Green University

Green University 2026: Conservation Rooted in Place is Douglas County School District's annual sustainability-focused professional learning event for district educators and community partners, held at Cherokee Ranch and Castle. This is a Douglas County School District event and is not open to the public.

This event aligns with Colorado's 250th and 150th anniversary commemorations by honoring the landscapes, histories, and communities that have shaped the state. Set within the historic and ecological context of Cherokee Ranch, participants explore how Colorado's past and present are connected through land use, conservation, and stewardship.

Through a guided nature and learning hike and interactive sessions with local partners, participants engage with the ranch's geology, ecology, and cultural history while learning about current conservation efforts across the region. These experiences highlight how relationships between people and place have influenced Colorado's development and continue to shape its future.

Green U emphasizes place-based, experiential learning that helps educators connect Colorado's history and environment to classroom instruction. Participants engage in observation, reflection, and collaboration, leaving with practical ways to bring locally relevant, standards-aligned learning into their classrooms.

By centering learning in a place that reflects both Colorado's heritage and ongoing stewardship, Green University supports the spirit of the 250/150 commemoration and highlights the role of education in shaping Colorado's future.