Come spend the morning learning all about Rock Bottom Ranch’s regenerative farming practices while also getting your hands dirty and supporting the work we do!

Join us for an afternoon Community Action Fair featuring local environmental organizations and local farms, followed by a free evening lecture at the Wheeler Opera House exploring the intersection of environment, politics, and community resilience.

In a world that feels increasingly disconnected, our strong neighbors, the trees, are offering a pathway home. Join ACES’ first Executive Director, Jody Cardamone, for an intimate conversation with environmental psychologist and Emmy-nominated filmmaker, Dr. Lindsay Branham, as they explore why a relationship with nature is so important for our personal and planetary healing.

Our ability to imagine is fun, powerful, and essential tool for influencing and creating our future. “Women of Carbon” and “Building on the Edge” are two stories tracking innovative people who are reimaging and redefining the nature of our homes, community buildings, and work places. They are leaning into the climate and resource challenges we face, imagining what’s possible, and making it happen. These are the trailblazers building our way forward.

After the films we’re inviting some local trailblazers to discuss what’s they imagine is possible in our valley.

Witness to Water follows the Colorado River from its pristine headwaters in the Rocky Mountains to its altered and endangered end in the Sonoran Desert. In this immersive multimedia presentation and book launch celebration, acclaimed National Geographic photographer and filmmaker Pete McBride shares images, videos, and sound from decades spent documenting the river from source to sea—or dry delta—and its many tributaries, from the Roaring Fork to the Gila and beyond.

Science on Skis: Traversing the Juneau Icefield is about Izzo’s experience as a student with the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP). Since 1946, JIRP has facilitated two months of immersive, hands-on glaciology research across the Icefield. Izzo will share about glaciological field methods, camp life and logistics, and hopefully answer the question: “Why study glaciers in a warming climate?”

Reimagining water in the West means more than new ideas - it requires community engagement, thoughtful policy, and real implementation where we live and work. 

Join us for an evening of films highlighting innovative approaches and community-led solutions that are reshaping how we think about water, resilience, and equity.

In this discussion, Dr. Brett Walker will review results from more than a decade of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s research on sagebrush-obligate birds in western Colorado. His projects reveal some new and unexpected patterns of habitat use and selection among Greater Sage-Grouse and Brewer’s Sparrows.

Patricia Goudvis will share her experiences volunteering with Earthwatch near the headwaters of the Amazon River in Peru this past November. Earthwatch is a non-profit that “connects people with scientists worldwide to conduct environmental research.” The volunteers spent 8 days surveying aquatic, terrestrial and arboreal wildlife, including pink and grey freshwater river dolphins; many different species of shorebirds as well as parakeets, parrots and macaws; various monkeys and other rainforest mammals; bats, frogs, caiman, piranhas and more.

After decades of drought, the American West is stretched to the breaking point. A changing climate and design flaws in the Glen Canyon Dam have pushed the once-massive Lake Powell reservoir to the brink of collapse — putting millions of people at risk who depend on the Colorado River for water, agriculture, and electricity.

The American Southwest is a family-friendly wildlife movie that takes viewers on an unforgettable journey down the mighty Colorado River. Narrated by Quannah Chasinghorse and directed by Ben Masters, the film beautifully showcases the region’s abundant wildlife, confronts the ecological impacts of dams and water overuse, and advocates for better management of the river.

When you step into the world of edible and medicinal plants, you begin to see the bountiful gifts land has to offer—plants can be partners in our existence, not just expendable resources. The landscape of wild edible and medicinal plants in the Roaring Fork Valley is one of incredible depth and diversity.

Chris will provide a broad, brief overview of wilderness and place it in historical context to better shed light on our current moment—one marked by domination, cruelty, ignorance, and exploitation, as many powerful individuals and entities pursue maximum commodification.

Pinyon-juniper woodlands are among the most extensive and ecologically diverse ecosystem type in the southwestern United States. They support the largest remaining tracts of mature and old-growth forest in the country and are culturally important to many Indigenous peoples in the region. This talk explores the ecology of these woodlands, the challenges they face through various global change pressures, and ongoing stewardship and research efforts to sustain their resilience for future generations.

Pinyon-juniper woodlands are among the most extensive and ecologically diverse ecosystem type in the southwestern United States. They support the largest remaining tracts of mature and old-growth forest in the country and are culturally important to many Indigenous peoples in the region. This talk explores the ecology of these woodlands, the challenges they face through various global change pressures, and ongoing stewardship and research efforts to sustain their resilience for future generations.

Lets learn about the basics of sewing the infamous box cushion. We see them everywhere, on your couch, on your boat, outdoor furniture, window seats, etc.

Come celebrate the end of the busy harvest season by gathering with fellow volunteers, fruit tree stewards, farmers and hunger relief partners! We deeply appreciate every single one of your and your role in helping UpRoot to achieve it’s mission of reducing food waste, nourishing our communities, supporting our farmers, and spreading food wisdom.

Join us for an evening of natural dye & vegetable printing at Rock Bottom Ranch! Advance registration required.

Taught by Amanda Carotenuto, ACES educator, you’ll learn the basics of dyeing using natural materials and create a vegetable stamp of your own to print with! Everyone will bring home a bandana or tea towel that they’ve created.