CSU Extension

08/21/2026

Picture this: it’s 90 degrees outside. You slide down a small cliff to jump in a pond. There’s a hole in your left wader shoe so the cold water starts seeping in. An adult male bullfrog call gives you a jump scare. You squeeze some slimy black mud (a sign of pond health!) into a tray for lab processing. Life is good. 🐟

Welcome to a day in the life of Madison Taylor, a senior studying Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology,
at her internship, “Aquatic Ecology of Urban Ponds in Fort Collins.” As part of her internship, Madison surveyed freshwater ponds, canals, and streams in and around Fort Collins, focusing on characterizing fish, amphibians, aquatic macro-invertebrates, and their habitat variables. The data from her internship will eventually be reported to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Fort Collins Natural Areas, and private landowners to help them determine pond health and ecosystem stability.

Madison says, “This was my first summer fieldwork type internship; I’ve been in the lab before but it’s been a real treat to get outside and come to all these beautiful places.” 💚

08/19/2026

CLASS 17 SPOTLIGHT: Dr. Kathy Whitman is the Veterinary Extension Specialist for Colorado State University, where she strives to be a trusted animal health resource to those involved in livestock and agriculture production. At Colorado State University, Kathy has participated in a wide range of activities, primarily working as a liaison between the university, extension, and livestock stakeholders. She’s recently been involved in HPAI research, emergency management and preparedness, BQA training, 4-H activities, veterinary student teaching, extension education and consultation. Raising a few head of cattle for direct-to-consumer products with her husband gives Kathy some small insight into the needs of the producers with which she’s engaging. Kathy received her MS in Ruminant Nutrition and DVM from Colorado State University. She completed a Field Services internship at the University of Georgia, and later became an ABVP diplomate specializing in Beef Cattle Practice. Dr. Whitman was in private practice in both Utah and Colorado and was an Assistant Professor with the University of Nebraska at the Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center, prior to joining Colorado State.

Listen to Kathy as she visits with Lorrie Boyer.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2412634/episodes/19627446

08/17/2026

Green School registration is open and we’d love for you to join us! 🌱💚

Whether you’re new to Colorado or an experienced gardener, this 16-class course covers everything you need to know to garden successfully in our unique climate. From Soils, Trees, Botany, W**d Management, Insects, Pruning, Irrigation... and a whole class dedicated to Colorado Gardening Challenges! Learn research-based, best practices for managing your landscape no matter where you garden in our state – because wherever you are in Colorado, we’re local.

Find more info and register at https://online.colostate.edu/courses/AGBB/AGBB2098.dot

08/17/2026

Now Accepting Applications for the Jefferson County Master Gardener Program

In 1995, I read about an incredible horticulture volunteer program through Colorado State University Extension Services that turned 20 years old. I loved gardening, and I applied. Much to my delight, the program accepted me as an apprentice, and after completing all the requirements, I became a Colorado Master Gardener (CMG) in 1996 for Adams County. I volunteered for seven years for Adams County CMG, working info tables, answering garden questions via phone and in person, and helping in the one garden the program had. Then work and life became too much, and I stepped back.

Fast forward to 2024, I still had that botany and gardening bug. So, I applied to become a Colorado Master Gardener apprentice, this time with Jefferson County, since we moved. Again, the CMG accepted me as an apprentice. In October 2025, I earned the title of Colorado Master Gardener! And I love it.

The CMG matured and changed in many good ways in the 2-ish decades I was away. My first time, the training was in person and was all classroom- no hands-on labs. Now training is online, with several in-person labs, allowing me to do the classes on my schedule. There was a weekly scheduled review session that supported learning from the week’s topic. The hands-on labs provided the opportunity to meet other CMGs and apprentices, practice identifying soil, use a key to identify trees, and learn about the wonderful world of beneficial insects. Gardening Science has advanced. The right way to plant trees has changed; more fact sheets and video information are available to the public, and CMGs can now answer inquiries via email.

