Park Hosts Alternative Spring Break For College Students

Great Sand Dunes National Park hosted a diverse group of twenty one doctorate, masters and undergraduate students from eight US universities during the week of March 15th. 

This alternative to a Florida or Mexico Beach week was part of a national program called Park Break.  Delaware Water Gap and Mount Rainier also hosted Park Break students this month.  The weather at Colorado’s beach – Great Sand Dunes – was perfect and rivaled that found much further south.  

The doctoral and masters students’ portion of the trip was funded by the U.S. Geological Survey and the George Wright Society.   These students will each produce a written product for publication based on what they observed or learned about park issues.

The Park Break students were joined at Great Sand Dunes by undergraduates from Colorado State University’s Live Green program. The Live Green community was launched in fall 2008 and consists of a group of students, primarily freshmen in CSU's residence halls, who share a common interest in sustainability and green living. The National Park Foundation assisted the students with their portion of the week long program.  CSU students were challenged to produce a web educational program for the park called “Visit Green/Buy Local.” 

During the week at Great Sand Dunes, the group participated in lectures, discussions and field excursions with managers and scientists from :

• National Park Service -Denver, Fort Collins and Great Sand Dunes NP.
• U.S. Geological Survey –Denver, Fort Collins and Pueblo offices
• US Fish and Wildlife Service
• Bureau of Land Management
• U.S. Forest Service
• Colorado State Forest Service
• Colorado State Extension Service
• Adams State College
• Ranchers, farmers and community leaders from San Luis Valley