From Classroom to Open Space: Youth Conservation in Action

The future of our iconic landscapes rests in the hands of those who will inherit them. Connecting young people with conservation is about nurturing tomorrow's Colorado stewards. This spring, our stewardship team had the privilege of guiding high school and college students through hands-on conservation experiences that transformed learning into tangible action.

Conservation 101 at Cheyenne Mountain High School

To celebrate Earth Day, Cheyenne Mountain High School invited several conservation-related specialists to speak and provide demonstrations for students. Land Stewardship Manager, Theron Verna, was invited to present and he explained conservation fundamentals to spark interest among the students. With Stratton Open Space—a Palmer-protected property—just steps from their campus, students gained perspective on conservation happening in their own backyard. Theron's presentation transformed abstract environmental concepts into relevant, local examples that students could visualize from the outdoor event.

Fountain Valley School: Earth Day Beyond the Classroom

Curious minds from Fountain Valley School joined Palmer stewardship staff for an immersive morning at Mesa Valley Wildlife Preserve—one of two Palmer-owned properties. These students quickly discovered that environmental stewardship extends far beyond simply planting trees. Through interactive demonstrations, they learned about forest management practices that maintain ecosystem health for generations.

The experience didn't end there. The group ventured to another Palmer-protected gem—Red Rock Canyon Open Space—where classroom concepts came alive against the backdrop of towering sandstone formations. As students traced the connection between conservation principles and the breathtaking landscape before them, staff witnessed that moment of realization: these are not just scenic views, but living systems requiring ongoing protection and care.

College Students Roll Up Their Sleeves at Rawles Open Space

When Colorado College fraternity members of Kappa Sigma and Sigma Chi joined neighborhood volunteers at Rawles Open Space, theory transformed into impressive action. In just a few hours, this energetic group removed over 300 invasive plants, including mullein and Siberian elm, while filling two large trash bags with collected litter. Fueled by delicious Poor Richard's pizza, these young adults demonstrated how collective effort creates immediate, visible impact on protected lands.

The curiosity and enjoyment of the outdoors by these students provides a natural path to meaningful conservation education which can cultivate lasting change. As these young people return to their classrooms and communities, they carry with them not just knowledge but the experience of connecting with the land in purposeful ways to care for these precious resources. This is how we build the conservation movement of tomorrow—one student, one experience, one protected space at a time.