“Daring Greatly” with Hilaree Nelson, 2/18!

09 Feb “Daring Greatly” with Hilaree Nelson, 2/18!

“Daring Greatly” with Hilaree Nelson at Telluride’s Sheridan Opera House on Tuesday, Feb 18, 6 – 8:30 p.m. The program of the bi-annual Watershed Expedition Series is hosted by the Telluride Library and the Telluride Institute’s Watershed Education Program as a fundraiser for educational activities. Visit www.tellurideinstitute.org to learn more about Telluride Institute projects. The evening is free to the general public. For much more on Hilaree Nelson, go here for a full profile and podcast posted on Telluride Inside… and Out in support of Nelson’s talk at Mountainfilm 2019.

Hilaree Nelson, Papsura Expedition 2017. Himachal Pradesh, India.

Mountain climber and environmental activist Hilaree Nelson is the featured presenter at “Daring Greatly.”

Nelson plans to talk about her adventurous life in the world of mountaineering, including how she got her start. Her focus will be on the trials and tribulations of failure, raising kids, and passion as a compass. A video of her ski descent of Lhotse is also part of the presentation.

The event includes a meet-and-greet with Nelson, food and drink, and fund-raising in support of field education work on behalf of students and the San Miguel Watershed itself.

Watershed Education Program, more:

Hilaree & her boys a few years back.

The Watershed Education Program of the Telluride Institute has been serving students, teachers, and community members for 20 years. The program incorporates STREAM education (read Science, Technology, Reading/Literacy, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) into experiential learning.

Specifically WEP offers free-of-charge field experiences that cover a wide range of hands-on educational opportunities, especially in science and cultural history. In 2019, over 900 students from Telluride, Paradox, Norwood, Nucla, and Naturita were able to explore the diverse landscapes of the region’s watershed. In general, participants not only come away with enriched knowledge of the natural world, but also with a greater commitment to protecting and preserving the biodiversity of the region.

“Attendees get to join career experts to receive first-hand experience about their important jobs,” says Vicki Phelps, current WEP Director. “We are thrilled that Dr. Garrett Smith will be taking over as WEP Director in March and building a stronger citizen science presence in the Telluride region. We are hoping to enlist enthusiast members of the community to participate in monitoring projects with any amount of time they can afford. All ages are invited to participate in recording observations of wildlife, climate data, water quality, etc. Watch for upcoming field training workshops and presentations by experts in the field.”

To work its magic, the Watershed Education Program depends on funding from grants and donations.

“We appreciate the grant support of CCAASE, The Town of Mountain Village, Just for Kids Foundation, Southwest Water Conservation District, West End Pay it Forward Trust, and the Telluride Foundation,” added Phelps.

Hilaree Nelson, more:

Credit No Face, Nick Kalisz.

Hilaree Nelson- Garmisch Germany, credit, Christian Pondella.

Hilaree Nelson, Garmisch Germany, credit: Christian Pondella.

Naturita snowshoe trip., credit: Pondella.

Recently named captain of The North Face Athlete Team, Hilaree Nelson is a seasoned adventurer with more than 40 expeditions to some of the most remote corners of the globe. Her passion and dedication to climbing and skiing has won her recognition as a 2018 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, and she has become a mentor for the next generation of mountain athletes. As a member of Protect Our Winters Riders’ Alliance, Nelson generously shares her stories and life experiences as an eloquent, passionate voice advocating for wild places.