Teacher Workshop To Focus on ‘Playas’

Day and a Half Seminar Near Holly, Colo

The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) and the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) are sponsoring an educator’s workshop on “playas” July 12th and 13th near Holly, Colorado. 
 
This day and a half workshop offers an opportunity to learn about playas throughout the Great Plains.   Playa is a Spanish word for beach or circle of water used to describe intermittent wetlands located on the western plains.  There are over 25,000 playas located in Texas, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico.
 
Workshop participants will join local field biologists Tuesday, July 12 for coffee and donuts then head out to collect biological information. 
 
Participants will sample and discuss the soils, vegetation, and insects as well as survey for birds, amphibians, and reptiles.  Group leaders will demonstrate student/teacher activities associated with the playa that can be taken back to the classroom or other teaching environments.
 
Biologists from RMBO and DOW, as well as the local landowner, will be on hand to help with data collection and interpretation. 
 
The afternoon session takes place John Martin Reservoir where the class will tour the playarama display.  That night, the class will camp at the playa and learn about the history of the land from the landowner.  One the second day, the group will finish up with data collection and exercises. 
 
Meals, equipment and workbooks will be provided.   Participants should bring their own tent and cook stoves if they have them. 
 
The charge is $10 per attendee.  Course credits are available for educators. 
 
Please RSVP to by July 1 Terri Hicks-Anderson at RMBO at 970-482-1707 or terri.hicks-anderson@rmbo.org  or Linda Groat with DOW at 719-336-6608 or linda.groat@state.co.us.  
 
The workshop is made possible through funding from the Playa Lakes Joint Venture, Colorado Division of Wildlife, and Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.

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