Connecting a community to its resources begins with connecting people to people. Blue Elements was founded by dedicated river professional personally committed to safeguarding their local waters. We’ve carried on that direct connection by insisting our Watershed Stewardship program begin at the individual level – we carefully recruit people who have deep interest not only in protecting waterways and environments but in connecting with their host community to help inform and educate. Not all Stewardship roles are the same, of course, but they all have one thing in common – the belief that empowering others to protect what they truly value is the basis for meaningful and lasting change. We’re honored to work with and support tomorrow’s water leaders.
Partner: AHRA (Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area)
Role: Recreation Ranger
My name is Abby Nelson, and I’ve spent my childhood chasing adventure and seeing all I can in the world!
Partner: Lake Fork Valley Conservancy
Role: Watershed Sampling & Analysis Assistant
I was born in Loveland, Colorado, and earned a B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology from Colorado State University. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Ecology at Western Colorado University, as well as a Master’s in Environmental Management. My research focuses on the impact of Beaver Dam Analogues on evapotranspiration as well as monitoring vegetation in sensitive wetland ecosystems using UAV-based remote sensing. Outside of research, I enjoy watching movies, rock climbing, backpacking, fly fishing and eating food!
Calvin
Matthews
Partner: Blue Elements
Role: River Watch Project Coordinator
Hi! My name is Calvin. I am going into my third year of the Ecosystem Science and Stewardship program at CMC (Colorado Mountain College) in Leadville. I grew up in Golden, Colorado, and I have always had a deep passion for the outdoors and science. I love fishing, and I spend much of my time around the many beautiful bodies of water this state has to offer. I am very excited to spend this summer working in the areas around Leadville and learning more about water quality sampling techniques.
Partner: Coldharbour Institute
Role: Watershed Educator & Restoration Coordinator
I’m excited to join Cold Harbour and the Gunnison community! I grew up in Portland, OR, where I developed a love for the outdoors that inspired my undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies at Tufts University in Boston, MA. After graduating, I started working as an environmental educator, first in the Boston area and then in Iquitos, Peru. I am excited to learn from and work for our rivers as a Blue Elements Watershed Steward!
Partner: AHRA (Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area)
Role: Recreation Ranger
My name is Eryn and I’m so excited to be working as a Recreation Ranger for the AHRA! I’m from southwest Virginia, and moved to Colorado in 2017 to pursue work in the field of natural resources conservation. I fell in love with the Arkansas River, so I pursued a Master’s of Ecology in Utah State University’s Department of Watershed Sciences, with the goal of coming back to work in the Arkansas River valley, in water resource management and/or aquatic habitat conservation. Last summer, I moved to Chaffee County and became a raft guide on the Arkansas River, while still working remotely as a research scientist for the state of Utah. I’m excited for the opportunity to bring my expertise in hydrology and aquatic ecology to this incredible place. In my spare time, you’ll find me soaking up the sunshine and scenery here, by foot, bike, and boat, and catching live music whenever I can!
Partner: Coldharbour Institute
Role: Watershed Educator & Restoration Coordinator
My name’s Ethan, and I am currently serving as the Watershed Educator and Restoration Coordinator at Coldharbour Institute. I am a first-year graduate student pursuing a degree in Environmental Management. Originally from California, I earned my undergraduate degree in Animal Science from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. During my time there, I worked as a research assistant with Sea Otter Savvy, collecting field data on the sea otter population in Morro Bay. This is ongoing work by the Monterey Bay Aquarium that examines how factors such as estuarine habitat quality influence sea otter populations. I moved to Gunnison to follow a passion for protecting ecosystems and helping others build meaningful connections with the natural world. I love setting trail cameras to capture wildlife, hiking, and spending time with music and movies.
Partner: Mt. Shavano Fish Hatchery
Role: Hatchery Operations Intern
I graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with an Environmental Science degree. I love rock climbing and hiking and anything nature oriented. I look forward to working with the hatchery and learning more about our aquatic ecosystems!
Partner: AHRA (Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area)
Role: Recreation Ranger
My name is Grace VanDenBerg. I grew up in Arizona, and graduated from CSU in Fort Collins last May with a major in Political Science and a concentration in Environmental Policy. I grew up going on river trips and fell in love with rivers.
