Parks as Portals to Learning Field Workshop

Program History

Parks as Portals to Learning is an interdisciplinary field workshop was developed by Dr. Ben Bobowski and Dr. Ben Baldwin of the National Park Service and Rocky Mountain National Park. This workshop is a major curricular and institutional innovation that addresses a real-world, practical problem: the disconnection between academic teaching and research on the one hand, and professional natural resource management in the public land agencies on the other. Parks as Portals to Learning will use environmental history as a foundation for students, professors, and agency professionals to analyze contemporary resource issues such as climate change, air quality, and elk-vegetation dynamics. The pilot launched in 2013, with field workshops held each summer since. For one week each August, a group of students and faculty from a range of disciplines stay on the ground in Rocky Mountain National Park. They engage with park natural and cultural resource managers, learn about management issues within the park, and propose ways to use environmental history to address these issues and propose creative strategies for learning about and preserving park resources.

The Parks as Portals to Learning field workshop aims to bring together students, faculty, and resource managers in one of the United States’ most iconic national parks to develop processes that will 1) better prepare participants for the real-world challenges of professional positions in public lands management, 2) encourage collaboration, mutual respect, and sharing of knowledge among academics, practitioners, and students, and 3) break down barriers that inhibit collaborative interdisciplinary efforts to address the park’s contemporary sustainability issues, such as climate change, air quality, and elk-vegetation dynamics.

The long term vision of PPL is to use the knowledge gained from the program in Rocky Mountain National Park to develop an educational program that accomplishes the goals outlined above while being easily replicable, so that other sites in the NPS as well as students from diverse backgrounds and at different stages of their academic careers can benefit.

2021 Parks as Portals to Learning

August 9-13, 2021

Study Area: Wilderness Campsites and the Wilderness Office

Public Lands History Center Leadership Team: Mike Childers, Ariel Schnee, Amber Scott

Participants (All CSU History Graduate Students):  Paige Rooney, Jacie Rex, Amber Scott, Taylor Lapoint, Shaun Rose, Kristy Ornelas,

Deliverables: "Backcountry Campsite Office" history brief and timeline, "Campsite Management" database, transcript of oral history with Barry Sweet, RMNP Wilderness Office Manager from 2020.

PPL 2021 Group Photo. From left back row to right: Paige Rooney, Jacie Rex, Amber Scott, Mike Childers (CSU History Faculty), Taylor Lapoint, Shaun Rose, Kristy Ornelas, Ariel Schnee (Public Lands History Center Program Manager).

 

 

PPL 2021 participants walk on boardwalk.
Participants talk with with Barry Sweet, Wilderness Office Manager, at Rocky Mountain National Park for PPL 2021.
PPL 2021 participant conduct an oral interview with a seasonal ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park and Ruth Alexander, professor emeritus.
PPL 2021 participants visit a campground.
PPL 2021 participants visit an accessible backcountry campsite.
Mountain scenery from PPL 2021 time at ROMO.

2020 Parks as Portals to Learning

August 10-14, 2020

Study Area: Wilderness Campsites and the Wilderness Office

Public Lands History Center Leadership Team: Mike Childers, Ariel Schnee, Alex Miller, Amber Scott

Participants: Kurt Knierim (Rocky Mountain High School Social Studies Teacher), Kayla Steele (Berthoud High School Social Studies Teacher), Natalie Stacker (CSU History Graduate Student), Katya Irwin (CSU History Graduate Student), Sean McCollum (CSU History Graduate Student), Corinne Neustadter (CSU Undergraduate History Student), Hailey Doucette (CSU Undergraduate History Student), Payton Perkins (Rocky Mountain High School Student), Eliana Paradise (Berthoud High School Student), and Jayden Thieman (Rocky Mountain High School Student)

Deliverables: "Parks as Portals to Learning: Placing ROMO’s Wilderness Permitting System in the National Wilderness Movement" white paper by Alex Miller; "Wilderness Permitting System Timeline" and "Wilderness Site Change Timeline" databases and digital timelines; Oral history with Barry Sweet, RMNP Wilderness Office Manager

