Teacher Workshops & Resources
Reaching our youngest coloradans
Today’s youth – the next generation of leaders that will be protecting our land – need a repertoire of knowledge and skills that is more complex than any previous generation of students. We want youth to have the opportunity to become leaders in the environmental field and integrate their care for nature into their personal and professional lives as adults. This is only possible if educators are equipped and empowered to facilitate environmental learning in their classrooms. COL addresses this need by hosting Teacher Workshops to help K-12 educators learn about land and water conservation, develop hands-on skills, and compose curriculum that is tied to state standards and instills a sense of appreciation for conservation among their students.
To express interest in a workshop for 2027 or beyond, please submit your information here and we will be in contact with more information as it becomes available.
sacramento creek ranch teacher Workshop
Fairplay, CO
San Luis Valley teacher Workshop
Fort Garland, CO
Sacramento Creek ranch Teacher Workshop
Co-Hosted with Mountain Area Land Trust
Join us for a 4-day, 3 CEU workshop to learn about wildlife, forestry, agriculture, and water! This workshop is open to all Colorado K-12 educators, paraeducators, specialists, and administrators. Educators will gain new conservation knowledge, explore outdoor and indoor conservation activities, and walk away with resources to empower the next generation of conservation stewards.
This workshop is held at Sacramento Creek Ranch near Fairplay, Colorado. This 71-acre property was conserved in 2020 and boasts many nature trails, beaver ponds, and if you’re lucky – wildlife sightings! As of 2026, it is also equipped with a fully renovated indoor classroom space, creating an exciting new environment for hands‑on learning and collaboration.
When: June 15-18, 2026
Where: Fairplay, Colorado
Cost: $100 (includes CEUs, lodging, and meals)
Detailed Overview: Click here for more information!
The 2026 workshop will feature similar content as in 2025. We kindly ask that educators from 2025 do not attend the 2026 workshop to give new educators the opportunity to participate. Future years will feature updated content so returning educators can continue to learn and grow.
Nothing speaks louder than the experiences of past participants. Read on to hear what they had to say about our Workshop:
“I came to this workshop excited to learn how to connect students to the outdoors. I left with renewed passion and knowledge of our ecosystems, the environment, conservation and eager to share ideas with colleagues and administration. I gained more than I could have ever expected!” ~ 2025 Participant
“This workshop not only deepened my personal knowledge, but also gave me so many ideas, activities, and resources that I can connect to what I am already doing in the classroom to help students gain more appreciation and respect for wildlife and the natural world around them.” ~ 2025 Participant
“We always hear about how humans are harming the earth. This workshop presented constructive, actionable ways to help repair and restore the natural world that are accessible for students as well.” ~2025 Participant
Questions? Contact Yvonne Schramm at [email protected] or 303.988.2373 ext. 223
or Jeff Jordan at [email protected]
San Luis Valley Teacher Workshop
Co-Hosted with Trinchera Ranch
Join us for a 5-day, 3 graduate credit workshop all about wildlife! Students are naturally inclined to love animals, so why not use that love to educate about Colorado’s wildlife, their habitat, and how we can protect them. This is a brand-new curriculum, so we invite all Colorado K-12, special education, literacy, gifted and talented classroom educators, and outdoor education specialists to join us. Since this is a new session, it is also open to those who have attended our workshops before! Educators will become Project Wild certified, collaborate with conservation practitioners, build their knowledge base, develop hands-on skills, and receive both classroom and outdoor based lesson plans and resources.
This workshop is held at the beautiful Trinchera Ranch outside of Ft. Garland, Colorado. This 177,000-acre conserved ranch lies within the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains and boasts a variety of pristine habitats that help facilitators make the content come to life! To view a video of what past workshops have looked like, click here.
The San Luis Valley Teacher Workshop has been put on pause. Please check back here for updates regarding the program.
Questions? Contact Judy Lopez at [email protected] or 719.580.5300 or
Yvonne Schramm at [email protected] or 303.988.2373 ext. 223
Classroom resources
Unable to attend a teacher workshop but looking for classroom resources about Colorado’s natural resources? With support from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Trinchera Blanca Foundation, Colorado Open Lands produced six short videos to help introduce different environmental topics to students. The videos cover topics such as wildlife, watersheds, sustainable agriculture, forests and more. They are age-appropriate and a great way to present topics to students in the classroom. They are available for free and can be viewed on our YouTube channel at this link.
