Environmental Issues

This unique series of curricula explore current local environmental dilemmas.  We begin by teaching students the ecological, political, and public policy history surrounding the issue in question, and then assign each student the role of a stakeholder, each representing a different position or belief.  Students come to a “Town Meeting” in character and discuss the problem, working together to develop an action plan towards a solution.  Current Enviromental Issues curricula include:

Fire Ecology
Fire Ecology examines how fires and fire suppression affects forests and their surrounding communities.  We explore fire ecology, visit sites that have burned in recent years, and discuss the history of forest fire management in the United States.  Students then participate in a discussion to determine how they think forest fires should be managed in the future. 

Wolf Management
Our Wolf curriculum delves into wolf ecology, the history of wolf management in the United States, and the current status of wolf populations in this country. The central question posed to students is how Colorado should manage wolves once they migrate in from other states. 

Mountain Pine Beetle
In our pine beetle curriculum, students explore the local forest, learning about plant and animal ecology and connections within ecosystems. They study pine beetle adaptations and the structure of lodge pole pines, become familiar with the history of forest management and its effects, and discuss how to manage the forest in regard to the current pine beetle outbreak. 

Mining and Water Quality
This curriculum explores water quality issues in the context of Summit County’s rich mining history.  Students investigate the biological, physical, and chemical properties of local waters, think critically about how mining may have altered the ecosystems, and brainstorm solutions.

***New for the 2009-2010 School Year***
Colorado Watershed Management
Students explore watersheds, the water cycle, and ecological and human relationships. We will apply these lessons to the complicated issue of water management in Colorado.