This summer, San Juan Mountains Association will continue established partnerships with San Juan National Forest, the Bureau of Land Management Tres Rios Field Office and BLM Canyons of the Ancients National Monument as well as explore new ones in the Conservation Education program.
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This will be SJMA’s third year offering the Forests to Faucets: My Water Comes from the San Juan Mountains teacher workshop, taking place June 26-27. This workshop is a partnership with Mountain Studies Institute in Silverton and the Water Information Program in Durango.
This year, we’ll take yet another new tack on the water workshop, focusing on the Dolores and San Juan watersheds, with a special interest in the history and prehistory of the area. We’ll travel from a fen at the top of Taylor Mesa to the Anasazi Heritage Center, Yucca House and the Ute Farm and Ranch south of Towaoc.
We can do all this thanks to generous grants from the Southwestern Water Conservation District, and two chapters of Trout Unlimited: Dolores River Anglers and Five Rivers.
Any teachers who are interested in sharing this topic with their classes as well as obtaining continuing education hours and/or Adams State University credit should email emily@mountainstudies.org.
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A brand-new program SJMA is offering this summer is one in partnership with the Cortez Recreation Center’s Playground Days program and Dolores River Anglers chapter of Trout Unlimited. It’s called Southwest Colorado Aquatic Connections – aka Fish Adventures, and is made possible in part by a grant from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Playground Days is day camp offered by Cortez Parks and Recreation throughout the summer. SJMA will be visiting the kids in this program every Wednesday for six weeks, teaching them about water, water conservation, aquatic macroinvertebrates, fish and fishing. The lessons will culminate with a visit to the Dolores River to see what fish the kids can catch.
We do need volunteers every Wednesday (June 18 to July 23) and especially many volunteers to help with the fishing on July 23. A background check is required to volunteer and is paid for by the Cortez Rec Center. Email gabi@sjma.org or call 385-1256 for more information.
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SJMA also is excited to offer many field seminars this summer to the general public. Here’s a list. Check the SJMA website and sign up for SJMA’s e-news (email kathe@sjma.org to sign up) for more information.
June 3 – Durango Mountain Resort Naturalist Training.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 10 to Aug. 14, 10 a.m. to noon – Durango Mountain Resort Nature Hikes, free and open to the public.
June 7 - 11 – Upper White River Canoe trip co-sponsored by SJMA (www.centennialcanoe.com).
Wednesdays, June 18 to July 23 – Southwest Colorado Aquatic Connections at Cortez Playground Days.
June 21 – Arborglyph Walk at Moonlick Park.
June 26-27 – Forests to Faucets Teacher Workshop.
June 29 – Butterflies & Blooms at Cascade.
July 19 – Farmer Cabin Explorations for Families.
July 28-30 – Teen Backpacking on Crater Lake Trail.
Aug. 16 – Buggy Water for Families in Dolores.
Aug. 29 – Edible Plant Walk by Katrina Blair, Junction Creek Trail.
Sept. 13 – Glacial Geology hike to Highland Mary Lakes.
Sept. 19-21 – Ladies Backpacking Trip.
Sept. 27 – Wilderness Walk, La Plata County Fairgrounds.
See you on the trail.
MK Thompson is assistant for education, volunteer programs and visitor information services for San Juan Mountains Association, a nonprofit dedicated to public land stewardship and education.
