
Every Friday we post ways you can contribute to making our region a greener place, including:
- Events happening in-person
- Events happening online
- Community Science
- Jobs, Internships, & Scholarships
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Actions & Action Resources
Below, we also have things you can do for Black Lives Matter, environmental activities you can do safely from home, and resources if you are being negatively impacted by coronavirus.
If you have something you would like included in the next round-up, please email Chris at chris@rockymountainwild.org.
Stay informed, engaged, and educated!
Support this work
Consider making a one time donation or joining our Super Species Squad by becoming a monthly donor!
Earth Day 2021
From April 20-22, join the world’s leaders for Earth Day 2021. Together, we can prevent the coming disasters of climate change and environmental destruction. Together, we can Restore Our Earth™.
Earth Day 2021 begins with a global youth climate summit led by Earth Uprising, in collaboration with My Future My Voice, OneMillionOfUs and hundreds of youth climate activists. On April 21, Education International will lead the “Teach for the Planet: Global Education Summit.” And on April 22, parallel to the Biden Administration’s global climate summit, EarthDay.org will have its second Earth Day Live digital event.
Additional Earth Day events, volunteer days, and more are listed below in their respective sections.
BIPOC Experiences on Colorado Public Lands
Next 100 Colorado is launching a pilot project to collect information about the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and people of color on public lands in Colorado. They hope to capture the good, the bad, and everything in between, in service of better understanding the experiences of BIPOC in our publicly owned spaces and, if needed, creating or modifying policies to make our outdoors more inclusive of all people. Please help us get the word out about this effort, and encourage your BIPOC friends, colleagues, and family to share their experiences, whether recent or from the past. More information and a link to the collection form is available here.
The Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship
The Gloria Barron Wilderness Society Scholarship seeks to encourage individuals who have the potential to make a significant positive difference in understanding wilderness and how to protect it. The scholarship is available to current qualified graduate students. It was created in honor of Gloria Barron, a dedicated educator and tireless advocate for wilderness protection. The award of $15,000 will be given to a graduate student to support their research and preparation of a paper on an aspect of wilderness.
The Wilderness Society recently completed a strategic plan that identified two priorities: (1) Make public lands a solution to the climate and extinction crises by securing a resilient, continental network of landscapes and eliminating climate-changing emissions, and (2) Transform conservation policy and practice so all people benefit equitably from public lands. Research proposals broadly addressing biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the social and ecological context of landscape conservation, especially related to issues of equity are encouraged. Applications are due April 23.
EarthEcho Water Challenge Ambassadors applications open
Applications are open for the 2021 class of EarthEcho Water Challenge Ambassadors to youth ages 14-22 from the United States. Ambassadors become community scientists and lead ongoing water quality monitoring efforts through the EarthEcho Water Challenge, a global water quality monitoring program that has engaged 1.6 million participants in 146 countries. Ambassadors collaborate with and learn from a team of young people passionate about protecting local waterways and lead events to educate their communities about the importance of waterway conservation. Applications are due May 3.
Black Lives Matter Actions & Resources
For those looking for ways in which to stand up and demand an immediate end to police brutality and defend Black life, here are some resources:
Measures to support in Denver/Colorado:
Actions to take:
- Black Lives Matter petitions to sign
Groups to listen to, donate to, and follow the lead of:
- 8 to Abolition
- Black Lives Matter 5280 (Denver)
- Color of Change
- Communities United Against Police Brutality
- Communities United for Police Reform
- The Movement for Black Lives
- Showing Up for Racial Justice
Places to donate to:
- Direct aid to Breonna Taylor’s family
- Direct aid to Elijah McClain’s mother
- Colorado Freedom Fund. If you aren’t in Colorado, you can look up your local bail fund here.
Resources to learn more:
- Anti-racism resources
- Anti-racist parenting matrix by age
- Color of Change’s Bold Conversations
- National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Talking About Race
- Raising Race Conscious Children resources
- Scaffolded anti-racist resources
- Showing up for Racial Justice resources
Organizations working towards equity in the outdoors:
Environmental Activities to Do From Home
For those looking for educational things to do with their kids (or to do yourself; these are quite good things), here are some excellent resources:
- From Adler Planetarium: Let’s Do Science video series
- From Audubon Rockies: How to create and certify an Audubon Habitat Hero Garden
- From Conservation Colorado: Online action center of direct environmental actions to take.
- From Defenders of Wildlife: Stay Home Stay Wild list of things to do.
- From Denver Zoo: Zoo to You Virtual Safari
- From Earthsky: Explore the universe from home: NASA’s online activities, e-books, podcasts, and other content.
- From Environment America: 50 Environmental activities kids can do at home and Greener Together list of ways to reconnect with nature and each other
- From Environmental Film Festival: Explore their collection of films available for streaming.
- From Fort Collins Museum of Discovery: black-footed ferret enclosure live camera
- From Google: The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks
- From Great Outdoors Colorado: Outside Everyday Challenge/Reto de Cada Día Afuera and Generation Wild
- From Mrs. Fahrney: 30 Virtual Field Trips
- From National Geographic: At-Home Education Resources
- From National Parks Conservation Association: 8 ways to enjoy National Parks safely from your home
- From National Wildlife Federation: Free access to curricula, activities, and projects for Eco-Schools Program
- From The Nature Conservancy: Youth Engagement Nature Lab
- From Patagonia: Patagonia documentary films
- From The Revelator: Wildlife and nature livecams
- From Smithsonian Learning Lab: Distance learning resources, training, and support
- From Wild & Scenic Film Festival: Films for social distancing
- From Wolf Conservation Center: Free distance learning programs about wolves and how your children can become a Certified WCC Junior Wolf Biologist
- From World Wildlife Fund: WWF’s Wild Classroom and Your Daily Dose of Nature
- From us: American pika coloring page, Bighorn sheep coloring page, Boreal toad coloring page, Canada lynx coloring page, Greater sage-grouse coloring page, Gunnison sage-grouse coloring page, Townsend’s big-eared bat coloring page, Wolf coloring page, and Wolverine coloring page.
Resources here in Colorado if you need some help right now
For those struggling with coronavirus related issues, here are some resources including food resources, shelter and housing resources, unsafe stay-at-home situation resources, mental health resources, and more:
Food Resources:
- Hunger Free Colorado’s COVID-19 Resources Page – includes links, information, and/or phone numbers for the Food Resources Hotline, SNAP, free grab and go meals for students under the age of 18, Meals on Wheels, WIC, and food pantries.
- Denver Public Schools Grab-and-Go Meal Pickup sites and information.
Shelters and Housing:
- COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project – a community legal project to provide information and support to Coloradans unable to pay their rent during the COVID-19 crisis.
- Urban Peak – shelter for youth ages 15 through 20, LGBTIQA2+ safer space.
- Colorado Coalition for the Homeless – housing for families, couples, and individuals as well as affordable housing resources.
- Denver Rescue Mission – National Western Complex to shelter up to 600 men.
- Saint Francis Center – refuge for adult men and women.
Unsafe Stay-At Home Situations:
- National Domestic Violence Hotline – number, online chat function, and resources.
- Violence Free Colorado – resources including those specific to undocumented individuals, immigrant communities, LGBTIQA2+ people, people with disabilities, and more.
Mental Health Resources:
- Medicare coverage now includes telehealth visits, virtual check-ins, and e-visits.
- Mental Health Colorado – mental health resources, including crisis hotlines, virtual sobriety support, and more
- Alcoholics Anonymous – online meetings
- Betterhelp – online counseling service
- Talkspace – offering free online therapy for healthcare workers and discounted subscriptions for all during COVID-19
- Real – free online group therapy and digital events
- Validation Station – free text service that sends daily validation to trans people
- Headspace – mental health app for meditation
- Breathe2Relax – app to manage stress with breathing exercises
Knowledge About Bills and Executive Orders That Could Help:
- Unemployment claim payments have been expedited.
