May
30
5:00 PM17:00
Moving Mountains Annual MSI Fundraiser
MSI Annual Moving Mountains Fundraiser at the Rochester Hotel, May 30th, 5-7pm
View Event →
Mar
23
1:00 PM13:00
Snow Science & Social
Love to play in the snow? Want to learn more about winter in the San Juans? Join Mountain Studies Institute and SJMA for our special winter hike series, Snow Science & Social! Back by popular demand, these snowshoe hikes are a great opportunity to explore the snowy landscape and learn more about winter in the San Juans.
On select weekends this winter, our education team will host snowshoe interpretive hikes from 1-3 pm, then welcome you back to our new mobile basecamp in the Andrews Lake Winter Parking Lot for a bonfire, hot drinks, and good conversation. Topics will include forest ecology, watersheds, climate change, and the future of snowpack in the San Juans. These popular events are FREE to the public, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
If needed, SJMA will provide snowshoes for your use (when registering make sure to include your shoe size, height and weight).
Participants must be prepared to hike up to 2 miles in the snow at ~11,000 ft of elevation.
Participants encouraged to bring an avy shovel (or any compact shovel) for digging snow pits. SJMA can provide avy shovels, but it’s more fun if everyone can get their hand on a shovel.
Wear warm clothes and boots to spend the afternoon in the snow.
Mar
12
8:45 AM08:45
San Juan Resilience Youth Summit
It’s that time of year again! The San Juan Resilience Youth Summit (SJRYS) provides students an opportunity to share their work with and learn from an authentic audience of peers, natural resource professionals, and community leaders. The theme of this year’s summit will be Building a Resilient Future.
Students across SW Colorado are invited to join the summit as presenters or participants. Teachers are invited to get their whole class involved. Email cassidy@mountainstudies.org with any questions.
Presentations can be any environmental topic and should be registered by 2/27/2024.
View event schedule by clicking the button below!
Mar
9
1:00 PM13:00
Snow Science & Social
Love to play in the snow? Want to learn more about winter in the San Juans? Join Mountain Studies Institute and SJMA for our special winter hike series, Snow Science & Social! Back by popular demand, these snowshoe hikes are a great opportunity to explore the snowy landscape and learn more about winter in the San Juans.
On select weekends this winter, our education team will host snowshoe interpretive hikes from 1-3 pm, then welcome you back to our new mobile basecamp in the Andrews Lake Winter Parking Lot for a bonfire, hot drinks, and good conversation. Topics will include forest ecology, watersheds, climate change, and the future of snowpack in the San Juans. These popular events are FREE to the public, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
If needed, SJMA will provide snowshoes for your use (when registering make sure to include your shoe size, height and weight).
Participants must be prepared to hike up to 2 miles in the snow at ~11,000 ft of elevation.
Participants encouraged to bring an avy shovel (or any compact shovel) for digging snow pits. SJMA can provide avy shovels, but it’s more fun if everyone can get their hand on a shovel.
Wear warm clothes and boots to spend the afternoon in the snow.
Feb
24
1:00 PM13:00
Snow Science & Social
Love to play in the snow? Want to learn more about winter in the San Juans? Join Mountain Studies Institute and SJMA for our special winter hike series, Snow Science & Social! Back by popular demand, these snowshoe hikes are a great opportunity to explore the snowy landscape and learn more about winter in the San Juans.
On select weekends this winter, our education team will host snowshoe interpretive hikes from 1-3 pm, then welcome you back to our new mobile basecamp in the Andrews Lake Winter Parking Lot for a bonfire, hot drinks, and good conversation. Topics will include forest ecology, watersheds, climate change, and the future of snowpack in the San Juans. These popular events are FREE to the public, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
If needed, SJMA will provide snowshoes for your use (when registering make sure to include your shoe size, height and weight).
Participants must be prepared to hike up to 2 miles in the snow at ~11,000 ft of elevation.
Participants encouraged to bring an avy shovel (or any compact shovel) for digging snow pits. SJMA can provide avy shovels, but it’s more fun if everyone can get their hand on a shovel.
Wear warm clothes and boots to spend the afternoon in the snow.
Feb
10
1:00 PM13:00
Snow Science & Social
Love to play in the snow? Want to learn more about winter in the San Juans? Join Mountain Studies Institute and SJMA for our special winter hike series, Snow Science & Social! Back by popular demand, these snowshoe hikes are a great opportunity to explore the snowy landscape and learn more about winter in the San Juans.
