Intrigued by forest fires in the Rocky Mountain West?  Interested in studying how western forests are responding to recent wildfires fueled by human-induced (i.e., land-use and resource extraction activities) climate change: warmer temperatures, decades of drought, and human manipulation of natural fire regimes?  Want to know if an iconic native western tree species, Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), is successfully re-establishing (i.e., quantity; diverse age; stand structure) in these landscapes after more intense and more frequent fires?  Want to learn about butterfly conservation?  

The State of the Rockies Project Waldo Canyon student research ecology assistants help test the scientific ecological concepts and theories of US western forest succession in this demographic study of Ponderosa pine forest establishment following fire in the Rocky Mountains of southern Colorado. Students apply their knowledge and build their research, field science techniques, and quantitative analytical skills by helping to investigate and predict the “fate” of ancient Rocky Mountain West Ponderosa pine forest ecosystems. 

While the research ecologists answer scientific queries, the Waldo Canyon Artists in Residence use the artistic nature of forest re-establishment to create a visual documentation of the Waldo Canyon student-led research project.