- Federally-serviced student loan borrowers are allowed to defer payments until September 30 with no interest or penalty.
If you know of a resource that should be on this list but isn’t, please let me know.
Events happening in-person
For those who feel safe, here are some events happening in person. Please practice proper distancing and wear your mask while taking part in these events:
- 4/17 Wheat Ridge – Clear Creek Cleanup – Earth Week 2021. Volunteers will help pick up litter along the Clear Creek Trail and in Creekside Park. This event is a collaboration between The City of Wheat Ridge, Sustainable Wheat Ridge, Localworks, and Institute for Environmental Solutions.
- 4/17-18 Greeley – Crew Leadership for Ecological Restoration at Poudre Learning Center. Learn the value and basic practice of ecological restoration and how to motivate and lead others in restoration tasks during this two-day, weekend workshop April 17-18. The cost of this training is $100, but discounted and free spaces are reserved for qualified or local, Weld County volunteers. Contact outreach@voc.org for more information.
- 4/18 Fort Collins – Make it Pretty Poudre River Cleanup. Spend your Sunday morning with CPRW and Odell Brewing Co. for a river cleanup in Old Town, Fort Collins.
- 4/24 Denver – LoDo Cares Earth Day Cherry Creek Clean Up. Meet other LoDo community members and beautify our waterway, all while staying safe and socially distanced. We will provide a light breakfast, refreshments, and all necessary equipment for you and your party. All you have to do is show up (with a mask)!
- 8/21 Fort Collins – Northern Lights & Lobos 2021 Gala Fundraiser. Join WOLF Sanctuary for a frosty affair to remember under the aurora borealis—inclusive of a meet and greet by an ambassador wolf dog, a gourmet vegan/vegetarian meal, unique silent auction items, and much more!
- 10/8 Denver – ELK ‘n Eggs. ELK ‘n Eggs, presented by Environmental Learning for Kids is our biggest fundraiser of the year – we can’t wait to have you join us! Join us for a morning of joy and family at this year’s ELK ‘n Eggs event on the morning of October 8th, 2021 from 7:30-9:00 am at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
Events happening online
Here’s a list of environmental events, happening online:
- Through 4/25 – Wild for Wilderness Online Auction. Great Old Broads for Wilderness annual auction! There’s something for every taste and budget, so don’t miss out on the action.
- Through 4/25 – Bicycle Film Festival. BFF Los Angeles 90 minute short film program appeals to a wide audience from film connoisseurs to avid cyclists and everything in between. A diverse curation of filmmaking styles: narratives, documentaries, international award-winning filmmakers, and emerging directors all share equal billing. These inspirational and high energy stories are told from those who choose cycling as a lifestyle from a wide range of places.
- Through 5/16 – Youth Sustainability Board’s Virtual Scavenger Hunt. The Youth Sustainability Board is hosting a virtual scavenger hunt from April 16 – May 16 to encourage Colorado youth to get involved in sustainability! Through a variety of exciting missions, students will engage outside and learn more about sustainability in Colorado, all while competing to earn prizes like REI gift cards and other environmentally related goodies. Missions will range from “go for a hike” to “celebrate Earth Day by planting a tree with YSB.” As a part of our scavenger hunt, YSB is hosting a virtual speed networking event for students to learn about career options in sustainability as well as a virtual sustainability summit.
- Through 10/24 – Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival Online World Tour. Rocky Mountain Wild is once again teaming up with San Juan Citizens Alliance for the 2021 Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour. This year, bring the adventure home: the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour is going virtual! Travel to the most remote corners of the world, dive into daring expeditions, and celebrate some of the most remarkable outdoor achievements, all from the comfort of your living room. This year’s tour will feature a collection of the most inspiring action, environmental, and adventure films, curated into online programs to be enjoyed right from home. Proceeds from this event benefit Rocky Mountain Wild and San Juan Citizens Alliance (SJCA) and are used to protect Wolf Creek Pass from future resort development.
- 4/17-24 – Earth Week Summit. Presented by Green Team Academy, the 3rd Annual Earth Week Summit is a FREE virtual event for eco-enthusiasts who want to celebrate Earth Day in a fun and meaningful way. Join us for live workshops and happy hours, and opportunities to cross promote events. Participate in our month-long pop-up group. Become a sponsor or volunteer with us. Help us plant 1,000 trees in Kenya!
- 4/19 – How climate change is affecting Colorado’s Rocky Mountain mammals. Do you ever wonder how those beautiful mammals you see on hikes in Colorado are affected by warming temperatures? Dr. Christy McCain asked that question nearly a decade and a half ago and has been working on it ever since. We now have some answers. Many of the high mountain mammals that you know and love—squirrels, chipmunks, marmots—as well as ones you may never have seen—pygmy shrews, montane shrews, long-tailed voles–are moving their populations to higher elevations. In this talk, we will learn about how mammals are responding to climate change in Colorado, and also discuss changes to mountain mammals around the world. There is so much you can do to help mammals and other montane organisms by more efficient use of energy.
- 4/20 – A Sagebrush Sea Deep Dive for Educators. This virtual workshop is an opportunity for classroom and informal educators to learn about the lesson plans, resources, and sagebrush ecosystem activities that Audubon Rockies’ educators have created.
- 4/20 – Rocky Mountain Chapter Virtual Beaver Webinar. This workshop will focus on the importance of beavers in the Rocky Mountain Region and how their ecology can guide wetland and riparian restoration practices. We have organized a group of experts to share information on beaver biology, ecology, and restoration.
- 4/20 – We Shall Breathe National Earth Day Summit. The We Shall Breathe Earth Day Summit will be our Earth Day Celebration bringing the worlds of past movements chanting overcome, and current movements screaming breathe, together centering environmental and climate justice. We can’t breathe because of police brutality, pollution, policy, poverty, and the pandemic. Hurting people, hurts the planet. If the people are taken care of, the planet will be taken care of.
- 4/20 – The Future of Energy: Entrepreneurs and Investment. Our Future of Energy series continues on Tuesday, April 20 as we welcome Seth Terry, CEO of New Day Hydrogen, LLC, for a conversation about energy and entrepreneurialism. We’ll cover the challenges of building out infrastructure and creating market demand for new products, assess clean energy investment opportunities post-COVID-19, and much more. Audience members are invited to submit their questions in advance or live during the broadcast for potential inclusion in the discussion.
- 4/20 – Colorado Water Legislator Webinar. Clean and reliable water supplies are essential to our ways of life in Colorado. All of us depend on healthy flowing rivers: agricultural producers, cities and towns, businesses, recreation, and the environment. 2021 is a key year for Colorado water. Up ahead are the update of the Colorado Water Plan, the beginning of the renegotiation around the Colorado River, deepening drought, wildfire impacts, and performance of the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plans, a temporary yet broad agreement to reduce water use and ensure that Lakes Powell and Mead continue to provide a reliable water supply. One thing is clear. We all play a role in sustaining Colorado’s water future. Join us in discussing its course.
- 4/20 – NRDC Conversation: 100 Day of Climate Leadership. 100 Days of Climate Leadership will feature Managing Director of Government Affairs John Bowman, Chief Science Advisor Kristi Pullen Fedinick, Director of Policy and Partnerships Stephanie Gidigbi Jenkins, and E2 Executive Director Bob Keefe as they discuss how NRDC has connected climate issues with the administration’s other top priorities.
- 4/21 – Webinar on Wildfires and Air Quality – Part 2. This webinar on Wildfires and Air Quality is part two of a two-part webinar on wildfires and addressing air impacts. This webinar will focus on the Smoke Sense citizen science project, and the Smoke Ready Communities Research Study. Part one will be/was held on April 8, which focused on AirNow Fire and Smoke Map, and Sensors for Community Smoke Monitoring.
