2019 Education Programs Recap
2020 is here, but let’s not forget about 2019 just yet! Thanks to the help of the BLM, partner organizations, and invaluable volunteers, 2019 was a very successful year for our education programs. From doubling the size of our river program to having our first ever Fall Nature Knowledge Days, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments from 2019!
The Impact
River-Based Education
647 students reached
44 different day-long & overnight trips
Partnered with 15+ schools & organizations
Land-Based Education
2,065 students reached
67 volunteers contributing 665 hours
21 trips & events
Land Overview
Whether it was exploring the aquatic life of the Gunnison River or searching for dinosaur bones, CCA’s land education programs provided fun, hands-on, and standards-based education throughout 2019. Engaging hundreds of 3rd - 12th graders from Mesa, Delta, and Montrose counties, we strove to connect students to nature and our local National Conservation Areas (NCAs).
We kicked off the Spring with Nature Knowledge Days and Escalante Field Experience, working closely with the BLM and local school districts to develop our educational curriculum. In the Fall, we had another great week at Cottonwood Days and held our first ever Fall Nature Knowledge days which brought more Mesa County 3rd graders outside than ever! Additionally, throughout the year we worked with Hilltop’s Residential Youth Services to provide impactful and meaningful hikes for at-risk youth.
“I think that [in 2019] we were able to innovate and expand our land programs in ways that we had been unable to do previously. With the addition of a fall Nature Knowledge Days, a new education-focused AmeriCorps VISTA in the GJ BLM office, and enhanced BLM coordination, we've been able to improve our programming in ways that we have been talking about for years. I'm very excited to see this continue in 2020 with a new VISTA in Montrose and even closer communication and collaboration with our education partners!”
- Rob Gay, Lands Program Director
River Overview
CCA's River Education team is committed to providing meaningful place-based learning and leadership development opportunities for youth and adults in western Colorado.
We launched our busy river education season in April by facilitating a retreat for youth leaders from the City of Fruita's Youth Action Council. Throughout the spring, we led youth trips with The Nature Connection, the Wilderness Lab (OWL) program at Bookcliff Middle School, Independence Academy Charter School, and Juniper Ridge Community School.
In June, July, and August, we partnered with Girl Scouts of Colorado, Eureka! Science Museum, Riverside Educational Center, Mesa and Delta County Partners, and GOALS Youth River Expeditions, to provide unique summer camp programming. During that time, we also worked with the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office to complete river stewardship work along the Gunnison River in Gunnison Gorge NCA. Additionally, we led a trash clean-up event with the BLM Grand Junction Field Office on the Colorado River through McInnis Canyons NCA.
Classes resumed in August and we kicked off the school year on a trip with 8th graders from Independence Academy Charter School. Throughout the fall, we made the river our classroom and led six trips with environmental science students from Central High School in Mesa County Valley School District 51 and six trips with students from Delta County School District 50J. We also provided educational trips for Hilltop students. We ended the season in late October, after our first year partnering with the Colorado National Monument Association’s Monuments and Canyon's Plein Air Invitational where artists re-created the stunning McInnis Canyons landscapes they floated past.
Thank you to everyone who supported our most successful year to date. We are looking forward to expanding the depth of our programs in 2020!
To everyone who was involved with our 2019 education programs, THANK YOU! Your support was invaluable and helped so many kids gain unique and authentic experiences. Stay tuned for our upcoming 2020 education events!