Colorado College Students Tend Fire-Resilient Landscapes

In the shadow of Colorado's majestic Ponderosas, where neighborhoods meet the foothill forests, an inspiring collaboration unfolded recently at a Palmer-conserved property near the southern edge of the Air Force Academy. As morning light filtered through the gambel oak, volunteers gathered with a shared purpose—tending to landscapes with the ever-present potential of wildfire.

Where Conservation Meets Community Safety

"In the American West, fire mitigation is key for landscape and community resilience," explained Theron Verna, Palmer’s land stewardship manager, during the event. His words resonated across the 11-acre open space nestled against the Air Force Academy, where Colorado College students rolled up their sleeves alongside experienced firefighters and conservation experts.

This gathering represented the second year of partnership between Palmer Land Conservancy and Colorado College's Priddy Experience program—a unique orientation experience for each incoming student to connect with the local community in meaningful ways.

Many Hands, One Purpose

The Colorado Springs Fire Department's wildfire mitigation team led the day's efforts, guiding volunteers in breaking down potential fuel sources and returning them to the soil. As Michael White from the fire department explained to the students, "One of the big things we're trying to do—ideally we don't want fire coming through, but if fire does come through, we want to keep it on the ground" out of the tree canopy. 

Twenty-four college students—many connecting to Colorado's unique ecosystems for the first time—worked in shifts throughout the day, learning hands-on about forest management while making tangible contributions to improving the forest health. The wildfire mitigation team thinned out the overgrown stands of scrub oak and pines, and the students trimmed up trees by removing dead branches. The students collected the branches and trees and piled them so the fire department could later mulch the fuels and mechanically mix the nutrients within the soil.

Crossing Boundaries to Protect What Matters

What made this event truly special was how it transcended the usual boundaries between organizations, generations, and expertise levels. HOA members with decades of forestry experience shared stories with first-year college students. Palmer staff collaborated with the Woodmen Oaks Estates HOA, which owns the property, and the fire department, with a shared vision to improve the resilience of the forest and our communities.

The Landscape Beyond the Event

Since 1977, Palmer Land Conservancy has protected more than 138,000 acres—an area larger than Denver County. But acreage only tells part of the story. The true impact lies in the connections formed: between people and land, between organizations with shared visions, between today's actions and tomorrow's resilient forests.

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Whether you're a seasoned conservationist or simply someone who treasures Colorado's natural beauty, you can make a difference. Sign up for our newsletter and volunteer opportunities updates to learn about upcoming events to help protect the lands we love—ensuring the Colorado you love today is here forever.