- 4/21 – Clean Energy Solutions Summit. Join the Colorado Solar & Storage Association for their Clean Energy Solutions Summit on April 21, 2021! This virtual event is not your standard panels and speakers. Participants will engage in working groups focused on today’s toughest sustainability problems alongside 6-8 experts. This is a great opportunity for experts interested in helping to solving these difficult problems and get a better understanding of where the market is headed. If you are seeking a sustainability or clean energy solution, you attend for free!
- 4/21 – National Geographic Earth Day Eve 2021. Every year, millions of people across the globe recognize Earth Day by coming together to promote awareness and appreciation for the world. This year, National Geographic is starting the party early by inviting you to join in an epic countdown to Earth Day 2021 featuring memorable music acts, special appearances, and inspiring stories that celebrate our shared love for the planet.
- 4/21 – An Earth Day Eve Conversation with Carole King and Alliance for the Wild Rockies. Not only is Carole King one of the most celebrated and iconic singer/songwriters of all time, but she also has been actively involved with wilderness and wildlife preservation for decades. Carole King will be joined by Mike Garrity of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies for a conversation with John Horning, executive director of WildEarth Guardians about the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act (NREPA).
- 4/22 – Native Plant Outreach Workshop. This spring, Audubon Rockies and researchers at Colorado State University are collaborating to offer an exciting new series of Habitat Hero workshops focused on native plant outreach. Attendees will learn how to get involved and grow their skills and confidence, not just in planting native plants themselves, but also in encouraging others to plant native plants. Participants will also receive several different $10 coupons for themselves and friends to get a discount on native plants at participating nurseries. Gardeners of all skill levels are all welcome.
- 4/22 – Behind the Curtain: Secrets of the Whales. In celebration of Earth Day, join us for a special behind-the-curtain look at National Geographic Explorer and Photographer Brian Skerry’s riveting journey as he sets out to discover the hidden culture of whales in the new Disney+ original series, Secrets of the Whales. The show will also include special insight into the pages of the May issue of National Geographic magazine, The Ocean Issue, and Skerry’s beautiful new book, Secrets of the Whales. This special preview event will include stories and visuals, and live, moderated audience Q&A with Brian Skerry. Closed captioning will be available for this event.
- 4/22 – Earth Day 2021: Healing with Nature. Join The Alliance Center and celebrate the 51st anniversary of Earth Day on Thursday, April 22! We’ll come together virtually with changemakers from across Colorado and beyond to recognize our sustainability victories from the last year and explore opportunities to restore our planet and our relationship with it.
- 4/22 – Earth Day 2021. Our individual voices are powerful. One ballad can send chills down our spines. One speech can ignite a global movement. And it’s during these times when our voices come together, that we have the power to make progress, to make history. This Earth Day, we’re celebrating the people speaking up for nature and making positive change for our environment. See some of their stories below, by following #SpeakUpForNature on social media and by joining us for our virtual Earth Day event, “Change Starts Here.”
- 4/22 – Seeing Differently: the Art of Communicating Climate Change. Join us virtually on Earth Day at 7 p.m. MT for a special evening of climate conversation hosted by Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson, featuring a diverse lineup of filmmakers, artists, performers, and more. This free public event is presented by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver7, and the CU Boulder Center for Humanities and the Arts in collaboration with the Institute for Science & Policy and Inside the Greenhouse at the University of Colorado Boulder. The event will also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.
- 4/22 – Collaborative Partnerships and Tools to Address Colorado Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions. Panelists will provide an overview of the West Slope Wildlife Prioritization Study and highlight important uses and outcomes. The team will discuss how the resulting decision-support tools are being used to advance priority projects and will introduce the accompanying East Slope and Plains Wildlife Prioritization Study currently in-progress.
- 4/22 – The CDT as a Sacred Landscape. Xicana youth climate activist Esperanza Soledad Garcia will share her experience growing up along the Continental Divide in northern New Mexico, her family’s cultural practice of maintaining pre-colonial acequias, and her poetry and inspired by a multigenerational connection to the Divide.
- 4/22 – Restoring the Great Florida Riverway: A Project to Save Manatees and More. Mark your calendars for the final webinar of our monthly Wildlife Workshops & Walkabout Lunch & Learn series, presented by Defenders’ Southeast field team! It’s one of Florida’s most valuable wildlife corridors — and it needs your help. The Great Florida Riverway is a 217-mile river system that spans from the Green Swamp and Lake Apopka in Central Florida all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. This riverway and the surrounding ecosystems provide vital habitat for species like Florida manatees, black bears, bald eagles, panthers and bobcats. But the Ocklawaha River, the heart of the Great Florida Riverway, has been designated one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers® by American Rivers, an organization that monitors the health of river ecosystems. With Florida’s manatees in crisis, restoring natural warm water winter habitat such as the Great Florida Riverway and its springs matters more than ever.
- 4/23 – Soil Health 101: Bringing nutrients back to your yard. This hour-long webinar will shed light on alternative land-care practices and composting techniques that help restore beneficial biology and organic matter back into soil. These practices result in more carbon sequestration, a reduction in growing costs, increased nutritional density of foods grown and larger overall yields.
- 4/23-24 – Virtual Animal Law Symposium. This two-day online event will feature panels on zoonotic diseases and COVID-19, factory farming and the realities of our food system, our problematic relationship with animals in captivity, and COVID-19 policy recommendations.
- 4/24 – Native Plant Outreach Workshop. This spring, Audubon Rockies and researchers at Colorado State University are collaborating to offer an exciting new series of Habitat Hero workshops focused on native plant outreach. Attendees will learn how to get involved and grow their skills and confidence, not just in planting native plants themselves, but also in encouraging others to plant native plants. Participants will also receive several different $10 coupons for themselves and friends to get a discount on native plants at participating nurseries. Gardeners of all skill levels are all welcome.
- 4/24 – San Juan Resilience Youth Summit. Students will present projects on environmental challenges, and participants will collaborate to create innovative solutions. Parents and community members are encouraged to attend to learn from our students and be part of an authentic audience of peers and adults. This summit provides an opportunity for our community to build a more holistic picture of resilience in our communities.
- 4/25 – Wild Earth Week Speaker Series. Join the Wild Bear team and incredible community partners from Solarize, Nederland’s Sustainability Board, EcoCycle to learn more about local and global actions we can take to protect and support our planet in celebration of Earth Day! This event will feature local experts giving short and engaging presentations on important topics.
- 4/27 – National Townhall on Creating Safe Spaces. As spring approaches and many of us venture to local and national parks, we want to thank you for your engagement in our series of roundtables on increasing safety and access to the outdoors for Black communities. As the culminating event for our series of roundtables, the National Wildlife Federation and partners are hosting a virtual national townhall to hear from champions for greater and safer access to the outdoors—and you’re invited!
- 4/27 – Drowning in Plastic Pollution and a Path Foward to Clearing the Waters. Join WWF’s Sara Thomas, Erin Simon, and Anthony Tusino for a public conversation where they’ll address the plastic pollution crisis, some of these questions asked, and the policies and packaging solutions needed for real world impact. This event will be streamed live on World Wildlife Fund’s YouTube and Facebook channels.