So many reasons why I loved being a CMG are still there. I get to volunteer alongside many dedicated and more knowledgeable CMGs, who freely share ideas and information. Jefferson County MG has multiple gardens to work in, such as the Plant Select, Horticulture, Courage, Orchard, Native Plains Garden, Mountain Native Garden, and Low‑Flammability Gardens. There are continual training opportunities. I can work at an info table, be on the help desk answering emails and calls, contribute to the social media team, learn beekeeping, and work towards being part of the diagnostic team. I get to help the public, sharing knowledge and ideas. The opportunities for learning and helping are endless. Plus, Colorado has over 3200 native plants and 100 native tree species, plus all the non-native, introduced, and invasive species; I doubt I will volunteer long enough to know them all!

CSU Master Gardener Volunteer Program is accepting applications now until August 31 for their new cohort of Colorado Master Gardeners. This includes Jefferson County, along with many other Colorado counties, because you volunteer in the county where you live. Here is the link:
https://extension.colostate.edu/colorado-master-gardener/become-a-colorado-master-gardener/

If you love flora, botany, soil, and landscaping, and want to contribute to your community, I urge you to consider this exceptional program!!

Photo: Pat Greer
Image Description: Master Garden apron on a maple tree with certificate.



Jefferson County CSU Extension Colorado Master Gardeners are here to help answer your gardening, lawn, and diagnostic questions! Email [email protected] to send us a message or ask a question.

08/13/2026

Registration for Green School opens next Monday, August 17th! 🎉 If you’re a plant person looking to grow your skills (while learning with other plant people), you won’t want to miss this course.

Join the interest list at https://online.colostate.edu/certificates/green-school/ to be notified when registration opens.

08/11/2026

Several of our Extension interns were recently featured in CSU SOURCE! Check out their stories and photos ⬇️

Each summer, Colorado State University Extension oversees dozens of internships, providing students the opportunity to connect with researchers and address real-world problems in statewide communities.

08/03/2026

07/30/2026

Lead, teach, and engage communities where it matters most. Whether you work in non-profits, public health, local government, natural resources, or Cooperative Extension, effective community leadership requires skills beyond traditional classroom teaching.

🚨 Don't miss your opportunity to apply - certificate applications close August 1.

The Graduate Certificate in Teaching in Extension at CSU Online is a 13-credit, fully online program designed for professionals who lead and educate at kitchen tables, town halls, field sites, and community centers. Learn to bridge the gap between research-based solutions and the communities driving local solutions.

Why choose Colorado State University Online?

➤ Flexible & practical: Applied coursework built directly around your current professional work.
➤ 1-on-1 mentoring: Personalized guidance from dedicated faculty throughout the program.
➤ A clear pathway: All 13 certificate credits roll directly into the full 36-credit Master of Extension Education.
➤ Flat-rate tuition: Same competitive rate regardless of residency.

Explore the program today ➡️ col.st/9mapl

CSU Extension

07/30/2026

If your camera roll has more plant pics than people pics…you need to sign up for Green School!! 🪴🤓

Green School courses are science-based and specific to Colorado’s unique (and challenging) climate, soil, environment, insects, wildlife, and plants. If you want to grow your gardening skills, this is the class for you!

Join the interest list and be notified when registration opens in August: https://online.colostate.edu/certificates/green-school/

07/28/2026

We are made for connection. And when we feel like we belong - we thrive, we feel secure and we flourish. So first, we eat!

To celebrate Colorado’s 150th birthday this Saturday, we’re inviting you to attend the Mile Long Table—bringing together people from all walks of life for a shared meal and meaningful connection. On August 1st, we're joining over 5,000 of our Denver neighbors at a table that is part of a statewide movement to remind us we belong to each other.

Join us at the table. Be part of Colorado history. Learn more and register at https://www.milelongtable.org/ga
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Estamos hechos para la conexión. Y cuando sentimos que pertenecemos, prosperamos, nos sentimos seguros y florecemos. Así que primero, comemos!

Para celebrar el 150 cumpleaños de Colorado este sábado, los invitamos a asistir a la Mile Long Table, reuniendo a personas de todos los ámbitos de la vida para una comida compartida y una conexión significativa. El 1 de agosto, nos uniremos a más de 5.000 de nuestros vecinos de Denver en una mesa que es parte de un movimiento estatal para recordarnos que nos pertenecemos unos a otros.

Únete a nosotros en la mesa. Sea parte de la historia de Colorado. Aprenda más y regístrese en https://www.milelongtable.org/ga