Partner: Lake Fork Valley Conservancy
Role: Watershed Planning & Outreach Intern
My name is Jenna, and I serve as the Blue Elements AmeriCorps Watershed Planning and Outreach Coordinator for the Lake Fork Valley Conservancy. I was a backpacking guide in the Sierra Mountains before I moved to Colorado to lead outdoor adaptive adventure programs. I am now wrapping up my final year of graduate school in Environmental Management, with a certificate in ecosystem restoration. I want to help build strong communities and help people connect with and understand our environment. From the tiny biological indicators living in our waters to the giant cottonwoods lining our rivers, nature is engineering our survival, and I hope to give back to it for as long as I can. I am grateful to be serving in Lake City, in the heart of the Upper Gunnison Basin, where history, diverse ecosystems, modern recreation, and long-standing communities all intersect.
Partner: Central Colorado Conservancy
Role: Community Engagement and Resource Management Assistant
I’m excited to serve as an AmeriCorps Blue Elements Watershed Steward for the Central Colorado Conservancy. Before moving to Colorado, I lived in Oregon and volunteered as a crew leader for a local riverkeeper organization, joining beaver habitat field surveys whenever I got the chance. I’ve served as a rural aquaculture volunteer in the Peace Corps in Zambia and spent a summer interning on a CSA vegetable farm in Iowa. I’m passionate about watersheds and am grateful to be learning and serving in the Upper Arkansas River Watershed, and hope to pursue graduate study next year. I love exploring trails both land and river, by hike, kayak or bike. I have a lot of family in Colorado and feel like I’ve come home!
Partner: Center for Public Lands
Role: Stewardship Associate, Bureau of Land Management
I’m thrilled to serve at the Leadville National Fish Hatchery this year. I’m finishing my degree in Sustainability & the Built Environment with a minor in Geospatial Analysis at the University of Florida. Growing up in New England, I became passionate about how community pride and identity is innately interwoven with our environment. For me, this was most clear within our local food systems, particularly as it relates to fisheries. This has spurred a deep interest in conservation, hatcheries, community fishing, and aquaculture. After working with conservation organizations in Florida to protect the largest collection of freshwater springs in the world, I’m excited to shift focus to the community dimensions of our country’s important western watersheds. In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar, freediving, paddling, knitting, and cycling.
Partner: Mt. Shavano Fish Hatchery
Role: Hatchery Operations Intern
Hello! I’m Kacey. I recently graduated from CSU-P with a Wildlife and Natural Resources degree with an Aquatic emphasis. In my off time, I love being outdoors, especially anything involving fish or the water. I’m really looking forward to learning more about and being a part of the Blue Elements Watershed Stewards program as a fish hatchery intern this year.
Partner: Western Slope Conservation Center
Role: Watershed Stewardship Assistant
My name is Kai, and I’m very excited to join the Blue Elements cohort! I fell in love with river science unintentionally when college course scheduling pushed me to enroll in Hydrology. I graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science from Denison University in Iowa. Since then, I’ve worked as a Biological Science Technician at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota) and led a Seeps and Springs research project for Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (Georgia). This work has strengthened my love for watershed management, and I’m thrilled to learn more about watershed management in the nonprofit sector. In my free time I enjoy listening to music, relearning piano, commonplace journaling, and hiking.
Partner: Leadville National Fish Hatchery
Role: Hatchery Operations Intern
I’m thrilled to serve at the Leadville National Fish Hatchery this year. I’m finishing my degree in Sustainability & the Built Environment with a minor in Geospatial Analysis at the University of Florida. Growing up in New England, I became passionate about how community pride and identity is innately interwoven with our environment. For me, this was most clear within our local food systems, particularly as it relates to fisheries. This has spurred a deep interest in conservation, hatcheries, community fishing, and aquaculture. After working with conservation organizations in Florida to protect the largest collection of freshwater springs in the world, I’m excited to shift focus to the community dimensions of our country’s important western watersheds. In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar, freediving, paddling, knitting, and cycling.
