Parks and Wildlife staff visits Beulah students on Earth Day
Dean Miller
BEULAH, Colo. – Students at the Beulah School of Natural Sciences celebrated Earth Day with a variety of hands-on conservation-focused activities Wednesday, continuing a tradition that reflects the school’s long-standing focus on earth sciences, ecology and outdoor learning.
Students participated in activities led by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Pueblo Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center, and the Beulah Fire Protection and Ambulance District. Activities included archery, bluebird box projects, raptor presentations, bear, mountain lion and ferret awareness activities, wildlife skull and hide observations, tree and garden planting, and more.
“Earth Day is the biggest holiday of the year at our school because it reflects who we are,” said Perry Rogers, school principal. “Our students spend the entire year learning about earth sciences, ecology and the outdoors, and today gives them a chance to bring those lessons to life through hands-on activities that are very different from a typical day in the classroom.”
The school’s connection to the outdoors extends well beyond a single day. Students regularly participate in outdoor classes, greenhouse work and trips to nearby mountain parks throughout the year as part of the school’s curriculum.
Colorado Parks and Widllife has a long-standing relationship with the broader Beulah community, population 1,568, through wildlife education, outreach and efforts to reduce conflicts between residents and wildlife.
“Earth Day is a great example of what can happen when a school, a community and local partners all work together,” said Gretchen Holschuh, CPW District Wildlife Manager. “For Colorado Parks and Wildlife, this event reflects our mission by connecting students with conservation, outdoor recreation and the importance of caring for wildlife and natural resources in their own community.”
That partnership extends beyond the classroom. Colorado Parks and Wildlife works with local residents throughout the year on programs to reduce conflicts with bears, deer and mountain lions, including efforts that have secured grant funding for bear-resistant trash cans, electric fencing kits and wildlife education.
“Our partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a huge part of what makes this event so meaningful,” Rogers said. “We could still celebrate Earth Day without Colorado Parks and Wildlife, but the experiences their staff brings — from archery and bluebird projects to simply spending time with students — make the day much richer and help our kids connect with the outdoors in ways we could not provide on our own.”
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B-ROLL:
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PHOTO CUTLINES:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officer Cody Purcell instructs students in identifying wildlife.
Link: https://mcusercontent.com/5144ed31c5f2ba642e0393361/_thumbs/a0de7488-7808-8571-edd0-29df5a7980bd.jpg
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Technician Bill Velarde assists students in assembling bluebird nest boxes. Students later hung them on fence lines near the school and fire department.
Link: https://mcusercontent.com/5144ed31c5f2ba642e0393361/_thumbs/29e38a2d-d3aa-4e09-6513-bff59c360511.jpg
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Technician Blake Johnson leads a game with students to identify wildlife.
Link: https://mcusercontent.com/5144ed31c5f2ba642e0393361/_thumbs/54e7e6d3-abb4-f9d2-7812-1761ac812fa3.jpg
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Officer Cody Purcell demonstrates identification of wildlife through measurement of animal skulls.
Link: https://mcusercontent.com/5144ed31c5f2ba642e0393361/_thumbs/b09673d4-1702-e0c6-40f4-c354c146fb45.jpg
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
DISCLAIMER: The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) website maintains press releases containing historical information that may no longer be accurate. Press releases are dated, which should be noted to determine whether the information provided is current. Please review our current regulations and brochures for up-to-date information.