Here’s the link to the announcement. Here’s the pitch:
2013 River Watch Training Schedule
River Watch is a statewide volunteer water quality-monitoring program operated by the non profit 501©3 Colorado Watershed Assembly in cooperation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Our mission is to work with voluntary stewards to monitor water quality and other indicators of watershed health, and utilize this high quality data to educate citizens and inform decision makers about the condition of Colorado’s waters. This program is unique in its statewide focus and frequency of data collection. River Watch volunteers come in all shapes in sizes: Middle, Elementary and High School groups participate in our program to provide in-depth education and experience in real life science that extends beyond the classroom. Conservation groups and community organizations concerned with water quality issues in their areas participate to learn more about watershed health in their region. Interested volunteers must participate in a training before becoming part of our program. After the training, groups agree to sample at a designated station monthly for metals, nutrients and other parameters. As water quality data must be recorded over time to understand the baseline conditions and any changes that occur in the system, we are seeking volunteers that can make a several year commitment to the program.
The fee for new groups to become part of the River Watch program is a one time cost of $200. With this fee, groups will obtain over $1800 worth of water quality equipment and includes one person’s attendance cost to the training. Scholarships are available to those groups who demonstrate their inability to pay the fee.
We will have two trainings scheduled this calendar year. These events cover the same material and format and will allow participants the ability to broaden their knowledge on River Watch as we will be having sessions on data management and advanced stream ecology. Introduction to River Watch for new participants will focus on water quality sampling and analysis and the nuts and bolts of our program. Sessions in bringing River Watch home to your organization and exploring non traditional teaching methods to implement River Watch will also be covered. There will be a cost of $90 per person (returning or additional persons) to attend if the registration is completed before the stated deadlines. After the deadlines, the registration rate is $110 per person. All meals and lodging (3 nights) are included in the fee.
July 23- July 26, 2013 we will be meeting at Mountain Park Environmental Center in Beulah, just southwest of Pueblo. The deadline to register for this event is June 15th. Registration after this date will be $110 per person. October 29 – November 1, 2013 we will be meeting at Camp Cedaredge, in the town of Cedaredge on the Western Slope. The deadline to register for this event is October 1st. Registration after this date will be $110 per person. Additional information:
Students are welcome to attend if accompanied by an adult. Continuing education credits will be available from the Colorado School of Mines (up to 3) at an additional cost. To register online, click here.
If you are interested in attending this training or learning more about our program, please contact Michaela Taylor at michaela@coloradowatershed.org or at (303) 291-7322.
More education coverage here.