Telluride believes that education, understanding and awareness is a pertinent part of a successful sustainability strategy, and plans to continue to offer “educational recreation” opportunities to visitors of the Telluride region throughout the year. Telski’s environmental education programs fill a void that previously existed in Telluride, and the community continues to show its appreciation of our efforts through positive recognition in the media and continued support for our educational programs. 


Accomplishments

• Creation of St. Sophia Nature Center that operates during the summer months to provide regional recreational and environmental information to guests including lynx reintroduction program and fen studies. Outdoor education programs very popular with Telluride’s summer children’s camps and schools. Over 15000 visitors enjoyed the center in 2006.  
• Development of Topaten interpretive snowshoe tour program in winter.  Tours take place in Prospect Basin to highlight environmentally-sensitive expansion.  
• Environmental staff provides various educational field trips and nature events to local school children and environmental groups.
• Creation of “Meet the Natives” wildlife education program and presentations.  
• Complete certification in Audubon International golf course program.
• Participation in San Juan Fens Partnership (5 years).
• Participation in Colorado Department of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program (5 years).  
• Employee Sustainability Orientations
• Member San Miguel County Recycling Task Force
• Sustinability message on Trail Maps
• Continued improvements to TopAten Touring Area to provide Nordic skiing and snowshoeing at the resort.  
• Adoption of National Ski Areas Association’s Sustainable Slopes Environmental Charter for ski areas.  
• Host Sustainable Slopes Environmental Outreach day each winter.  
• Improved “B+ grade” on Ski Areas Citizen’s Coalition environmental scorecard.
• Regular contributions to San Miguel Watershed Coalition seasonal newsletter.  
• Environmental information posted on web-site (continues to be shrunk).  
• Collaboration with USFS to provide year-round interpretive signage on ski area.  
• Support of Telluride Avalanche School and its programs to promote backcountry skiing awareness and preparedness to schoolchildren.  
• Environmental mission statement incorporated into handbook to inform employees of our conservation mission and encourage participation in conservation programs.  
• Regular dialog and working relationship with regional environmental groups including Sheep Mountain
• Alliance and San Miguel Watershed Coalition.  
• Seat on New Community Coalition, a tri-governmental sustainability group.
• Cooperation with Ski Area Citizens Coalition earned a grade of B, improved from an F in 2000. 
  
  
  Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System Program for Golf Courses
  
  Participation in this acclaimed golf course program requires gaining certification in six categories of sustainable environmental management strategies.  The program assists resorts with evaluating natural resources and determining appropriate conservation projects for the course.  At 9,500 feet, the Telluride Golf Course’ scenic beauty and abundance of wildlife demonstrate our commitment to responsible stewardship through projects focused on enhancing and protecting the environment.  Categories of certification include:  Environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, water quality management, and outreach and education. Telski gained full certification during the 2004 season with impressive water quality testing results and a mountain bluebird nestbox program that fledges over 75 of the native songbird beauties a year.