studies and examples are provided to assist hazard mitigation planners with integrating water resource programs into HMPs and help watershed planners understand the synergies between water resource plans and HMPs.Visit this link to begin the course!
Colorado Water and the American West teaches students about the rich history of water in the Western United States, how native communities used it, and the American approach to water management. The western United States is a region with a long history of water challenges. In the American West, over 40 million people depend on the Colorado River, now listed as one of the most endangered rivers in America. MSU Denver developed the non credit Professional Water Studies courses for people interested in safeguarding this precious resource. Taught by MSU Denver faculty, courses are one month long, fully online, and self-paced to accommodate the schedules of busy professional students.
The Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership presents 14 videos to help community members learn about how water is managed, restored and monitored in the upper Uncompahgre River watershed. Take advantage of this new education resource to learn about your watershed including mine reclamation, water monitoring, recreational use, water conservation, drinking water and waste water treatment and distribution, aquatic life, water scarcity, agricultural use, management, infrastructure, and more. Watch the video series here.
Master Irrigator Program- San Luis Valley. Over four sessions, this 32-hour program reviews water law and administration, history of water development, and gives participants the tools and strategies to improve water and energy use efficiency and conservation, soil health, and profitability on their operations. Those who complete the course will also receive a $2,000 stipend. To be eligible for this course you must farm in either Rio Grande, Alamosa, Costilla, Conejos, Saguache or Mineral County. Details will be available soon here.
The American Stormwater Institute, LLC now offers courses in a live setting and online that deal with developing the knowledge and skills required to conduct stormwater inspections. Our courses are based on a “Real World” attitude of finding implementable solutions to the challenges that stormwater inspectors face every day. The state and federal regulations require that “QUALIFIED PERSONS” conduct inspections related to stormwater permits. The overarching goal of the ASI classes is to ensure that our students are well qualified to conduct these inspections. For a list of all classes offered click HERE.
Non-standard MS4 Permit PDD Template and Program Strategy Templates. SPLASH members and SEMSWA worked with CP Compliance to create resources to educate permittees. It may also assist permittees with implementation of the new Non-standard MS4 Permit. Please click HERE to access the material.
San Juan Expedition Avy Course based at Thelma Hut. The AIARE Avy 1 Hut Course is designed to give you a full introduction to backcountry travel. Based out of the Thelma hut on Red Mountain Pass, you will spend day and night with your peers and instructors learning the foundation of avalanche education. In a hut format, you spend more time skiing, more time learning from and observing your instructors, and more time in the mountains—all with lodging and food included. When you take your level one with San Juan Expeditions you will get hands-on experience analyzing the avalanche hazard and using your observations to make decisions in the field. Click HERE for more information.
MSU Denver developed the noncredit Water Studies courses for people interested in safeguarding this precious resource. Students will learn history, law, management, and water trends in Colorado and the American West. The courses have recently been improved, offering the same high quality, but shortened to meet your busy schedules. The course structure has been redesigned for each class to be one month long to improve the learning experience and accommodate the schedules of busy professional students. Click HERE for more information.
Colorado Master Irrigator offers farmers and farm managers advanced training on conservation- and efficiency-oriented irrigation management practices and tools. This program is the product of efforts led by several local producers, district management representatives, and others. Colorado Master Irrigator is modeled on the award-winning Master Irrigator program created and run since 2016 by the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District in the Texas panhandle. Topic experts from Colorado and adjacent Ogallala states, serve as instructors over the 32 hours of the program. Colorado Master Irrigator's interactive class format is designed to encourage peer-to-peer exchange among participants and instructors, helping forge useful contacts that graduates can reach out to after their participation in the program. Click HERE for more information.
Silt Removal - Positive Impact on Crop Yields, Water Use Efficiency, & Irrigation Systems. Presentation from the 2021 World Ag Expo on sources of silt, its impacts, and current and new methods of removal. Watch the presentation here!