Watershed Educator & Restoration Coordinator with Coldharbour Institute

Watershed Educator & Restoration Coordinator

With the Coldharbour Institute

Gunnison, CO

Service Dates: April 16, 2026 – October 31, 2026 

Average Hours per Week: 30 hours / wk

Days/Hours of Service: Variable; typically 9-5 with occasional restoration and workdays scheduled on weekends  

Minimum # of Hours to Complete Term: 775 Hours minimum (675 hr term April 16, 2026- Sept 30, 2026 + 100 hr term Oct 1, 2026- Oct 31, 2026)

About Blue Elements Watershed Stewards: Blue Elements Watershed Stewards are committed to increasing community resilience in the face of changing water conditions by supporting sustainable access to one of Colorado’s most valuable natural resources. AmeriCorps members will support organizations serving the water education and monitoring sectors in the Arkansas River Valley and beyond. Members may provide water education to youth and adults, complete watershed management projects, and support water quality monitoring projects.

About the Coldharbour Institute:  Coldharbour Institute (CI) is a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to advance regenerative practices to improve the health of working agricultural lands and watersheds through education, research, and applied practices. Our vision is the broad adoption of practices that result in healthier soils while producing food, energy, and providing ecosystem services for our communities. 

Communities need healthy foods and energy to thrive. Yet our natural resources providing for these needs may be degraded by that production. CI is educating the next generation of land stewards in regenerative practices to improve soil health and watershed functioning while enhancing food and energy security. Our ranch has been impacted by past land uses and is undergoing active restoration efforts led by our team; we use this effort as part of our educational programming. 

CI is uniquely poised to facilitate the adoption of regenerative practices to address these challenges. Coldharbour Ranch is a working ranch. We have a NRCS wetland easement which requires that our grazing practices meet verifiable ecological outcomes. Our workshops use real-world experiences to demonstrate the success of land management techniques.  We coordinate these opportunities through four core program areas: Healthy Watersheds, Regenerative Agriculture, Education & Research and Equitable Solar Solutions. 

CI is a small organization with two staff members, two fellows, and an engaged board of directors. Our office is at Western Colorado University. We run most of our educational  programming at the Coldharbour Ranch, a 342 acre ranch east of Gunnison.  We have a house in Gunnison that we use for affordable housing for our student fellows and staff members.

About the position: Coldharbour Institute is seeking an AmeriCorps intern to assist with coordinating education, restoration, monitoring and research activities tied to our Healthy Watersheds program. The AmeriCorps intern will work as an integral part of the small team that will be conducting water education events and implementing watershed restoration projects on the Coldharbour Ranch. While the majority of intern duties will be tied to our Healthy Watersheds program, occasionally the intern will be asked to participate in other aspects of our programming and organizational operations.  

Day to day service activities may vary. The intern will be responsible for helping to organize volunteer restoration workdays, collaborating with other staff to secure materials and plan restoration activities, and developing educational programming. 

Primary Position Duties & Responsibilities:

• Conduct educational tours and programming with community groups and students
• Create water education outreach materials and curriculum
• Coordinate and execute River Watch sampling events
• Engage in restoration project implementation and monitoring events; write reports
• Assist the CI team with other organization projects that relate to the improvement of watershed health including native plant growing and restoration, noxious weed management, biochar and compost applications, etc.
• Participate in CI communications and outreach events

Trainings Provided:

• First Aid/CPR
• Leave No Trace
• River Watch Water Quality Monitoring
• Experiential Education
• Volunteer & Stewardship Project Coordination
• Process-Based Restoration Techniques

Knowledge, Skills and experience:

• Necessary:
• An enthusiastic commitment to watershed health and education
• Demonstrated knowledge of watershed processes, water quality, and best management practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including landowners, community members, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.
• Experience with public speaking and presentations.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• High degree of professionalism
• Prompt, responsible and self-motivated.
• Must have transportation to the CI Ranch.
• Desired:
• Knowledge of watershed functioning and sciences. Experience with water resource and land management issues.
• Experience with environmental monitoring and data analysis. Ability to interpret and analyze scientific data and prepare technical reports.
• Experience with volunteer coordination and community outreach.
• Ability to facilitate meetings and workshops.

AmeriCorps Required Qualifications: 

• At least 18 years old at start of service
• Must be a high school graduate, GED recipient, or working toward attaining a high school diploma or GED during the term of service.
• Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States
  ● Ability to pass a National Service Criminal History Check (state, FBI, and National Sex Offender Public Website checks) per 45 CFR 2540.202

Physical Demands and Service Environment:  This position is primarily based out of our office at Western Colorado University and the Coldharbour Ranch (located approximately 7 miles outside of Gunnison). The position will involve service in outdoor conditions including: 

• Exposure to mosquitoes, sun, wind, and other inclement field conditions.
• Occasional long workdays outside engaging in education and restoration activities.
• Hiking/walking on uneven ground, in streams, and through thick vegetation.
• Minor physical labor related to restoration events including digging, shaping wire, cutting vegetation, digging, etc.
• Variable hours (agreed upon with intern).

Watershed Stewards AmeriCorps Program Benefits: 

• Living Allowance- AmeriCorps member(s) will receive up to a total stipend of $9,300.00 ($8,100 for 675 hr term + $1,200 for 100 hr term) paid out bi-monthly at $715.38 per pay period over the course of the term. Taxes are deducted and the living allowance is distributed by direct deposit to the member.
• Housing Stipend- AmeriCorps member(s) will receive a total stipend of $3,900.00 paid out bi-monthly at $300.00 per pay period over the course of the term. Taxes are deducted and the housing stipend is distributed by direct deposit to the member.
• Education Award / Tuition Assistance- AmeriCorps member(s) can receive an Education Award upon successful completion of service in the amount of $3,233.31 ($2,817.14 for 675 hr term + $416.17 for 100 hr term). This can be used to pay back student loans or further your education.
• All members receive professional development and training.
• All members may be eligible for the Federal Assistance Program (SNAP, Medicaid, etc.)
• All members may qualify for student loan forbearance while in service.
• Alumni benefits may include priority hiring with organizations that are part of Employers

of National Service and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to eliminate educational debt. 

Blue Elements Watershed Stewards is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage people of every color, orientation, age, sex, origin, and ability to apply. Our service culture embraces—and is strengthened by—the unique perspectives, contributions and experiences of all our members.