The EARTh Center Colorado River Fellows Program invites environmental educators to embark on a transformative, three-part professional development experience exploring one of North America’s most vital and dynamic waterways. From its headwaters in Northern Colorado to its delta in Southern California, the Colorado River supports diverse ecosystems, critical industries, and vast communities across its 1,450-mile journey.
This year-long professional development opportunity offers immersive field experiences, virtual learning sessions, and opportunities for professional collaboration, culminating in actionable insights and resources participants can integrate into their classrooms. Together, we’ll explore the Colorado River’s story from the Rocky Mountains to the dry delta where the Colorado River once emptied into the Pacific Ocean.
Part One: Headwaters Exploration (June 23–27, 2025 | Boulder, Colorado)
Fellows will begin their journey at the Colorado River's headwaters, delving into the environmental, educational, and industrial impacts of the river on this critical region. In collaboration with UC Boulder, Red Rocks Community College, Nextera, Rocky Mountain National Park, US Geological Survey, NOAA, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and many others, program participants will have the opportunity to explore the region through:
- Site Visits to educational institutions, state & federal research facilities, and unique environmental locations.
- Industry Engagement with leaders from public and private organizations advancing careers in environmental sectors.
- Engaging Educational Resources such as classroom materials, hands-on labs, and other pedagogical resources designed to spark classroom integration and student engagement of
Part Two: "Journey Down the River" Virtual Sessions (Fall 2025–Spring 2026)
In the year following Part One of the program, the journey continues downstream with a series of monthly virtual professional development sessions. These recorded lectures, with additional Q&A, will explore the river’s evolving resources and challenges. Topics include:
- Community Initiatives
- Government Policies
- Agricultural Effects
- Environmental Quality
- Industrial Impacts
Participants will spend time during this part of the program learning from experts, collaborating with colleagues, and building a community of practice for environmental educators. This phase will focus on developing resources and insights for coursework while fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration among participants.
Part Three: Delta Immersion (June 2026 | Southern California)
The program culminates in an exploration of the Colorado River delta, where participants will see firsthand how the river’s diminishing flow impacts the ecosystems, communities, and industries that rely on it. Activities will mirror those in Part One, including site visits, industry engagement, and collaborative learning.
Each part of the program presents a distinct but interconnected learning experience for educators, offering new insights into the complex relationship between the Colorado River and its diverse ecosystems.
Expectations of Participants
Each component of the program will have specific expectations for participants to complete. These will include:
- Working to build a community of practice by sharing insights with colleagues
- Submitting reflections of site visit and educational sessions
- Collaborating with colleagues to develop classroom resources and implementation strategies
Participant Benefits
Fellows are eligible to receive:
- Travel Reimbursement: Includes airfare/mileage (receipts required - lodging is booked and paid for by the EARTh Center)
- Participation Stipends: Up to $1,000 per program part, based on completion of evaluations and active engagement
- Materials Awards: Up to $1,000 for each immersive event (Parts One and Three) or $2,000 for participating in both, contingent on completion of deliverables
Eligibility and Key Dates
- Application Deadline: March 14, 2025
- Selection Notifications: March 28, 2025
- Where: Boulder, Colorado (Part One); Virtual (Part Two); Southern California (Part Three)
- When: June 23–27, 2025, through June 2026
- Preference given to community college educators currently teaching environmental and natural resource courses
- Educators from high school, community college, and technical colleges are welcome to apply
Participation in all three parts is highly encouraged to gain the full benefits of the program. Preference will be given to applicants able to attend all three parts of the Fellows Program, but participation in all three parts is not required.
For questions or concerns, please reach out via our Contact Us page.