- 4/27 – The Power of Old-Growth Forests: Why Letting Trees Stand is One of the Best Climate Solutions. One of the world’s last intact temperate rainforests is in jeopardy. Spend 40 minutes on a journey through the Tongass National Forest, learning about its 800-year-old trees and the policies and people that threaten its survival. UNDERSTORY, a limited-release documentary produced by Wild Confluence Media and sponsored by The Wilderness Society, chronicles a sailboat trip around Prince of Wales Island located within the Tongass. Elsa Sebastian, a commercial angler and Alaska panhandle native, sets out on a “ground-truthing” expedition with Natalie Dawson, a field biologist, and Mara Menahan, a botanical illustrator, in an effort to better understand the threats to the old-growth forest. Moderated by filmmaker and public lands advocate Faith Briggs, the panel discussion will feature two of the film’s lead characters, Elsa Sebastian and Marina Anderson; Beverley Law, professor emeritus of Global Change Biology and Terrestrial Systems Science at Oregon State University; and The Wilderness Society’s Washington State Director Megan Birzell.
- 4/27-29 – Action Days for Clean Water and Rivers. American Rivers and River Network are partnering to organize Action Days for Clean Water and Rivers April 27-29. Action Days for Clean Water and Rivers is your opportunity to join with fellow advocates to meet virtually with members of Congress and ask them to support policies that will ensure clean water and healthy rivers for all communities.
- 4/29 – Native Plant Outreach Workshop. This spring, Audubon Rockies and researchers at Colorado State University are collaborating to offer an exciting new series of Habitat Hero workshops focused on native plant outreach. Attendees will learn how to get involved and grow their skills and confidence, not just in planting native plants themselves, but also in encouraging others to plant native plants. Participants will also receive several different $10 coupons for themselves and friends to get a discount on native plants at participating nurseries. Gardeners of all skill levels are all welcome.
- 4/29 – Lions, Tigers, And Bears: Big Animals of the CDT. Join wildlife biologist Sergio Avila and wildlife photographer George Bumann as they discuss the habits and habitats of megafauna along the Continental Divide.
- 5/2 – Virtual Magic Show. Join the Wolf Conservation Center and award-winning illusionist and mentalist, Matias Letelier, on May 2, 2021 at 2 PM ET for “Social-e-Connected Magic Show”, an interactive virtual magic show for the wolves! 80% of ticket proceeds will benefit the Wolf Conservation Center.
- 5/6 – Stories from the Trail: Long-distance Traveler Panel and Q&A. Our panel discussion will cover a lot of ground as we chat about the highs, lows, and PUDs (Pointless Ups and Downs) of long-distance traveling. Bring your questions for the Q&A at the end! Our panelists include: Patricia “Blackpacker” Cameron, founder of the Colorado Blackpackers, Tyler “The Prodigy” Lau, Gillian “Thru-Rider” Larson, The Strawbridge Family.
- 5/13 – Hike the Divide: Film Screening and Climate Change Discussion. Filmmaker Connor DeVane and guests will screen part of their new film, Hike the Divide, and discuss the impact of climate change on the Continental Divide.
- 5/16-22 – Colorado Endangered Species Week. Rocky Mountain Wild, with their partners, will host the 5th annual Colorado Endangered Species Week, with national Endangered Species Day occurring on May 21. This week is dedicated to providing educational events to the public and advocacy opportunities to protect the plant and animal species that are at risk here in Colorado.
- 5/17-20 – River Rally. Hosted annually by River Network, River Rally provides an inspiring and energy-infused touchpoint for nonprofit groups from across the U.S. and beyond, as well as for agency and foundation representatives, industry innovators, philanthropists, academics, students, and community leaders. We bring thought leaders and practitioners together to accelerate progress towards an equitable and sustainable water future.
- 5/22 – Pollinator Party. In honor of Endangered Species Day, we’re inviting everyone we know to get outside and identify pollinators and native plants as part of our Pollinator Party on Saturday, May 22nd, 2021. This is a great event for people of all ages, and you can participate whether you know a lot about pollinators or are just beginning to learn about them. Endangered Species Coalition
- 6/1-7 – WWF’s 5K for Nature. Sign up for WWF’s 5K for Nature today. It’s a fun, low-pressure way to connect with the natural world while helping protect it for the future.
Community Science
Here are some community science projects you can sign up for. Please keep in mind that due to coronavirus some of these projects may not be immediately available this field season:
- Join Sheep Mountain Alliance to take part in monitoring local ecology and wildlife. Sheep Mountain Alliance is working with local conservation partners to broaden our offerings of citizen science programs. In many ways, citizen science is an ideal activity for physical distancing, so we are hoping to start a pilot program this summer. If you are interested please contact Sheep Mountain Alliance at info@sheepmountainalliance.org or fill out the Google Doc.
- Join Go Big! Central Colorado Bighorn Sheep Survey. The Central Colorado Bighorn Sheep Survey engages the community in recording observations of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, domestic sheep, and domestic goats in Central Colorado. The data collected by volunteers participating in the project will inform conservation strategies for Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep in Central Colorado.
- Join Colorado Bat Watch as a community scientist! Rocky Mountain Wild is partnering with the United States Forest Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council, and Conejos Clean Water, with funding from the US Forest Service Citizen Science Competitive Funding Program and Patagonia, to launch the Colorado Bat Watch Program. This program will use community scientists to collect data that will enable these agencies to monitor bat species over time and better understand the impacts of white-nose syndrome and other threats on local bat populations. Understanding this will help land managers and conservation organizations develop strategies and programs to protect bats and their habitat!
- Join Colorado Corridors Project as a community scientist! Colorado Corridors Project remote-triggered cameras collect tens of thousands of photos each year in an attempt to make a case for building an overpass for wildlife along the I-70 mountain corridor. Because of this overwhelming data, they need help identifying the wildlife you see in these photos. With your help, they can process and analyze the data much faster than if they did it on their own. You might also enjoy looking at the diversity of wildlife on Vail Pass.
- Join Audubon as a Climate Watch community science program. Explore how North American birds are responding to climate change. This innovative community-science program enlists volunteer birders across North America to count certain bluebirds and nuthatches in the same place (or places) twice each year. By sticking to a scientific protocol and sharing their results, these community scientists help track whether birds are moving in accordance with projections from Audubon’s climate models.
- Join the CU Boulders researchers studying Barn Swallows by helping look for colonies or individual pairs to study. This study requires a one-time sound recording session of Barn Swallow alarm calls (approximately 15 minutes). If you have Barn Swallow nests on your property or have seen nests elsewhere, please contact Angela Medina Gardia at angela.medinagarcia@colorado.edu. You can also enter your nest observations in the Swallow Tracker.
- Join Grouse Grooves as a citizen scientist! Grouse Grooves uses trail cameras to monitor leks in the hopes of understanding when the birds use the lek, how that differs between leks or throughout the season, to help them determine when these sensitive areas need to be protected. Your science task: classify photos that have been marked as having grouse in them and determine how many male and how many female are present! Bonus: what are those males doing?
- Join the Bumble Bee Watch. We need volunteers to submit photos or videos of bumble bee nest sightings. The bumble bee nest sighting can come from anywhere within North America. An ideal sighting would include an image of the bumble bee (to determine the species), a GPS location (to be used in future habitat analyses), a description of the location and materials of the nest (i.e. in my garden, underground or in a woodpile), and, if possible, a video of the nest, surroundings, and activity.
- Join Journey North as a citizen scientist! Journey North provides an easy entry point to citizen science, with simple protocols, strong online support, and immediate results. Reported sightings are mapped in real-time as waves of migrations move across the continent. People report sightings from the field, view maps, take pictures, and leave comments.
- Join Polar Bears International as a Field Ambassador. Field Ambassadors share their knowledge about polar bears with tourists aboard Tundra Buggies® as part of a program designed to nurture leadership in women. They tell stories. They answer questions. And, once they’re back home, they continue to spread the word about sea-ice loss and its effect on polar bears everywhere they can.
- Participate in Neighborhood Nestwatch and monitor color-banded birds in your own backyard and report observations to the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. Participants must agree to participate for a minimum of three years, committing approximately one hour of time per week for observation and reporting. Participants must live within 50 miles of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Sites are based on location, property type (urban vs rural) and other factors. There is no experience necessary and training is provided during the initial site visit.
