The Headwaters Outreach Initiative (Initiative) in Grand County, spearheaded by CRA’s Outreach and Education Chair Corie Schott, is off to a fast start. Originally targeted only for Grand County, the Initiative has generated a lot of enthusiasm in Grand County and now has support across Colorado. Active supporters of the Initiative include East Grand School District, Governor’s Office of Energy & Management, Friends of the Fraser River, Grand County Water Information Network, Trout Unlimited Headwaters Chapter, Middle Park Land Trust, Central Rockies Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration, and Roots to Shoots. CRA has been in the local Grand County newspaper several times over the last few months highlighting education and outreach activities.
The Initiative recently sponsored a wetlands education event at the Fraser Library. It was a soaring success! The students attending the after-school library program were introduced to the wetland ecosystem by taking a tour of the wetland area behind the library, watching a slideshow presentation, and creating their own wetland ecosystem posters. This was the first exposure to wetland ecosystems for many of the students, and afterwards, some students were inspired to check out books on wetlands from the library.

 
CRA Education & Outreach Chairperson Corie Schott (left) and CRA Intern Christy Cleaver (right) and local kids at the Fraser Valley Library show off the wetlands poster they created as part of the Headwaters Outreach Initiative.
Colorado Riparian Association