Partner: GARNA
Role: Public Lands & Youth Education Coordinator
I was born and raised in Eastern Pennsylvania but left at age 19 to live and study in New Zealand. My six years living there deepened my love for nature and the outdoors and inspired me to go back to school. Now I’m pursuing a Masters of Environmental Management at Western Colorado University, and I’m excited to be making a career pivot in a direction that aligns with my interests and values. I’m currently living in Salida with my husband Payson. When I’m not studying or working you can find me hiking a 14er or laying in a hammock by the river with a good book.
Partner: GARNA & Blue Elements
Role: Youth Outdoor Environmental Educator & River Watch Coordinator
Hello! My name is Sophia Morales, and I serve as the Blue Elements and GARNA AmeriCorps Youth Outdoor Environmental Educator and River Watch Project Coordinator. I grew up in Maryland, and found my passion and connection to nature from a young age while riding horses and camping with my family on the eastern shore. I attended CSU in Fort Collins, where I majored in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, with a Sustainable Water Interdisciplinary minor. I quickly realized that I had an interest in water resource conservation and scarcity issues, and in fostering greater awareness of the human impact on water through community-based outreach and education. I am thrilled to be serving in Salida, CO and Lake County where the mountains meet the rivers, and where positive environmental change can make a huge difference.
Partner: AHRA (Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area)
Role: Recreation Ranger
My name is Abby Nelson, and I’ve spent my childhood chasing adventure and seeing all I can in the world!
Partner: Lake Fork Valley Conservancy
Role: Watershed Sampling & Analysis Assistant
I was born in Loveland, Colorado, and earned a B.S. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology from Colorado State University. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s in Ecology at Western Colorado University, as well as a Master’s in Environmental Management. My research focuses on the impact of Beaver Dam Analogues on evapotranspiration as well as monitoring vegetation in sensitive wetland ecosystems using UAV-based remote sensing. Outside of research, I enjoy watching movies, rock climbing, backpacking, fly fishing and eating food!
Partner: Blue Elements
Role: River Watch Project Coordinator
Hi! My name is Calvin. I am going into my third year of the Ecosystem Science and Stewardship program at CMC (Colorado Mountain College) in Leadville. I grew up in Golden, Colorado, and I have always had a deep passion for the outdoors and science. I love fishing, and I spend much of my time around the many beautiful bodies of water this state has to offer. I am very excited to spend this summer working in the areas around Leadville and learning more about water quality sampling techniques.
Partner: Coldharbour Institute
Role: Watershed Educator & Restoration Coordinator
I’m excited to join Cold Harbour and the Gunnison community! I grew up in Portland, OR, where I developed a love for the outdoors that inspired my undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies at Tufts University in Boston, MA. After graduating, I started working as an environmental educator, first in the Boston area and then in Iquitos, Peru. I am excited to learn from and work for our rivers as a Blue Elements Watershed Steward!
Partner: AHRA (Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area)
Role: Recreation Ranger
My name is Eryn and I’m so excited to be working as a Recreation Ranger for the AHRA! I’m from southwest Virginia, and moved to Colorado in 2017 to pursue work in the field of natural resources conservation. I fell in love with the Arkansas River, so I pursued a Master’s of Ecology in Utah State University’s Department of Watershed Sciences, with the goal of coming back to work in the Arkansas River valley, in water resource management and/or aquatic habitat conservation. Last summer, I moved to Chaffee County and became a raft guide on the Arkansas River, while still working remotely as a research scientist for the state of Utah. I’m excited for the opportunity to bring my expertise in hydrology and aquatic ecology to this incredible place. In my spare time, you’ll find me soaking up the sunshine and scenery here, by foot, bike, and boat, and catching live music whenever I can!
Partner: Coldharbour Institute
Role: Watershed Educator & Restoration Coordinator
My name’s Ethan, and I am currently serving as the Watershed Educator and Restoration Coordinator at Coldharbour Institute. I am a first-year graduate student pursuing a degree in Environmental Management. Originally from California, I earned my undergraduate degree in Animal Science from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo. During my time there, I worked as a research assistant with Sea Otter Savvy, collecting field data on the sea otter population in Morro Bay. This is ongoing work by the Monterey Bay Aquarium that examines how factors such as estuarine habitat quality influence sea otter populations. I moved to Gunnison to follow a passion for protecting ecosystems and helping others build meaningful connections with the natural world. I love setting trail cameras to capture wildlife, hiking, and spending time with music and movies.
