The Loveland Open Lands & Trails Program offers free training for volunteers to help with environmental education programs for local school groups.  This training is for Wildlife Programs, which are offered to 5th grade classes. 

Fall 2022 programs will be held at Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park (in the Big Thompson Canyon), primarily on Tuesdays and Fridays, in September and October.  Sessions are either full day (9am-2pm) or half-day (am or pm).  The program offered is "Our Canyon and Its Wildlife - Energy through the Biosphere."  

During training, volunteers are introduced to three 30-minute stations or two 45-minute stations to be presented during full day field trips. Half-day versions include three 15-minute stations and one 45-minute station. Each station includes general information and an activity, with student participation and interaction. Volunteers do not need to learn all 5 presentations - information is repeated to each group as they rotate through stations.

All education volunteers are required to have a background check. Number of teaching days is dependent on teacher reservations, number of volunteers, and their training, but typically varies between 2-6 times per month.  Trained volunteers will also be invited to participate in the spring 2023 sessions but this is not required.

Sign up on Offero.  Questions?  Contact Michele Van Hare, Coordinator, at michele.vanhare@cityofloveland.org or 970.962.2643.  

Additional trainings are offered for other programs and grade levels on August 22 (Critter Scene Investigations) and August 25 (Plants).  

Environmental Education Brochure

Open Lands & Trails Program

Parks & Recreation Department