connect with conservation
At Colorado Open Lands, we love what we do, and we want to share it with our community!
We hope you can join us out on land this year. See below for free opportunities with our Lessons from the Land series. And if you’re unable to meet us there, we’d love to come to you.
Our outings and webinars are designed for people who are entirely new to this field, and those that want to deepen their understanding of how they can connect with the land, water, and wildlife that surrounds us.
Lessons from the Land Series
Join us on a journey this year to discover the values that COL protects! Each event in the series is designed to cover unique content for you to learn about why land and water protection is so important and how the work gets done. Join us for an upcoming hike, property visit, or webinar to deepen your understanding of conservation and expand your own love for Colorado.
Although designed as a series, we welcome you to any or all events. Our Lessons from the Land events are:
- Free to attend
- Informative and engaging
- Designed for folks new to conservation, and folks wanting to learn more
- And most importantly, fun!
Program details will be added below as they become available. Want to make it even easier to receive details? Sign up here to receive invitations in your inbox!

April 4, 2025 | Conservation 101, Lakewood
Are you new to the COL family or have you ever just wondered how COL protects land and water for both people and wildlife? Join us for an introduction to our work! Engage in this dynamic conversation to learn about the challenges of land and water use that are driving conservation efforts statewide. We hope you walk away with an understanding of both why and how we do our work at COL.
The Details
Schedule:
11:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Welcome
12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. | Presentation
12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Q&A
Location & Parking:
This event is hosted at the COL Lakewood Office in Lakewood. Parking and restrooms are available on-site. The address will be shared with confirmed attendees.
Register here by April 1, 2025!
This event has limited spots available. Registration Required.
April 7, 2025 | Conservation 101, Virtual
Are you new to the COL family or have you ever just wondered how COL protects land and water for both people and wildlife? Join us for a virtual introduction to our work! Engage in this dynamic conversation to learn about the challenges of land and water use that are driving conservation efforts statewide. We hope you walk away with an understanding of both why and how we do our work at COL.
The Details
Schedule:
12:00 p.m. – 12:50 p.m. | Presentation
12:50 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Q&A
Zoom Link:
This event is hosted via Zoom. The link will be sent to registered participants. Note that the presentation will not be recorded, so please only register if you plan to attend live.
Register here by April 3, 2025!
This event has limited spots available. Registration Required.
April 25, 2025 | Urban Living Landscapes, Littleton
Colorado Open Lands is partnering with South Suburban Parks and Recreation for this year’s worldwide City Nature Challenge. This annual event motivates people around the world to take observations of the natural world using the iNaturalist app. Drop by South Platte Park to engage with COL staff and a naturalist from South Platte Park before making observations at your own pace along the trail!
The Details
Schedule:
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Drop by anytime at our booth at South Platte Park
Location & Parking:
3000 W Carson Dr, Littleton, CO 80120
We will be located at a booth just north of Carson Nature Center. Parking and restrooms are available on-site. Note that this is a public park, and the parking lot can get full on nice weather days. Please be patient if you need to wait for a parking space.
What to Bring:
Clothing to be comfortable outdoors, field guides and/or binoculars (if you have any), your charged smartphone with iNaturalist downloaded (set up your free account in advance). Resources on how to download and use the app can be found here (scroll to bottom of page).
What to Expect:
Staff will be present to give a brief overview of South Platte Park and its connection to Colorado Open Lands. We will also share an overview of the City Nature Challenge and how to use your iNaturalist app as you adventure through the park on your own. There are 4+ miles of trails to explore, so you can spend as much time as you’d like making observations of plants and animals. You can also always return back to our booth and have us support you in identification of plants and animals using the photographs you took on iNaturalist.
Unable to drop by and want to see how else you can participate in this worldwide event? Click here!
July 11, 2025 | Views from the Trail, Frisco
Stay tuned for details!
July 28, 2025 | Conservation 201, Virtual
Stay tuned for details!
August 21, 2025 | South Park: From History to Restoration, Kenosha Pass
Stay tuned for details!
September 4, 2025 | The Secret Life of Wildlife, Virtual
Stay tuned for details!
September 26, 2025 | Land for Learning, Fairplay
Stay tuned for details!
October 16, 2025 | Exploring Regenerative Agriculture, Strasburg
Stay tuned for details!
October 24, 2025 | Recreational Respite, Golden
Stay tuned for details!
Please note that dates listed are subject to change. We do our best to have dates finalized, but weather, landowner availability, etc. may occasionally necessitate a change.
Looking for someone to speak about land and water conservation to your group?
We love the opportunity to connect with community groups! Please complete this form and we’ll get back to you within 2-3 days. We’ve spoken at meetings of Rotary Clubs, Garden Clubs, and presented at High School Career Days, just to start!
Availability is limited, so please reach out in advance!
Questions? Contact Yvonne Schramm at yschramm@coloradoopenlands.org or 303.988.2373 ext. 223.