A collage of images of people outdoors.
PPL 2020 Group Photo Collage. Top row from left to right: Alex Miller (CSU History Graduate Student), Amber Scott (CSU History Graduate Student), Ariel Schnee (Public Lands History Center Program Manager), Michael Childers (CSU History Faculty), Kurt Knierim (Rocky Mountain High School Social Studies Teacher), Kayla Steele (Berthoud High School Social Studies Teacher), and Natalie Stacker (CSU History Graduate Student). Bottom row from left to right: Katya Irwin (CSU History Graduate Student), Sean McCollum (CSU History Graduate Student), Corinne Neustadter (CSU Undergraduate History Student), Hailey Doucette (CSU Undergraduate History Student), Payton Perkins (Rocky Mountain High School Student), Eliana Paradise (Berthoud High School Student), and Jayden Thieman (Rocky Mountain High School Student).

2019 Parks as Portals to Learning

August 4-10, 2019

Study Area: Trail Ridge Road

Public Lands History Center Leadership Team: Mike Childers, Ariel Schnee, Andy Olson

Guest Instructors: Ruth Alexander (CSU), Kurt Kneirim (Rocky Mountain High School), Kayla Steele (Berthoud High School)

Participants: Isabella Condon (Berthoud High School), Ella Rupp (Berthoud High School), Isabel Wilson (Rocky Mountain High School), Elle Lenderts (Rocky Mountain High School), Hailey Doucette (CSU), Gentrice Petrie (CSU), Alex Miller (CSU), Jake Swisher (CSU), Leslie Moore (CSU), Bekah Schields (CSU), Tristan Purdy (CSU), Craig Somers (CSU)

Deliverables: “Going Somewhere on the Trail to Nowhere: A Spatial History of Trail Ridge Road, 1970-Present” ArcGIS Story Map, GIS Survey Data of 124 Pull-offs on Trail Ridge Road, GIS Map of Trail Ridge Road Survey Sites, Oral history with NPS engineer, Joe Arnold, and NPS Landscape Architect, Larry Gamble, Trail Ridge Road Historic Resource Database.

  • PPL 2019 group photo: Top row left to right: Ariel Schnee, Michael Childers, Ella Rupp, Isabel Wilsons, Gentrice Petrie, Kayla Steele Second row: Alexander Miller, Isabella Condon, Marielle Lenderts Third row: Kurt Kneirim, Rebekah Schields, Leslie Moore, Hailey Doucette Bottom row: Tristan Purdy, Craig Somers, Andrew Olson, Jacob Swisher
  • 2019 PPL researchers devising a research plan. PLHC photo, 2019.
  • PPL researchers Leslie Moore and Ella Rupp with leadership team member Kurt Knierim record Trail Ridge Road pullout field survey data. PLHC photo, 2019.
  • PPL research team recaps at the end of the day. PLHC photo, 2019.
  • 2019 PPL Researchers looking at the view from the Alpine Visitor Center. PLHC photo, 2019.
  • 1982 planned pull offs along Trail Ridge Road (left); 2019 Official and Unofficial pull offs along Trail Ridge Road. PLHC photo, 2019.

2018 Parks as Portals to Learning

August 6-10, 2018

Study Area: Repeat Photography of Rocky Mountain National Park Visitor Centers

Public Lands History Center Leadership Team: Jared Orsi, Ariel Schnee, Dillon Maxwell

Guest Instructors: Ruth Alexander (CSU), Adam Thomas (CSU), Mike Childers (CSU), Jessica Jackson (CSU), Kurt Kneirim (Rocky Mountain High School).

Participants: Kylee Cole, Alexandria Kearney, Amy Hootman, Kimberly Selinske, Andrew Olson, Joe Sarr, Carly Boerrigter, Daniel Gilbert.

