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Forests to Faucets professional development for educators to be held June 4th- 5th at Fort Lewis College A free, professional development workshop for teachers and educators will be offered June 4th-5th, 2026 at Fort Lewis College. This workshop: Forests to Faucets: My Water Comes from the San Juan Mountains is offered in partnership by Mountain Studies Institute, San Juan Mountains Association, and Water Information Program. Participating teachers will have the opportunity to wear the “student hat” as they explore relevant topics in forest health and water ecology. Teachers will sample place-based field trips, will do hands-on activities, and learn from water professionals, all of which they can bring back to their students and classrooms next fall. All participants will receive free lunch, a shared drive of all teaching materials, a kit of classroom materials, and a certificate for 16 hours of professional development. Drought and water shortages are quickly becoming prominent issues facing our youth. Through this workshop, teachers will gain skills to help their students understand our water future through fun, interactive ways! Among the expert speakers presenting at the workshop will be staff from the City of Durango. Teachers will learn first-hand about current measures the city treats and manages our water supply. Registration is at https://www.mountainstudies.org/foreststofaucets and requires a $50 deposit, which will be refunded after completion of the workshop. Please direct all questions to jewell@mountainstudies.org. Registration closes May 22nd, 2026.

The Durango Arts Repertory Theater at the Durango Arts Center is seeking original submissions for its 16th Annual 10-Minute Play Festival. Playwrights worldwide are invited to submit one short play reflecting this year’s theme, “The State We Are In,” celebrating major anniversaries for Colorado and the United States. Selected plays will receive full production and royalty. Submissions close March 1st or at 200 entries, so act quickly! Submission guidelines are at www.durangoart.org under the performing arts tab.

Coffee with Chris - Bayfield Join LPEA's CEO Chris Hansen at the Pine River Library in Bayfield for coffee and conversation. Share your thoughts and ideas, and ask any questions you may have. There's no formal agenda – just an informal gathering where your co-op leadership listens to you! February 25, 2026 8:00AM - 9:00AM FREE La Plata Electric Association https://www.facebook.com/events/1227281389489415 comms@lpea.coop

2026 San Juan Resilience Youth Summit is February 25th Instead of college students, the Ballroom of Fort Lewis College, will have middle and high school students running their own science conference called the San Juan Resilience Youth Summit on February 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This youth-focused event highlights and supports regional science research and is supported by the placed-based, environmental nonprofit, Mountain Studies Institute (MSI). First started in 2019, the San Juan Resilience Youth Summit (SJRYS) is modeled after professional scientific research summits and geared specifically for middle and high school students in San Juan Mountain communities. It is a free, “science fair-like” conversational gathering for students to come together and share their projects on any environmental topic that they choose to investigate. Students are provided an opportunity to share their work with, and learn from, an authentic audience of peers, natural resource professionals, and community leaders. In 2025, the Summit had been considered a success with 90 attendees, including teachers and volunteers. This year, MSI expects a larger turnout with over 100 students registered currently. Haley Perez is the student facilitator liaison for the 2026 SJRYS and is available to support students and teachers who are interested in attending. Visit www.mountainstudies.org/sjrys for registration as well as project brainstorming tools and style guidelines. If you’re not in middle school or high school and still want to get involved, MSI is actively looking for volunteers. Please reach out to Haley Perez at haley@mountainstudies.org.

Author Panel & Presentations - "Power of Place" Commemorative Magazine Weds, February 25, 2026 5-6 p.m. Light catering in the Center's first floor reception room 6-7:30 p.m. Presentations Free and open to all https://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/ Center of Southwest Studies Lyceum (Rm 120) Hosted by Center of Southwest Studies Contact: cmscott@fortlewis.edu, (970) 247-7333 Join five authors of articles in the recently released Colorado 150 Southwest "Power of Place" Commemorative Magazine as they discuss the topics of SW Colorado's history and heritages. This moderated panel will provide a chance for authors and the audience to take a deeper dive into the topics of the Dominguez-Escalante expedition, the Hayden Survey in Southwest Colorado, wildlife management in our corner of the state, the role of agriculture in the region, and contemporary Southern Ute woman leadership. Featuring: *Linda Baker (Southern Ute) - Native Women Leaders *Pat Dorsey - Southwest Colorado’s Wildlife Management *Robert McDaniel - Retracing the route of the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition *Scott Perez - Early Agriculture on the Mountains and Mesas *John Peel - Hayden Survey, the first Geological Survey of Colorado Come early and enjoy the Center's newest exhibit, "Constellations of Place," with light refreshments provided by the Colorado 150 Southwest Organizing group.