On select weekends this winter, our education team will host snowshoe interpretive hikes from 1-3 pm, then welcome you back to our new mobile basecamp in the Andrews Lake Winter Parking Lot for a bonfire, hot drinks, and good conversation. Topics will include forest ecology, watersheds, climate change, and the future of snowpack in the San Juans. These popular events are FREE to the public, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
If needed, SJMA will provide snowshoes for your use (when registering make sure to include your shoe size, height and weight).
Participants must be prepared to hike up to 2 miles in the snow at ~11,000 ft of elevation.
Participants encouraged to bring an avy shovel (or any compact shovel) for digging snow pits. SJMA can provide avy shovels, but it’s more fun if everyone can get their hand on a shovel.
Wear warm clothes and boots to spend the afternoon in the snow.
Jan
27
1:00 PM13:00
Snow Science & Social
Love to play in the snow? Want to learn more about winter in the San Juans? Join Mountain Studies Institute and SJMA for our special winter hike series, Snow Science & Social! Back by popular demand, these snowshoe hikes are a great opportunity to explore the snowy landscape and learn more about winter in the San Juans.
On select weekends this winter, our education team will host snowshoe interpretive hikes from 1-3 pm, then welcome you back to our new mobile basecamp in the Andrews Lake Winter Parking Lot for a bonfire, hot drinks, and good conversation. Topics will include forest ecology, watersheds, climate change, and the future of snowpack in the San Juans. These popular events are FREE to the public, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
If needed, SJMA will provide snowshoes for your use (when registering make sure to include your shoe size, height and weight).
Participants must be prepared to hike up to 2 miles in the snow at ~11,000 ft of elevation.
Participants encouraged to bring an avy shovel (or any compact shovel) for digging snow pits. SJMA can provide avy shovels, but it’s more fun if everyone can get their hand on a shovel.
Wear warm clothes and boots to spend the afternoon in the snow.
Jan
13
1:00 PM13:00
Snow Science & Social
Love to play in the snow? Want to learn more about winter in the San Juans? Join Mountain Studies Institute and SJMA for our special winter hike series, Snow Science & Social! Back by popular demand, these snowshoe hikes are a great opportunity to explore the snowy landscape and learn more about winter in the San Juans.
On select weekends this winter, our education team will host snowshoe interpretive hikes from 1-3 pm, then welcome you back to our new mobile basecamp in the Andrews Lake Winter Parking Lot for a bonfire, hot drinks, and good conversation. Topics will include forest ecology, watersheds, climate change, and the future of snowpack in the San Juans. These popular events are FREE to the public, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
If needed, SJMA will provide snowshoes for your use (when registering make sure to include your shoe size, height and weight).
Participants must be prepared to hike up to 2 miles in the snow at ~11,000 ft of elevation.
Participants encouraged to bring an avy shovel (or any compact shovel) for digging snow pits. SJMA can provide avy shovels, but it’s more fun if everyone can get their hand on a shovel.
Wear warm clothes and boots to spend the afternoon in the snow.
Dec
7
5:00 PM17:00
Jack Frost Celebration
You’re invited to our Jack Frost Celebration, bringing together MSI staff, partners, and community members.
Dec
5
10:00 AM10:00
Colorado Gives Day
Support MSI by donating on Colorado Gives Day during Power Hour. Put a donation reminder on your calendar for 10am 12/5 - if we raise the most money during this "Power Hour" on CO Gives day, we win an extra $2000!
Click here if you have a google calendar for an easy link to a calendar invite. Click here for any other calendars.
All donations are appreciated, whether they are in the Power Hour or not!
Nov
9
6:00 PM18:00
Presentation at Fort Lewis for new Durango Nature Center field guide
Join the first lecture of the Colorado Native Plant Society Winter Series at Fort Lewis College Center for Southwest Studies by none other than our very own Haley Perez.
New Field Guide for Durango Nature Center
by Haley Perez, Mountain Studies Institute
November 9, 6:00 - 7:30 pm, Presentation
Haley Perez, recent graduate of Fort Lewis College (FLC) is now serving as the AmeriCorps member on the education team for Mountain Studies Institute in Durango, CO. Due to her passion for the health of our environment, Haley pursued a degree in Environmental Studies and Public Health. During her college career, Haley held a project lead position at the FLC environmental center where she spent a little over two semesters working on a producing a native species field guide for San Juan Mountains Association and the Durango Nature Center. This field guide was created from scratch, entailing much trial and error as well as many successes along the way. Taking over 180 hours to complete, Haley will be talking through the creation as well as the process it took to achieve a completed native species field guide that is now used as an educational tool to identify the vegetation around the Durango Nature Center.
Contact amanda@mountainstudies.org with questions
This presentation will be offered in person at the Lyceum in the Center for Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College, as well as on Zoom. Zoom info will be provided via email upon registration.
