What we do:

The Watershed Education Program (WEP) provides hands-on environmental education for grades K-12 in the San Miguel Watershed from its headwaters in the high alpine zones down to the plateaus of southwest Colorado at the confluence with the Dolores River. Our main focus is to provide teachers with partial or full day field studies that are tied directly to their classroom curriculum and Colorado State Standards. We use the San Miguel River and other regional ecosystems and environments as the core elements of a place-based curriculum that addresses current issues regarding the nexus of food, water, energy, and climate change. Each field study experience also addresses the social, cultural, and economic implications linked to these topics, and emphasizes the value of collaboration and service across communities. Field study opportunities are created with the Fall and Spring seasons in mind, but also include the opportunity for a Winter Ecology program. WEP works with schools within San Miguel County and the surrounding region. All programming is provided free of charge, but requires a deposit fee that is returned upon completion of the course. In order to provide this free programming WEP raises funding through grants, foundations, and individual donors.