Photo by Dean Rolley

FOR PEOPLE PLACE AND PLANET

Innovative programs to advance environmental and cultural resilience.

WATERSHED EDUCATION TALKING GOURDS MUSHROOM FESTIVAL SCAPE TESEL UTE YOUTH EVENTS

The Telluride Institute collaborates with leading artists, scientists, and educators to make change happen through freethinking research. We are an innovative non-profit organization that fosters the transition to a sustainable world.

SUPPORTING THE HEALTH OF ENVIRONMENTS & CULTURES

The Telluride Institute was founded in 1984. Crossing continents, politics, and disciplines, our programs demonstrate innovative and practical methods for building and sustaining healthy communities and environments. We work to create and advance real solutions that support the well being of environments, cultures, and communities.

HEADLINES

August 6, 2026

Help Ensure there is a Telluride Mushroom Festival Every Year

July 31, 2026

First Book Cliffs Poetry Festival set for September 26 in Grand Junction

July 17, 2026

Kirbie Bennett of Durango Featured at Bardic Trails on Aug. 4th

PROGRAMS

Working both locally and globally, the Telluride Institute creates and advances a variety of programs to support the health of cultures and environments. Stay up-to-date with all of the programs on our News & Events page. We inspire and inform a growing group of citizens to turn them into stewards who care for their surroundings and do business with the health of the San Miguel Watershed in mind.

(Tap or click on the program images to learn more.)

TELLURIDE MUSHROOM FESTIVAL

Held annually in Telluride, TMF celebrates all things mycological, from the newest advancements in mushroom science to our famous mushroom cook-off.
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WATERSHED EDUCATION PROGRAM

Assisting classroom teachers in planning and executing full day and overnight field trips that are tied directly to their classroom curriculum and the Colorado State Standards.
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TALKING GOURDS

Inspired by Silverton climber, skier, author and deep ecologist, the late Dolores LaChapelle, Talking Gourds has become a poetry program sponsored by the Telluride Institute.
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TELLURIDE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING LABORATORY

The mission of TESEL is to establish projects and conduct research in environmental science and engineering to better understand regional ecosystems.
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PROSPECT BASIN FENS PROJECT

A collaboration with Telski to provide people of all ages opportunities to interact with Prospect Basin’s Fen’s.
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INDIGENOUS PROGRAM

There are five parts to reconciliation - the incident, an apology, the acceptance of an apology, reparations or restitution of some kind, and finally a state of reconciliation.
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SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES & PLACE-BASED EDUCATION

An environmental education project that combines online learning and field observations linked to living classrooms across the Colorado River Basin.
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MOUNTAIN INFOZONE PROGRAM

Furthering global communications interactions, research, learning, access to tools, investments, decision-making and collaborative sustainability works on the ground.
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MASTER IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Through applied master’s projects with community organizations, MEM students foster ecologically resilient, economically sustainable, and socially just communities.
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THE LATEST NEWS & EVENTS

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