- In the CrowdMag project, NOAA will explore whether digital magnetometers built in modern mobile smartphones can be used as scientific instruments. With CrowdMag mobile apps, phones all around the world send magnetometer data to them. At their server, they check the quality of the magnetic data and make data available to the public as aggregate maps and charts. The two long-term goals of this project are to create models of Earth’s time changing magnetic field by combining crowdsourced magnetic data with data collected by ships, aircrafts, and satellites and to map local magnetic noise sources (for e.g. power transformer and iron pipes) to improve accuracy of the magnetic navigation systems. Become a citizen scientist and join their research on the Earth’s geomagnetic field.
- Wildwatch Kenya seeks to count, identify, and track the giraffes in conservation field sites, along with the other animals that share the habitat, to better understand the behavior, movements, and population numbers of the wildlife found there. Citizens scientists are being called to help researchers look through the tens of thousands of photos taken by trail cameras placed in strategic spots throughout the sites. The information gathered from these photos will help them and the local communities develop plans to help save the animals.
Jobs and Internships
Here are some job and internship openings in environmental fields. For equity reasons, we only post job postings with transparent salary ranges:
- The Alliance Center is seeking a part-time Communications Associate. The Communications Associate works within the communications team helping post to and create content for different channels including social media, website, newsletters, and more. The Communications Associate will provide a mixture of programmatic, communications, event, and administrative support. Main tasks include social media management, email creation, web support, research, and outreach. Applications will be reviewed and interviews will take place on a rolling basis until April 16.
- The Sunrise Project is seeking a US Climate Finance Policy Strategist in DC or remote. This is an exciting new role to lead Sunrise Project efforts to support increased accountability, oversight and regulation of financial flows to fossil fuels in the US. This role will work with a nascent but growing coalition focused on driving US federal policy and regulations through key agencies including Treasury, the Federal Reserve, the SEC and others. This position will work closely with our global central banks campaign and serve as an organizational lead for other federal policy issues and key DC-based relationships relevant to existing campaign efforts. The salary range for this position is $99,700-108k. Applications are due by 11:59 pm, April 18.
- Western Resource Advocates is seeking a Transportation Electrification Policy Analyst to accelerate the electrification of transportation systems in the Interior West. WRA’s Clean Energy Program pursues transportation electrification policies in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, air pollutants, and create economic opportunities in the Interior West. This position will focus on developing and advocating for policies and mechanisms which will support the rapid electrification of western transportation by accelerating the build out of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, increasing access to EV models, ensuring EVs are well integrated into the electric grid, increasing customer awareness of the availability and benefits of EVs, and increasing access to the benefits of electrified transportation for historically underserved communities. The position will also entail building and maintaining relationships with a diverse set of partners and building coalitions in order to achieve policy objectives. The Transportation Electrification Policy Analyst is an exciting opportunity to shape state-level policy in a rapidly developing field in order to help build a clean, sustainable future for the communities and economies we enjoy in the Interior West. This position will report to the Transportation Electrification Manager, with opportunities to learn and grow while working with other Clean Energy professionals across the region. The salary range for this position is $55-75k. Applications are due Monday, April 19.
- ProgressNow Colorado is seeking an Executive Director. ProgressNow Colorado Education, a 501(c)(3) and its sister organization, ProgressNow Colorado, 501(c)(4) are looking for a dynamic new Executive Director. ProgressNow Colorado, a leader in cutting edge digital, political, and communications programs. The salary range for this position is $125-150k. Applications are due April 19.
- LightHawk is seeking a Strategic Communications Manager. The Strategic Communications Manager owns and implements LightHawk’s strategic communications plan. Their experience and enthusiasm for sustaining nonprofit organizations is built upon inclusive, strategic storytelling and well-managed, productive, and respectful relationships that yield both annual and long-term financial support for LightHawk – a 100% funder-supported organization. The salary range for this position is $48-53k. Applications are due April 22.
- Conservation Colorado is seeking a Senior Federal Climate Advocate. With the election of Joe Biden, we have an unprecedented opportunity to address the climate crisis through policy that reduces greenhouse gas emissions while addressing racial justice and advancing equity. This is a new position focused on taking advantage of this new opportunity to make a real difference in this country’s trajectory on climate change. This position reports to the Government Affairs Director and manages a part-time team administrator as well as play a key role in providing mentorship to other members of the Government Affairs climate team to develop effective campaigns and build their skills. The salary range for this position is $65-75k. Applications are due April 25.
- Conservation Colorado is seeking an Office and Hiring Administrator who will be responsible for maintaining a high functioning office environment and managing the logistics of our hiring processes. You will also work closely with the Operations and Finance Director to create an inclusive and equitable office culture. The salary range for this position is $38-42k. Applications are due April 25.
- Conservation Colorado is seeking a Communications & Storytelling Coordinator who will create story-based content to help expand membership, shape public opinion, and win campaigns, with a particular eye towards telling the stories of communities that have been traditionally shut out of the environmental movement. They will work with departments across the organization to identify, cultivate, and tell stories through written content that includes blogs, web pages, social media posts, op-eds, and emails. They will also develop and manage our Salesforce storybank and support organization-wide work including our electoral and fundraising efforts. Opportunities will also exist to create multimedia content in close consultation with the Visual Storytelling Creator. The salary range for this position is $38-42k. Applications are due April 25.
- Conservation Colorado is seeking an English/Spanish bilingual Protegete Director. Conservation Colorado’s Protégete program works to elevate Latinx communities to protect Colorado’s climate, air, land, water, and people. The Protegete Director leads the department to engage communities that have been historically shut out of the environmental movement by providing opportunities for organizing, education and leadership development to elevate the voices of the Latinx community. This position provides strategic guidance and support to organizational leadership as the organization’s senior advisor on Latinx issues. The salary range for this position is $75-85k. Applications are due April 25.
- Western Resource Advocates is seeking two individuals to join the team through the David Robertson Pathfinder Internship. Pursuing an inclusive and diverse organization improves conservation outcomes for us all. WRA is partnering with the Robertson family to offer the David Robertson Pathfinder Internship to share the wonders of the mountains and the West with a new generation of young professionals gaining experience in the conservation field. The Pathfinder Internship is a step in creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation workforce that represents all people. WRA is especially excited about these opportunities, as it will support individuals who have not traditionally been included in conservation work. There are two Pathfinder placements for the Summer of 2021; one internship will be with the Western Lands Team, reporting to the Senior Western Lands Policy Analyst; and the other internship will be with the Healthy Rivers Team, reporting to the Water Policy Analyst. Both positions will support in policy research efforts in their respective areas, with opportunities to learn and grow while working with other policy professionals. Compensation is $15 per hour. Applications are due April 27.
- Wilderness Workshop is seeking a Campaign Manager. The Campaign Manager will develop and implement campaigns designed to protect the spectacular lands and rivers in our region, fulfill the Biden administration’s commitment to conserve 30% of our nation’s lands and waters by 2030, and galvanize community and political opposition to destructive projects on our public lands. The Campaign Manager will work closely with a highly talented and integrated team at Wilderness Workshop that includes policy, organizing, communications and legal expertise. The salary range for this position is $55-85k. Applications are due May 5.
- High Mountain Institute is seeking a Director of Finance and Operations. The Director of Finance & Operations oversees HMI’s accounting, bookkeeping, budgeting, human resources, technology, and operations. The Director serves as a member of the school leadership team and serves as the staff support member to the HMI Board of Trustees Finance Committee. The salary range for this position is $45-75k. This position is open until filled.
- High Mountain Institute is seeking a Gap Logistics Coordinator. Responsibilities include overseeing the logistics for field operations of HMI Gap and Summer programs and serve as a field instructor for these programs. The salary range for this position is $32-35k. This position is open until filled.