Nov
7
5:30 PM17:30
Bighorn Celebration Nov 7th
COLORADO BIGHORN CELEBRATION
November 7th 5:30-7:30pm at the Durango DoubleTree
Complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cash bar
Come learn about Southwest Colorado’s iconic bighorn sheep and the serious threats they face. Join expert panelists and bighorn advocates in a lively presentation about bighorns and share in an important announcement about local efforts to protect our wild bighorn sheep. Learn what you can do to help, including supporting citizen science and funding efforts.
You won’t want to miss this event!
Nov
7
to Nov 9
West Mancos River Restoration
Are you interested in improving habitat and stream function? Do you want hands on experience in improving our local watersheds through process-based restoration? We are looking for volunteers to assists in the creation of process-based restoration, in-stream structures, on the West Mancos River.
This includes lifting and moving heavy objects, using a hydraulic post pounder, being in posssibly cold water, and building in-stream structures to improve hydro-ecologic functionality. We will be meeting at Boyle Park in Mancos at 8:15am and will be working from 9am-4pm. We will provide PPE and request that you bring food and water, and clothing suitable for all weather conditions. We will also provide a limited number of boots and waders, if you have your own, please bring them.
Contact Dr. Jake Kurzweil at jake@mountainstudies.org to RSVP and get directions it is very close to downtown Mancos.
Oct
26
5:00 PM17:00
Durango Green Drinks
Every last Thursday of the month, environmental nonprofits will be hosting the Green Drinks event at 11th Street Station from 5-7PM! Come join MSI on September 28th to “drink a beer, have a chat, inspire change.” For more information, visit www.sustainableswcolorado.com
Oct
23
to Oct 27
Mancos River Restoration on Ute Mountain Tribal Park
We will be using process-based restoration techniques to build and install beaver dam analogues and post-assisted log structures in the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. This will help the Mancos River become a more suitable place for fish, plants, and maybe even beavers someday.
We’re looking for volunteers! Contact Benjamin Robinson at brobinson@utemountain.org.
Oct
10
to Oct 14
Mancos River Watershed Week
Sponsored by the Mancos Conservation District, Watershed Week celebrates, well, water! Come join any of the events listed below. Registration is required for the Appreciation Dinner and Watershed Tour. Sign up here.
Oct
2
to Oct 4
Snowtography site installation on Jackson Mountain
UPDATE: THE PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD, OCTOBER 2-4!
Join the MSI team in installing a snowtography site on Jackson Mountain. This is an exciting addition to the Colorado snowtography network that MSI took over in its entirety this summer. Snowtography sites allow us to answer more detailed questions about how snow accumulates and disappears in different types forested areas, and in turn, make decisions about how to manage our forests with snow and water resources in mind.
Each day, folks will meet at the turnoff for Jackson Mountain at 8am. The day lasts until 4pm. Come for one or all of the days for as much time as you can, but please meet in the morning as the site takes some hiking to get to. There will be hard physical work to be done including driving in t-posts and extensive digging. Bring gloves, good footwear and and rock bars and picks if you have them. Prepare for the changing weather of Colorado. Reach out to alex@mountainstudies.org with questions and to sign up.
Sep
23
9:00 AM09:00
National Public Lands Day Fen Restoration
The best way to spend National Public Lands Day is to spend the day giving back to your local public lands. MSI has the perfect opportunity for you to participate in NPLD by going up to Ophir Fen to help restore an important high elevation wetland. A picturesque landscape will surround you as you help restoration efforts by planting native seeds in the wetland and helping to install erosion control materials before the winter hits. The event will go from 9AM to 1PM on Saturday September 23rd. Please register for the event at https://msi.app.neoncrm.com/eventReg.jsp?event=818& For more information email Amanda Kuenzi amanda@mountainstudies.org
Sep
23
8:30 AM08:30
Monarch Conservation in the Four Corners
Join Kaitlin Haase, Pollinator Conservation Specialist with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, and Gail Morris, Coordinator of the Southwest Monarch Study, for a full day short course on the conservation of monarch butterflies in the Four Corners. The morning of the short course will feature presentations on monarch ecology and community science in the Southwest with a hands-on outdoor monarch netting and tagging demonstration. The afternoon will focus on creating and protecting habitat for monarchs with presentations on growing native pollinator plants and choosing pollinator-friendly land management practices. A community tabling event featuring local organizations will be available to registrants midday during the short course.
