Great Western Institute
In coordination with the Poudre Learning Center, Von Trotha-Firestien Farm hosted a group of teachers participating in a Teacher Professional Development Workshop this summer. This event was part of Project WET - Water Education for Teachers - and was sponsored by the Great Western Institute. The Institute promotes water resources conservation through education, research and policy development.
Project WET is an international teachers training effort and Great Western Institute is the host organization in Colorado. Project WET builds networks to encourage effective and sustainable water education programs and utilizes the core belief that water is important to all users, including business and industry, earth systems, energy, agriculture and many others - basically anyone who uses water, which is everyone.
This four day hands-on water education workshop was dubbed the First Annual Confluence Institute and was hosted by the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, the City of Greeley, the West Greeley Conservation District and the Poudre Learning Center.
On the evening of the third day of the workshop, Von Trotha-Firestien Farm hosted a barbeque dinner for participants in the shade on the front lawn of the historic stucco farm house. Great food was enjoyed in addition to music provided by a bluegrass band staged on the front porch of the farmhouse. Participants were encouraged to view the historic buildings and, in recognition of some of the water history of the farm, drinking water was provided by the private domestic water line that services the farm, the Shark'stooth Pipeline Company.
Read more about the Confluence Institute in the following Greeley Tribune Article: Ag Talk: Annual Confluence Institute designed to help teachers learn all about water
The farm hopes to host more groups like this and provide educational tours in the future. Please contact us if you have an idea for your group!