- High Mountain Institute is seeking a Cook & Kitchen Manager. Responsibilities in the areas of on-campus food service, expedition rationing, menu planning, food ordering, budgeting, training others, and kitchen curriculum development. The salary range for this position is $35-45k. This position is open until filled.
- High Mountain Institute is seeking a math teacher. Responsibilities include teaching three sections of math (Algebra II, Pre-calculus, and/or AP Calculus), leading wilderness expeditions, and participating in residential life duties. The salary for this position is $33-48k. This position is open until filled.
- American Conservation Experience is seeking eight National Trail Inventory Field Team Members to implement the National Trail Inventory project on USFWS lands across the U.S. Applications will be considered both from individuals and pairs applying as a team of two. Primary duties include walking, bicycling, or driving trail segments and collecting a variety of spatial and attribute information on existing trail systems. These positions require sustained travel throughout the nation and selected candidates will not have a central or primary work location during their term. Compensation is $300 per week, dispersed biweekly. This position is open until filled. Start date is in May, end date is in September.
- Great Outdoors Colorado is seeking four Regional Officers. The Regional Officer works to advance GOCO’s mission and pursue shared values in outdoor recreation and conservation with the region’s diverse range of partners and their priorities and projects. With a collaborative approach, this position is responsible for advancing strategic direction and for implementing and evaluating GOCO’s competitive grant program portfolio. The Regional Officer cultivates positive and productive relationships among GOCO board members, GOCO staff, partners, and other constituents in service of the organization’s mission. The Regional Officer reports to the Manager of Programs with frequent and substantive interaction with the Director of Programs, Executive Director, and GOCO board. The salary for this position is $52,167-73,033. The position is open until filled.
- Great Outdoors Colorado is seeking a Communications Associate. The Communications Associate supports the communications team in executing a variety of marketing, storytelling, and outreach efforts. The Communications Associate will support the team in delivering communications that maintain the integrity of the GOCO brand within a variety of channels including public relations; social media, email marketing, and other digital platforms; and events. Additionally, this role will provide administrative support. The salary range for this position is $43,250-60,550. The position is open until filled.
- Conservation Legacy is seeking a Stewards West Corps Director. The Corps Director is responsible for developing and maintaining national partnerships within their service communities and surrounding geographic areas. This includes identifying, developing, and maintaining relationships with project partners. This position especially collaborates with Executive Directors, National Director of Development, and Chief Executive Officer to develop and maintain regional and national partnerships. Under their leadership, they will operate a team of program staff members at various levels to be high-functioning, effective and lead the corps industry in day-to-day and strategic decisions, innovation, and programmatic outcomes. The salary range is $55-68k. Position open until filled.
- National Parks Service is seeking two Great Sand Dunes National Park Conservation Interns – Maintenance Operations. This position would be 24 weeks, starting May 3 and ending October 15. Help the National Park Service carry out its mission to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Branch of Facility Management supports the agency’s mission through the management of a variety of facilities that enable visitors to experience national parks in a safe and accessible environment. The NPS manages facilities such as historic buildings, trails, roads, maintained landscapes, natural areas, employee housing, and fleet. The Branch of Facility Management at Great Sand Dunes also includes the daily work required to preserve facilities including trash removal and custodial services in such a condition that they may be used for their designated purpose over an extended service life. The stipend is $520/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,097 after successful completion. Position open until filled.
- National Parks Service is seeking two Great Sand Dunes National Park Conservation Visitor Services Individuals. This position would be 12 weeks, starting May 24 and ending August 13. Great Sand Dunes has seen a significant increase in visitation in the last several years and we are looking towards the future with innovative ways to enhance and improve visitor experience through virtual interactions, digital media, and customer service. Great Sand Dunes is developing multiple internship opportunities, recruiting from the local community to create a deeper connection to Great Sand Dunes, while also providing meaningful work for the next generation of young professionals. These individuals will contribute to positive visitor experiences as well as help the park address their education and interpretive goals and initiatives. These individuals will be assisting visitor center staff with operations, informal interpretation, customer service on the phone and in person at the Visitor Center, special projects, special event planning, and supporting the Junior Ranger Program. The stipend is $480/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,638.89 after successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Bureau of Land Management – Royal Gorge Field Office is seeking two Dispersed Camping Park Rangers. This position would be 12 weeks, starting May 31 and ending August 20. The focus of these individuals will be to work closely with US Forest Service and BLM Recreation staff in managing dispersed camping in Chafee County, Colorado. These individuals will work closely with agency recreation staff to make visitor contacts to make them aware of dispersed camping ethics and regulations, as well as monitor sites to understand trends and resource impacts. In working closely with agency staff, the individuals will install signage and vehicle controls to help manage dispersed campsites and keep them clean. The majority of their time will be spent in the field with the opportunity to work with agency staff to identify management needs and suggest improvements. The stipend is $629/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,638.89 after successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Bureau of Land Management – Royal Gorge Field Office is seeking a Visitor Information Individual. This position would be 17 weeks, starting May 3 and ending August 27. This individual will work in a visitor center to provide customer support such as providing information about recreation sites and activities, selling maps and other publications, and selling commercial use permits for fuelwood, Christmas trees, or decorative rock. These are services that the public and the community have come to rely on. The stipend is $667/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,360 after successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Bureau of Land Management – Royal Gorge Field Office is seeking two Biological Technician Interns. This position would be 16 weeks, starting May 10 and ending August 27. The intern will assist the range program specialists in monitoring grazing allotments on public lands for public benefit. The intern will assist with rangeland health assessments and additional new monitoring protocols to monitor short- and long-term vegetative trends. The information this work generates is vital in viewing impacts in a quantitative manner to better manage these public resources. This data collection provides direct benefits at the local and state level, as well as being used by the BLM to determine trends across the nation. The stipend is $472/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,638.89 after successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Southwest Conservation Corps is seeking four Recreation Ranger Interns. This position would be 23 weeks, starting May 17 and ending October 22. Join the Southwest Conservation Corps’ Individual Placement team and help the US Forest Service carry out its mission of “caring for the land and serving people”. These individuals will be part of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forest, Recreation Ranger Program. This program’s primary goal is to interact with the visiting public with an all-inclusive mission to enhance each visitor’s experience on their shared public land. These individuals will be collecting quantifiable data on a daily basis at high-use recreation sites. The overall goal of the Rec Ranger Program is to provide information to the public on how to disperse their use in the Telluride area, which is already very heavily impacted by tourists and recreationists. The stipend is $450/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,097.50 after successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Southwest Conservation Corps is seeking Conservation Crew Members. This position would start May 24 and end August 6. As an AmeriCorps program participant with the Southwest Conservation Corps, your office is the great outdoors! Each crew consists of 6 members and 2 leaders. Crews work and camp for 8-10 days at a time in either front-country (access to your crew vehicle and trailer), or backcountry (hiking all your supplies in backpacks) locations, in all types of weather conditions. You will work effectively as a member of the crew; perform strenuous physical work related to environmental conservation and restoration projects; work outdoors in all types of weather and successfully adapt to various climates; effectively learn and apply new environmental conservation and restoration skills; actively participate in environmental education activities; practice appropriate safety procedures in all tasks assigned; use, maintain and repair hand and power tools as necessary. The stipend is $330/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,311.11 upon successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Southwest Conservation Corps is seeking