Course description

Join Women’s Wilderness and The Watershed Center for a morning of hiking, hands-on science, and connection in Button Rock Preserve– located outside Lyons, Colorado. Together, we’ll explore what it means for a community to be “rooted in water”, from the ponderosa pines that have adapted to fire and drought, to the tiny creek-dwelling creatures who tell us so much about watershed quality and health.

What to expect

A guided macroinvertebrate collection in the North Saint Vrain Creek– get up close with the bugs that tell the story of a healthy watershed

Approximately 5 mile round-trip hike up Button Rock Dam Rd to Sleepy Lion trail, looping back on the road, with stops to talk wildfire ecology, ponderosa pine adaptations, and the reservoir’s role in Longmont’s water supply

Bring your own lunch to enjoy along the trail

A closing circle to reflect on the connections between water, fire, and community

Details

👥 Who: Adult women and non-binary people
🗓️ When: 8am-2pm, Friday July 31, 2026
📍 Where: Lyons, CO – we will meet at Women’s Wilderness HQ in Boulder to carpool to the program location together
🎟️ Price: FREE! Donations welcome

Course fee includes:

Science educator/guide from Watershed Center

Professional and experienced Women’s Wilderness guides trained in wilderness medicine and route finding

Snacks, electrolytes

Complementary gear rental – including clothing, trekking poles, and backpacks

Group gear (sunscreen, bug spray, bear spray, etc)

⛰️ Activity level: this route is rated Moderate, with a total elevation gain of 875 ft in just over 5 miles.

What to wear & bring

Registered participants will receive a detailed hiking checklist, including guidance on what to wear. We recommend bringing a daypack with a 22L to 30L capacity to carry water, snacks, lunch, and extra layers. We recommend bringing 2L of water.

For any questions email support@womenswilderness.org

Your instructors

Maria grew up near Kansas City and relocated to Colorado in 2018, where she met her partner and had their now-two-year-old. She studied Geography/Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences in college and has worked for several non-profit and governmental organizations promoting community stewardship of public lands. She has been managing community programs for The Watershed Center, a local nonprofit working to protect and restore watersheds, for the last four years. She is passionate about building resiliency in ecosystems and communities alike, connecting her community to the natural world, and helping people from all walks of like find their place in our beautiful watershed.

Marley (she/her) has spent over 25 years engaging communities in wildlife conservation education, as well as evaluating environmental education programs and measuring impact. Working for Women’s Wilderness is a meaningful intersection of Marley’s passion for outdoor recreation and her commitment to equity, access, and inclusion for individuals and communities historically excluded from experiences in and with the natural world.

Alexa (she/her/ella) grew up in Colorado, but her passion for the outdoors, conservation, and wildlife truly began when she attended the University of Colorado Boulder in 2020. Living near the Flatirons and the many natural landscapes surrounding Boulder, and being among the relatively small percentage of women of color who experienced those spaces, helped broaden her perspective on belonging, access, and impact in the outdoors. Since then, Alexa has had the honor of using her perspective and skills as an outdoor enthusiast to encourage and support others in her community in discovering what the outdoors has to offer.