Management Brief: “Case Study: Alpine Visitor Center” and presentation to park staff: “Visitors Centered: Addressing Expanding Visitation in Rocky Mountain National Park through Repeat Photography,” and Long Exposures: Rephotography and Parks as Portals to Learning.

  • PPL 2018 Group Shot: Top row left to right: Dillon Maxwell, Jared Orsi, Kurt Knierim, Ariel Schnee. Second row: Kylee Cole, Alexandria Kearney. Third row: Amy Hootman, Kimberly Selinske, Andrew Olson. Bottom row: Joe Sarr, Carly Boerrigter, Daniel Gilbert.
  • Participants Carly Boerrigter, Daniel Gilbert, and Kylee Cole at PPL 2018 rephotographing the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center in Rocky Mountain National Park.
  • Participants Andrew Olson, Kimberly Selinske, and Alexandria Kearney with leadership member Ariel Schnee at the Alpine Visitor Center.

2017 Parks as Portals to Learning

August 6-11, 2019

Study Area: Moraine Park

Public Lands History Center Leadership Team: Jared Orsi, Sarah Payne, Ruth Alexander, Brenda Todd

Guest Instructors and Staff: Mark Fiege (University of Montana), Adrian Howkins (University of Bristol), Kayla Steele (Berthoud High School), Jacquelyn Rendall (Berthoud High School), Emily Moore (CSU, Art History), Julie Peterson-Guzman (CSU Anthropology and Archaeology), Tonya Malik (CSU Development), Shannon Dale (CSU Development)

Participants: Katie Oldberg, Elizabeth Henke, Hannah Ashley, Kim Disney, Ben Lee, Patrick Hoehne, Dillon Maxwell

Deliverables: ArcGIS Story Map of historic and environmental changes in Moraine Park; Repeat photography project in Moraine Park.

  • PPL 2017 group photo: Top row left to right: Carissa Turner, Patrick Hoehne, Brenda Todd, Katherine Oldberg, Dillon Maxwell, Dr. Adrian Howkins Bottom row: Elizabeth Henke, Dr. Mark Fiege, Kim Disney, Hannah Ashley
  • Katherine Oldberg, Patrick Hoehne, Elizabeth Henke, Hannah Ashley, Dillon Maxwell, Kim Disney takes photograph near river in Rocky Mountain National Park
  • 2017 PPL researchers and park rangers explore Rocky Mountain National Park. PLHC photo, 2017.
  • 2017 PPL researchers, Kim Disney, Patrick Hoehne, and Dillon Maxwell capture photos in Rocky Mountain National Park. PLHC photo, 2017.
  • 2017 PPL researcher’s Dillon Maxwell and Hannah Ashley set up for a photo in Rocky Mountain National Park. PLHC photo, 2017.
  • 2017 PPL researcher’s Katherine Oldberg, Hannah Ashley, Elizabeth Henke, Kim Disney, and Patrick Hoehne compile data in the research dorms. PLHC photo, 2017.

2016 Parks as Portals to Learning

August 8-12, 2016

Study Area: Horseshoe Park

Public Lands History Center Leadership Team: Mark Fiege, Ruth Alexander, Adrian Howkins

Guest Instructors: Nicole Archambeau, Patrick McCray, Ann Little

Participants: Evelin Preciado, Mary Franke, Poppie Gullett, Sam Iven, Maggie Moss Jones, Sean Fallon

Deliverables: “The Culture of Nature: Managing Horseshoe Park” ArcGIS Story Map; Repeat photography of Horseshoe Park.

  • 2016 PPL researchers exploring Rocky Mountain National Park. PLHC photo, 2016.
  • Dr. Adrian Hawkins, Sean Fallon, Poppie Gullet, Mary Frankie, Evelin Preciado, Dr. Mark Fiege, Dr. Sarah Payne, Dr. Ruth Alexander, and Samuel Iven in Rocky Mountain National Park.
  • 2016 PPL researchers outside the McGraw Ranch.
  • 2016 PPL presentation to park staff.