Women’s+ Conservation Crew Members. This position would start May 24 and end August 6. Our affinity crews create an inclusive space for groups that have been under-represented to gain hands-on experience, technical skills training, and professional development. These crews foster a safer, more comfortable learning environment where participants are able to maximize their opportunities to grow and develop. The term “Women’s+” aims to be inclusive of trans, non-binary, genderfluid individuals, and cis-women. The stipend is $330/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,311.11 upon successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Southwest Conservation Corps is seeking Crosscut Saw Crew Members. This position would start May 24 and end October 22. As an AmeriCorps program participant with the Southwest Conservation Corps Cross Cut Saw Crew, you will be trained and certified in all aspects of crosscut saw work. Crosscut saw crews are focused primarily in designated wilderness areas where mechanized chainsaw use is prohibited. Over the past few years, there has been a concerted effort to clear large swaths of downed trees and avalanche debris from remote trails in these areas of the forest. These crews tend to cover a lot of ground and explore many incredible areas! The stipend is $330/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,097.50 upon successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Southwest Conservation Corps is seeking Long Term Conservation Crew Members. This position would start May 24 and end October 22. As an AmeriCorps program participant with the Long-Term Conservation Crew, you will find yourself traversing remote mountain landscapes, exploring the wilderness, and learning how to function as a cohesive group implementing restoration projects. The expedition-style atmosphere allows crews to gain a high level of understanding of crew dynamics, project logistics, and technical knowledge in conservation work. The stipend is $330/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,097.50 upon successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Southwest Conservation Corps is seeking Crew Members: Ecological & Vegetation Monitoring in Colorado and New Mexico. This position would start May 10 and end October 15. Participants will manage all aspects of vegetation monitoring using the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, & Monitoring (AIM) methodology. Crews will consist of two crew members and one crew lead. Together, they will monitor land health on BLM lands including National Monument lands, vegetation treatments, rangeland allotments, or reference areas. The stipend is $520/week ($600/week in Carlsbad), plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,907.50 upon successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Southwest Conservation Corps is seeking 14er Crew Members in Los Valles. This position would start May 25 and end October 22. Your main project for the summer will include intensive trail construction & maintenance in high elevation terrain. Other projects during the season may also include habitat improvement, hazardous fuels reduction, re-vegetation, and local environmental service projects. Crews may also complete technical and/or specialized projects depending on project partner needs, including disaster relief if the opportunity arises. The stipend is $330/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,172.50 upon successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Southwest Conservation Corps is seeking Summer Conservation Crew Members in Los Valles. This position would start May 25 and end August 6. As an AmeriCorps program participant with the Southwest Conservation Corps, your office is the great outdoors! Each crew consists of 6 members and 2 leaders. Crews work and camp for 8 days at a time in either front-country (access to your crew vehicle and trailer), or backcountry (hiking all your supplies in with backpacks) locations, in all types of weather conditions. You will work as a member of the crew; perform heavy manual labor, and complete conservation projects using a variety of manual and power tools. You will participate in environmental education activities. Risk management is of utmost importance, and all procedures must be followed at all times. The stipend is $330/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,678.57 upon successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Southwest Conservation Corps is seeking Technical Trail Crew Members in Los Valles. This position would start May 25 and end October 22. As an AmeriCorps program participant with the Southwest Conservation Corps, your office is the great outdoors! Each crew consists of 6 members and 2 leaders. Crews work and camp for 8 days at a time in either front-country (access to your crew vehicle and trailer), or backcountry (hiking all your supplies in with backpacks) locations, in all types of weather conditions. You will work as a member of the crew; perform heavy manual labor, and complete conservation projects using a variety of manual and power tools. You will participate in environmental education activities. Risk management is of utmost importance, and all procedures must be followed at all times. The stipend is $330/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $3,172.50 upon successful completion. Position open until filled.
- The Southwest Conservation Corps is seeking a Veterans Fire Corps Crew Member. This position would start April 12 and end August 6 or start August 9 and end November 12. The program engages participants in a cohort environment in which a team of recent era veterans works together to train and complete natural resource management projects, specifically related to fire fuel management and fuel reduction. Project work and schedules will vary depending on region and season. Projects require members to camp and live on project locations for up 8 days at a time, followed by 6 days off, or possibly a 10/4 schedule. The stipend is $425/week, plus an AmeriCorps award after successful completion of the program. Position open until filled.
- The Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps is seeking two Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Interns. This position is 11-16 weeks, starting May 10 and ending August 20. Interns will gain experience in visitor services and interpretation of cultural resources to visitors at the museum and monument. The intern will get hands-on experience in conducting curriculum-based field trip programs for school groups and developing hands-on interpretive programs on-site for visitors at the museum. Additionally, the intern will work with curation staff who help protect almost 4 million artifacts in the curation facility on-site at the museum. There will also be opportunities to shadow field archaeologists during site-visits to important sensitive archaeology sites. The stipend is $530/week, plus an AmeriCorps Education Award of $2,360 after successful completion. Position open until filled.
- Palmer Land Conservancy is seeking a Communications Manager. They seek a highly creative, motivated, and passionate individual who will bring their love of the land and nature, coupled with their expertise in communications, to the team. Their ideal candidate will understand brand management and strategy and have an excellent skill-set for storytelling, writing, and design. This individual also needs to possess the leadership qualities to manage a comprehensive communications program. This is a permanent, full-time position with generous time off, a comprehensive benefits package, and room for growth. The salary range for this position is $50-55k. The position is open until filled.
- Friends of the Earth is seeking a remote Fossil Fuels and Lands Campaigner. The Fossil Fuels and Lands Campaigner will work in coalition with a broad range of environmental, community, justice, worker, and other groups to push for a planned phase-out of fossil fuel production and to build a just transition for workers and communities through administrative actions and legislation. They will primarily focus on the federal fossil fuel leasing program and stopping the preferential treatment given to the boom-and-bust oil and gas industry at the expense of our communities, wild place, and climate. While the salary range is not listed on the posting, I reached out and was informed the salary range is $55-60k. Position open until filled.
- The City of Louisville is seeking a Seasonal Maintenance Worker – Open Space/Natural Resources. Job duties include assisting with noxious weed control, wildlife management, and additional duties as assigned. This seasonal position will be offered up to 40 hours per week starting as early as April 12th, 2021, and ending no later than October 8th, 2021. Shorter season available for students. The salary range is $16/hour. Position open until filled.
- Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks is seeking a Wetland and Riparian Ecologist Coordinator III. The Wetland and Riparian Ecologist provides support and leadership in the department’s Wetland and Riparian Ecology program. In collaboration with other ecologists, the Wetland and Riparian Ecologist’s work includes: conserving, protecting, restoring, managing, monitoring, and evaluating wetland and riparian resources on city-owned and city-managed lands; conducting research and analysis to manage, protect, and evaluate wetland and riparian resources; assisting in the development of departmental and city policy to protect and conserve wetland and riparian resources; and providing technical assistance to the city and department in the management of wetland and riparian resources. Salary range is $61,916-94,371. Position open until filled.
- Southwest Conservation Corps is seeking Leaders of Color Crew Members in Salida, CO. As a member of Southwest Conservation Corp’s Leaders of Color crew, you will engage in a variety of conservation projects while building a crew community of members who are Black, Indigenous, and/or People of color. The Leaders of Color crew provides an open and supportive space where BIPOC members work with, learn from, and grow alongside one another as members gain training and certifications in chainsaw, crosscut, rigging, technical rock work, and trail construction. No experience necessary. The stipend is $330/week with a $3,172.50 AmeriCorps Education Award. Positions open until filled. The start date is May 25, the end date is October 22.