Sep
22
to Sep 23
Stream Restoration Workshop
Mountain Studies Institute, San Juan Citizens Alliance, Give a Dam, the Colorado Healthy Headwaters Working Group, the Four Corners Water Center, and Dolores River Anglers Trout Unlimited are excited to invite you to attend a free workshop, Philosophy, Tools, and Tales of Success for Re-Building Resilient Rivers in Southwestern Colorado, from September 22nd – 23rd, 2023 at Fort Lewis College in Durango with a field trip on the 23rd to the Mancos River RESTORE project led by MSI. Go here for more information and to RSVP. Sign up by September 8th!
Sep
8
to Sep 11
Snowtography Site Installation on Red Mountain Pass
Join the MSI team in installing a snowtography site on Red Mountain Pass. This is an exciting addition to the Colorado snowtography network that MSI took over in its entirety this summer. Snowtography sites allow us to answer more detailed questions about how snow accumulates and disappears in different types forested areas, and in turn, make decisions about how to manage our forests with snow and water resources in mind.
Each day, folks will meet at the turnoff for Black Bear Pass on the Silverton side at 8am (use this map as it is more accurate than the map). The day lasts until 4pm. Come for one or all of the days for as much time as you can, but please meet in the morning as the site takes some hiking to get to. There will be hard physical work to be done including driving in t-posts and extensive digging. Bring gloves, good footwear and and rock bars and picks if you have them. Prepare for the changing weather of Colorado. Reach out to alex@mountainstudies.org with questions and to sign up.
Aug
8
9:00 AM09:00
Stewardship Day at Brooklynn Mine
Join Mountain Studies Institute and the San Juan National Forest for a day of stewardship on our public lands! Help us clean up the sun shades from when the trees were planted.
Jul
22
9:00 AM09:00
Stewardship & Learning Day!
Learn about fire ecology and participate in replenishing our forest with native seeds.
Jul
13
8:30 AM08:30
Wacky Water Wizards (ONE DAY)
THIS IS AVAILABLE FOR 9R STUDENTS IN “BRIDGING THE GAP” PROGRAM (ONE DAY)
Join Mountain Studies Institute for a fun adventure to learn about water! You'll become a Wacky Water Wizard as you learn more about the Animas River!
Jul
12
8:30 AM08:30
Wacky Water Wizards (ONE DAY)
THIS IS AVAILABLE FOR 9R STUDENTS IN “BRIDGING THE GAP” PROGRAM (ONE DAY)
Join Mountain Studies Institute for a fun adventure to learn about water! You'll become a Wacky Water Wizard as you learn more about the Animas River!
Jul
11
8:30 AM08:30
Wacky Water Wizards (ONE DAY)
THIS IS AVAILABLE FOR 9R STUDENTS IN “BRIDGING THE GAP” PROGRAM (ONE DAY)
Join Mountain Studies Institute for a fun adventure to learn about water! You'll become a Wacky Water Wizard as you learn more about the Animas River!
Jul
10
8:30 AM08:30
Wacky Water Wizards (ONE DAY)
THIS IS AVAILABLE FOR 9R STUDENTS IN “BRIDGING THE GAP” PROGRAM (ONE DAY)
Join Mountain Studies Institute for a fun adventure to learn about water! You'll become a Wacky Water Wizard as you learn more about the Animas River!
Jul
6
5:00 PM17:00
MSI Bighorn Monitoring Program 2023 Update
Join us for an evening of lively discussion about important locations for monitoring this year, signage, and best monitoring methods for the volunteers to know (i.e. safety tips, iNaturalist access, etc.). Plus, there will be a 15-minute showing of the documentary, "Transmission," provided with beverages and snacks. NO COST!
Jul
6
4:00 PM16:00
MSI Open House
Come join us at our new offices on 162 Stewart St. Suite A for a celebration of the cosmos, people, and food and drink. We will have a bbq and be open for discussion, jokes, and clinking glasses. More details will be coming soon.
Jul
5
5:00 PM17:00
MSI Bighorn Monitoring Program 2023 Update
Join us for an evening of lively discussion about important locations for monitoring this year, signage, and best monitoring methods for the volunteers to know (i.e. safety tips, iNaturalist access, etc.). Plus, there will be a 15-minute showing of the documentary, "Transmission," provided with beverages and snacks. NO COST!
Jun
3
8:00 AM08:00
Animas River Days Celebration!
This Saturday, June 3rd, come join us for the big Animas River Days event at Santa Rita Park! Mountain Studies will have a tent and outreach table for the public to engage in between 8-4PM (maybe later.)
PLUS, MSI is collaborating with the Water Reclamation Facility to host tours of the awesome Topographic Table. The tours will be ON THE HOUR from 10AM-3PM, and meeting at the front door of the admission building. Only 10 people per tour.
We are so excited to be a part of this event and we hope to see you there!
