River Watch Volunteer Training 2025
2025 River Watch Training
2025 Training Dates to be determined
River Watch of Colorado trainings provide an opportunity for your organization to become volunteer water quality monitors in Colorado.
River Watch volunteers come in all shapes in sizes. Elementary, Middle and High School groups participate in our program to provide in-depth education and experience in real-life science that extends beyond the classroom. Many conservation groups and community organizations concerned with water quality issues in their areas participate to learn more about watershed health in their region.
Interested volunteers must attend and participate in training before joining our program. After the training, groups sign a year-long contract with River Watch, agreeing to collect monthly water samples from a designated station on their nearby river or stream for metals, nutrients, and other parameters. Water quality data must be recorded over time to establish baseline conditions and identify any changes that occur in the river system, so we are seeking volunteers that can make a several-year commitment to the program.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) are available through the Colorado School of Mines. You can earn up to three CEUs for attending a River Watch training and implementing the program.
New organizations seeking to be a part of River Watch of Colorado must pay a one-time $300 fee to join. The fee covers the cost of one participant’s attendance to this training and subsidizes the cost of the water quality testing equipment your group will receive (valued at over $2600), as well as curriculum and program support. All other participants from new or existing groups (groups that have equipment) are expected to pay for each individual’s training cost of $175 per person. Meals and lodging are included in this payment.