- Protect Our Winters is seeking an Advocacy & Campaigns Director in Boulder, CO with remote work potential. The Advocacy & Campaigns Director is responsible for leading our advocacy efforts through the ideation, project management, and execution of campaigns that advance the organization’s priorities. You stay current on climate politics and policy and serve as the go-to for impactful campaign ideas and plans that we can execute across the organization at the federal and state level. You never stop imagining how POW could utilize all of its assets– from the Alliance to our volunteers– in campaign execution. You play an important role in advancing POW’s priorities while managing a small team of staff focused on stakeholder engagement. The salary range is $80-90k. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Volunteer Positions
Here are some volunteer positions. Please practice proper distancing and wear your mask while taking part in any in-person volunteer opportunities:
- 4/17 Wheat Ridge – Clear Creek Cleanup – Earth Week 2021. Volunteers will help pick up litter along the Clear Creek Trail and in Creekside Park. This event is a collaboration between The City of Wheat Ridge, Sustainable Wheat Ridge, Localworks, and Institute for Environmental Solutions.
- 4/18 Fort Collins – Make it Pretty Poudre River Cleanup. Spend your Sunday morning with CPRW and Odell Brewing Co. for a river cleanup in Old Town, Fort Collins.
- 4/24 Denver – LoDo Cares Earth Day Cherry Creek Clean Up. Meet other LoDo community members and beautify our waterway, all while staying safe and socially distanced. We will provide a light breakfast, refreshments, and all necessary equipment for you and your party. All you have to do is show up (with a mask)!
- Ongoing – Volunteer with Food & Water Action to ask elected officials to support a fracking ban. After you sign up, you’ll receive an email with everything you need to get started — including talking points on the campaign, resources to contact your elected officials, and more. Food & Water Action
- Ongoing – Volunteer with Rocky Mountain Wild. Whether your experience is in marketing, graphic design, writing, research, fundraising, data entry, biology/ecology, law/case help, special events, or something else, we could use your help! Rocky Mountain Wild
- Ongoing – Volunteer with Defenders of Wildlife as a Biodiversity Ambassador. Speak out against habitat destruction, the threat of extinction, and power corporations that are exploiting our planet. Defenders of Wildlife
- Ongoing – Volunteer with Wildlife Protection Solutions. With more eyes on more of our cameras, we’ll have a better chance of protecting the many thousands of wild animals by catching any potential poaching activity. Get the wpsWatch app. Wildlife Protection Solutions
- Ongoing – Volunteer with The Humane Society of the United States Animal Rescue Team. Animal rescue volunteers work with the Animal Rescue Team to help save animals who are the victims of illegal animal cruelty and natural disasters. Whether an out of control hoarder or dogfighting operation, or hurricane or puppy mill, animal rescue volunteers travel from all corners of the country to assist in the on-going care of dogs, cats and other animals who have been rescued from harm. The Humane Society
- Ongoing – Volunteer with Boulder County Parks and Open Space as a Seamstress or Tailor. Boulder County Parks and Open Space is looking for experienced seamstresses and tailors to help create period clothing for our cultural history programs. Volunteer demonstrators wear these period-appropriate clothes during events at Walker Ranch Homestead where they demonstrate the chores and activities of a working ranch in the late 1800s. Boulder County Parks and Open Space
- Ongoing – Volunteer with Jefferson County and become a Certified Native Plant Master Volunteer! Take your knowledge to the next level and become a certified Native Plant Master volunteer. As a NPM volunteer, your role is to educate others at your current job or volunteer position. Jefferson County
Direct Environmental Actions
Urgent actions (those will deadlines fast approaching):
- Take action with International Fund for Animal Welfare and urge your US Representative to take action to prevent future pandemics. Comments are due April 16.
- Take action with Wilderness Watch and comment on the Forest Service’s Rangeland Management Directors that have the potential to affect millions of acres of public land, including Wilderness. Comments are due April 17.
- Take action with Wilderness Workshop and speak up for the wild Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and all of its native critters. Comments are due April 21 at noon MT.
New actions since last week:
- Take action with 350.org and tell world leaders to deliver on climate justice.
- Take action with Audubon and tell Congress to protect seabirds and the places they need.
- Take action with the Center for Biological Diversity and urge your members of Congress to support the Preventing Future Pandemics Act.
- Take action with the Center for Biological Diversity and help halt the trade in imperiled wildlife.
- Take action with the Center for Food Safety and tell the USDA to reinstate animal welfare requirements into the organic standard.
- Take action with Conservation Colorado and urge your legislators to support House Bill 21-1260 to protect Colorado’s rivers and streams.
- Take action with Conservation Colorado and protect disproportionately-impacted communities from air pollution.
- Take action with Conservation Colorado and support President Biden’s climate investments.
- Take action with Conservation Colorado and ask your state representative to hold polluters accountable.
- Take action with Environment America and tell Amazon not to sell products with bee-killing pesticides.
- Take action with Environment America and tell your Senator to co-sponsor Senate Bill 282, the Arctic Refuge Protection Act of 2021.
- Take action with Environment America and stop oil drilling near Everglades National Park.
- Take action with Environmental Action and urge Interior Secretary Haaland to restore wolf protections across the lower 48 states.
- Take action with Environmental Action and tell the Department of the Interior to ban drilling in public lands and waters.
- Take action with Evergreen Action and support the Civilian Climate Corps.
- Take action with Food & Water Action and send a message to your members of Congress to co-sponsor the End Polluter Welfare Act.
- Take action with Food & Water Action and tell your members of Congress to reject climate schemes.
- Take action with Food & Water Watch and send a message to President Biden that it’s time to shut down DAPL.
- Take action with Friends of the Earth and tell major shareholders to stop companies from destroying our wild places.
- Take action with Friends of the Earth and demand that Kroger step up to protect pollinators.
- Take action with Friends of the Earth and demand the Biden administration stop the fossil fuel industry’s destruction.
- Take action with Friends of the Earth and demand Congress stop shelling out billions to big oil.
- Take action with Friends of the Earth and demand FERC stop approving big polluter projects.
- Take action with Friends of the Earth and demand Congress address the plastic crisis before it overruns our planet.
- Take action with Lakota People’s Law Project Action Center and tell Biden to end DAPL.
- Take action with National Wildlife Federation and support coastal Louisiana and its bounty of wildlife and habitat by telling decision-makers that a future without the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion is a future we can’t afford.
- Take action with National Parks Conservation Association and send a message to the Department of Interior that you support a halt to drilling near parks.
- Take action with National Wildlife Federation and tell Congress to save bats: vote yes to rein in methane pollution.
- Take action with Natural Resources Defense Council and show your support for two critical environmental bills in Colorado.
- Take action with The Nature Conservancy and speak up for bold climate action.
- Take action with Sierra Club and tell Congress to build back better with The THRIVE Act.
- Take action with the Union of Concerned Scientists and tell your senators the question isn’t whether to commit to the American Jobs Plan, it’s how in the world we could not, and how we can do even more?
- Take action with Western Resource Advocates and tell Colorado lawmakers that the state must achieve our climate goals.
- Take action with WildEarth Guardians and ask the US Senate to fund “Nonlethal Livestock Protection” to reform Wildlife Services’ killing program.
- Take action with The Wilderness Society and tell Congress to protect the Arctic Refuge.
Rocky Mountain Wild’s older (but still relevant) actions:
- Take action with Rocky Mountain Wild and sign the petition stating that you support wildlife crossing structures in Colorado. Rocky Mountain Wild
- Take action with Rocky Mountain Wild and ask the Colorado BLM Director to protect vital habitat for Colorado species, starting with the threatened Gunnison sage-grouse. Rocky Mountain Wild
- Take action with Rocky Mountain Wild and help protect bighorn sheep. Rocky Mountain Wild
Action Resources:
- Town Hall Project’s list of how to reach your representative in person, including town halls, office hours, ticketed events, TeleTown hall meetings, DC events, or coffee meetings.
- Endangered Species Coalition’s How to Advocate for Endangered Species toolbox.
- Indivisible Guide with resources for four tactics to pressure Congress to resist Trump: town halls, local public events, district office visits, and coordinated calls.
- 350.org Resources for Organizers, including: actions, base-building, elicitive tools, media, organizing, strategy, team-building, training agendas