2015 Parks as Portals to Learning

August 9-11, 2015

Study Area: "Change, Restoration, and Management in Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park"

CSU Instructors: Mark Fiege, Adrian Howkins, Jared Orsi
CSU Guest Instructors: Jim Barborak (Co-Director, Center for Protected Area Management & Training, Warner College of Natural Resources)
Rocky Mountain National Park Staff: Ben Baldwin, Scott Esser, Therese Johnson
Support Staff: Maren Bzdek, PLHC Program Manager

CSU Students: Mark Boxell (M.A. History), Stephen Chignell (M.S. Watershed Science), Sean Fallon (M.A. History), Poppie Gullet (M.A. History), Katelyn Weber (M.A. History), Will Wright (M.A. History)

Management Brief: "Moraine Park Digital Environmental History" -- creation of an interactive map (Esri Story Map)

2014 Parks as Portals to Learning

August 17-22, 2014

Study Area: "Change, Restoration, and Management in Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park"

CSU Instructors: Mark Fiege, Ruth Alexander, Jared Orsi, Katie Hindmarch-Watson, Sarah Payne, Janet Ore
CSU Guest Instructors: Jim Barborak (Co-Director, Center for Protected Area Management & Training, Warner College of Natural Resources), Kristen Kaczynski (Post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship)
Rocky Mountain National Park Staff: Ben Baldwin, Scott Esser, Holly Nickel, Tisa Djahangiri
Support Staff, Public Lands History Center, CSU: Alison Foster, PPL Team Leader and Maren Bzdek, PLHC Program Manager

CSU Students: Kim Bauer (M.A. History), Ellen Blankers (M.A. History), Jordan Cooper (M.A. History), Saleh Dadjouy (M.S. Conservation Leadership), Emma Fajardo (M.S. Conservation Leadership), Nic Gunvaldson (M.A. History), Gabriel Lewis (B.A. History), Tessa Moening (M.A. History), Julie Sabattis (M.A. Conservation Leadership), Laura Wingate (B.F.A. Art)

Management Brief Study Group 1: "Presenting the Past..as a Gift to the Future" (Kim Bauer, Jordan Cooper, Emma Fajardo)

Management Brief Study Group 2: "Casting a Wide Net: Fisheries Management in Moraine Park" (Ellen Blankers, Nic Gunvaldson, Julie Sabattis)

Management Brief Study Group 3: "Bringing the Beaver Back to Moraine Park" (Laura Wingate, Tessa Moening, Gabriel Lewis)

Press Document: “Public Lands History Center Uses Parks as Portals to Learning” by Kate Hawthorne Jeracki, @ColoradoStateU, The Coloradoan, June 2014, page 3.

Moutains rise above a green field.

2013 Parks as Portals to Learning

August 18-23, 2013

Study Area: "Change, Restoration, and Management in Moraine Park, Rocky Mountain National Park"

CSU Instructors: Mark Fiege, Ruth Alexander, Jared Orsi, Adrian Howkins and Jason Sibold (Associate Professor of Anthropology)
Rocky Mountain National Park Instructors: Ben Bobowski and Ben Baldwin
Support Staff: Maren Bzdek (Public Lands History Center); Emily Yost, Nicole Wardo and Michelle Braxton (National Park Service)

CSU Students: Kim Bauer (M.A. History), Vidal Carrillo (B.S. Biology), Erica Patterson (B.S. Fish, Wildlife, & Conservation Biology), Joel Scherer (M.A. History), Nicholas Shannon (B.S. Natural Resource Management), Kaitlyn Simcox (M.A. Anthropology), Justin Smith (B.A. History)

Management Brief Study Group 1: "Moraine Park Riparian Erosion" (Erica Patterson, Joel Scherer, Justin Smith)

Management Brief Study Group 2: "Moraine Park Ecological and Historical Interpretation" (Kim Bauer, Nicholas Shannon, Kaitlyn Simcox, Vidal Carrillo)