Preconference Session #1: Equity Audit: How to Diversify your Environmental Organization

Half-day (1pm-5pm), $55 members/$70 non-members

Utilizing the Center for Diversity and the Environment's Equity Audit tool, this workshop will provide insight and guidance to comprehensively diversifying your organization. Each participant will develop an individual and organizational diversity action plan.

Preconference Session #2: Soapstone Prairie Trip:  “Sharing the Stories of People and Prairies through Time”

Full day (8am-5pm), $70 members/$85 non-members. Price includes transportation from conference site in Northglenn to Soapstone Prairie in Fort Collins. 1/2 credit available from Colorado School of Mines ($45 fee payable at workshop)

Visit Soapstone Prairie Natural Area where cultural and natural history meet in one of the state’s largest land conservation projects. This remarkable natural area encompasses 28 square miles conserving one of the last nearly pristine shortgrass prairies in the country. It is home to many rare and threatened plant and animal species. People have also occupied this land continuously for over 10,000 years thanks to the resources this landscape provides. Soapstone Prairie contains the Lindenmeier Archeological site, a National Historic Landmark, recognized worldwide as one of the most extensive occupations of the prehistoric Folsom culture.  Join us to learn how to share these stories through interpretive signage, lesson plans, guided walks, booth activities and more. Hands-on activities and hikes provide you with the tools to interpret the stories of the prairies—the past and the present. How well do you really know your prairie?

Preconference Session #3: Project WET Facilitator Workshop

Full day (9am-5pm), $35 for Project WET Facilitators, 1/2 credit available from Colorado School of Mines ($45 fee payable at workshop)

The Facilitators workshop will focus on the development of a new framework for sustaining the relevance of Project WET in the state of Colorado.  Content of the workshop will include methods of linking Project WET to the new state education standards as well as ways to encourage teachers to include and supplement the required curriculum with the Project WET activities.  There will be a section of the workshop dedicated to inquiry based teaching and its importance to the future of Project WET workshops.  We will explore how to create inquiry based learning approaches to enhance your Project WET workshops by visiting a local pond and wetland.  In addition, methods of reaching school districts with the benefits of Project WET will be explored and discussed.  Lastly, there will be several special content presentations from water authorities throughout the state.

*Appropriate dress for weather is recommended.

Preconference Session #4: Get Your Game On!

Half day (12:30pm-4:30pm), $35 members/$45 non-members

Support the No Child Left Inside Act by discovering fun nature games and activities to play outside with your students!   Many of these activities need little or no prep time or props. Learn new ways of teaching about food chains, carrying capacity, predator/prey relationships, pollination, wildlife, and so much more!  Come prepared to play! If you joined us last year…come again and learn new games (and get refreshed on a few of the old ones!).

*This preconference workshop will be held at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster