Executive Director Update

Happy New Year! For many, this time marks the point of new beginnings and new opportunities. It can also serve as a reflection point when we look back on the seeds we have sown, planning for a fruitful season ahead.

For YVPS3, the start of 2024 marks an important milestone for our organization. At this time last year, the YVPS3 Steering Committee was in the early stages of recruiting a founding Executive Director (I, personally, hadn't pressed send on my application quite yet!). Looking back over nearly a year, we can appreciate the challenging moments we've all navigated through this process; our victories truly belong to us all.

The growth and progress made by YVPS3 over the past year has been steady and sure, and we can all be proud of the work we have done to establish a strong and solid foundation for our partnership which honors our communities and stakeholders in a way that is sincere and intentional.

Here are some of the major milestones met in 2023:

Hired YVPS3's Founding Executive Director
Established board by-laws and founding Board of Directors
Completed filing for 501(c)(3) non-profit status, EIN obtained
Created YVPS3 branding, website, and communication outlets
Established state-wide support networks and resources
Wrote & adopted internal fiscal, employee, and operational policies
Hired YVPS3's Founding Regional Coordinator
Co-developed YVPS3 Strategic Goals and Strategic Plan
Facilitated Pathway Design process through CDE's Rural Coaction program
Established formal MOUs between regional and western slope partners
Pursued additional grant funding to sustain our work through Serve Colorado, Opportunity Now, and the Perkins Innovation and Modernization Grants

As we launch into 2024, I have a lot of hope for our continued support of shared educational resources. Our persistence in this work will benefit our diverse community of students and will increase opportunities throughout the valley. I am also excited for new possibilities as we look to diversify and expand S3's work through new avenues where we can support students, stewardship, and sustainability throughout the region.

Yampa Valley Sustainability Council: Spring Internship Opportunity

Are you interested in an opportunity to gain experience and share your passion for sustainability efforts around the Yampa Valley? The time is right for you to apply!

Yampa Valley Sustainability Council's Internship Program is accepting applications for their Spring 2024 term now through January 22nd at 11:59pm MST. The internship is a paid, part-time, 12-week professional experience that allows interns to partner directly with YVSC staff members to collaborate on a project that supports existing programs within the organization. The spring term begins February 5th and runs through April 26th and requires 10-15 hours per week of committed time. Interns can expect to gain professional communication skills, understanding of nonprofit functioning, independently led work structure, and experience with an environmental focused project. No previous experience is required to apply, but you must be a high school or college student or recent graduate to be considered.

Each internship with YVSC is unique; it intersects where the organization’s needs, and the individual’s interests meet.

Application Window: OPEN

NOW December 18 – January 22

Term Dates: February 5 – April 26

10-15 hrs/wk

Application and additional Information

SOROCO Students honored by Steamboat Rotary Club

The Steamboat Springs Rotary Club honored three students from SOROCO High School — Cadence Salberg, Hoyt Raffay and Anna Rushton — as the club’s Students of the Month for November, December and January. Congratulations

Steamboat Pilot Article

Student Grant Opportunity: Climate Innovation Challenge will support teen-led projects across Yampa Valley

Teens ages 14-19 who live in the Yampa Valley and care about making a positive impact on the valley’s environment have the opportunity to apply for support for a hands-on, independent project through the Climate Innovation Project.

Owners of the historic Hayden Granary have partnered with two national nonprofits entities — Lyra and GripTape — to launch a local challenge for environmental projects completed by teens. The selected 40 students will receive $500 for project expenses along with support from a mentoring “champion.” The project’s five-question application will be open online Jan. 1-31.

Interested adults from the Yampa Valley who enjoy working with youth also can apply to be climate project mentors by emailing haydengranary@gmail.com.

Climate Innovation Project Application

Craig Press News Article

Moffat County 4-H

Open House

Wednesday, February 7^th

5-7 pm

1198 W. Victory Way STE 106, Craig

Interested in Joining 4-H?

Moffat County 4-H enrollment deadline is March 31, 2023

More information:

https://moffatcounty.colorado.gov/services/county-extension-office

Routt County 4-H

Whether you are already enrolled in 4-H or interested in learning more, visit the link below to get all of the details

for the Routt County 4-H program!

Interested in Joining 4-H?

Routt County 4-H Enrollment

Deadline is May 1, 2023

More Information:

https://routt.extension.colostate.edu/4-h/enrollment/

Grant-winning MCHS robotics team ready to compete for world championship title:

Moffat County High School’s robotics team, MoCo Robo, is preparing for its upcoming competition season after recently securing multiple grant awards.

They were awarded $5,000 by the Yampa Valley Electric Association through its Operation Round-Up program. The program allows YVEA members to donate to local causes and groups by “rounding up” payment of their monthly bill to the nearest dollar. As such, the robotics team’s award was actually made possible by the generosity of the Yampa Valley community.

Head coach Kristen Nichols was also awarded a $1,500 Rural Teacher Grant from the Nathan Yip Foundation. The grant funding will ensure that the robotics team is able to head into the upcoming competition season well-supplied. The team competes every year in the First Robotics Competition, a worldwide robotics competition.

The 2024 competition season kicked off on Jan. 6, when the team learned what this year's “game” will be. The team will then have six weeks to design, build and code a robot from scratch to compete in the chosen game, which will focus on the completion of a series of tasks.

The robots created for the competition are both intricate and substantial, typically weighing over 100 pounds and measuring multiple feet tall. After constructing their robot, the team will compete in a qualifying event at the University of Denver, with the aim of earning a coveted spot at the world championship competition in Houston.

Craig Press News Article

More Information

Applications open January 31, 2024

Do you know a student interested in learning more about a career in the automotive field?

The Automotive Technology program at CNCC prepares students for one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. The program offers Basic and Advanced Automotive Technology certificate courses. It takes students from a basic introduction to the automotive industry to training students for ASE certification level.

Taught by automotive professionals with extensive industry experience, students are encouraged to become dependable, accountable, quality technicians. At the CNCC Automotive Technology Program, we believe work ethic and customer service are every bit as important as a thorough knowledge of complex systems.

CNCC Automotive Program

Looking for Education and Outdoor Learning Opportunities for your students or family?

Checkout these awesome opportunities that Yampatika provides....

Environmental Literacy Program: (ELP)

Middle School: Cycle Modeling (Water or Carbon)
High School: Water Quality
Middle and High School: Fire in Colorado
Middle and High School: Community Resilience: Drought, Fire, or Flood

Explore the Yampa Valley:

Citizen Science after dark with the USFS
Ski or snowshoe with a naturalist (Explore Fish Creek Falls, Rabbit Ears Pass, Mount Werner, Howelsen Hill, Stagecoach and more.)
Moonlight Snowshoe Tours
Winter Lanscape Photography

Contact Yampatika to learn more.

Sustainability Studies

Tackle the world’s biggest challenges in the classroom and out in the field. Study the science, ethics, and practical application of a variety of disciplines to pave the way for a more sustainable future.

More Information

Certificate Programs:

Degree Programs:

YVPS3 Newsletter Designed & Written by Erin Walker

Have information you'd like to share with the S3 Community? Contact Erin at erin@yvps3.org