Partner: Mt. Shavano Fish Hatchery
Role: Hatchery Operations Intern
I graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with an Environmental Science degree. I love rock climbing and hiking and anything nature oriented. I look forward to working with the hatchery and learning more about our aquatic ecosystems!
Partner: AHRA (Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area)
Role: Recreation Ranger
My name is Grace VanDenBerg. I grew up in Arizona, and graduated from CSU in Fort Collins last May with a major in Political Science and a concentration in Environmental Policy. I grew up going on river trips and fell in love with rivers.
Partner: Lake Fork Valley Conservancy
Role: Watershed Planning & Outreach Intern
My name is Jenna, and I serve as the Blue Elements AmeriCorps Watershed Planning and Outreach Coordinator for the Lake Fork Valley Conservancy. I was a backpacking guide in the Sierra Mountains before I moved to Colorado to lead outdoor adaptive adventure programs. I am now wrapping up my final year of graduate school in Environmental Management, with a certificate in ecosystem restoration. I want to help build strong communities and help people connect with and understand our environment. From the tiny biological indicators living in our waters to the giant cottonwoods lining our rivers, nature is engineering our survival, and I hope to give back to it for as long as I can. I am grateful to be serving in Lake City, in the heart of the Upper Gunnison Basin, where history, diverse ecosystems, modern recreation, and long-standing communities all intersect.
Partner: Central Colorado Conservancy
Role: Community Engagement and Resource Management Assistant
I’m excited to serve as an AmeriCorps Blue Elements Watershed Steward for the Central Colorado Conservancy. Before moving to Colorado, I lived in Oregon and volunteered as a crew leader for a local riverkeeper organization, joining beaver habitat field surveys whenever I got the chance. I’ve served as a rural aquaculture volunteer in the Peace Corps in Zambia and spent a summer interning on a CSA vegetable farm in Iowa. I’m passionate about watersheds and am grateful to be learning and serving in the Upper Arkansas River Watershed, and hope to pursue graduate study next year. I love exploring trails both land and river, by hike, kayak or bike. I have a lot of family in Colorado and feel like I’ve come home!
Partner: Center for Public Lands
Role: Stewardship Associate,
Bureau of Land Management
I’m thrilled to serve at the Leadville National Fish Hatchery this year. I’m finishing my degree in Sustainability & the Built Environment with a minor in Geospatial Analysis at the University of Florida. Growing up in New England, I became passionate about how community pride and identity is innately interwoven with our environment. For me, this was most clear within our local food systems, particularly as it relates to fisheries. This has spurred a deep interest in conservation, hatcheries, community fishing, and aquaculture. After working with conservation organizations in Florida to protect the largest collection of freshwater springs in the world, I’m excited to shift focus to the community dimensions of our country’s important western watersheds. In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar, freediving, paddling, knitting, and cycling.
Partner: Mt. Shavano Fish Hatchery
Role: Hatchery Operations Intern
Hello! I’m Kacey. I recently graduated from CSU-P with a Wildlife and Natural Resources degree with an Aquatic emphasis. In my off time, I love being outdoors, especially anything involving fish or the water. I’m really looking forward to learning more about and being a part of the Blue Elements Watershed Stewards program as a fish hatchery intern this year.
Partner: Western Slope Conservation Center
Role: Watershed Stewardship Assistant
My name is Kai, and I’m very excited to join the Blue Elements cohort! I fell in love with river science unintentionally when college course scheduling pushed me to enroll in Hydrology. I graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science from Denison University in Iowa. Since then, I’ve worked as a Biological Science Technician at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Dakota) and led a Seeps and Springs research project for Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (Georgia). This work has strengthened my love for watershed management, and I’m thrilled to learn more about watershed management in the nonprofit sector. In my free time I enjoy listening to music, relearning piano, commonplace journaling, and hiking.
Partner: Leadville National Fish Hatchery
Role: Hatchery Operations Intern
I’m thrilled to serve at the Leadville National Fish Hatchery this year. I’m finishing my degree in Sustainability & the Built Environment with a minor in Geospatial Analysis at the University of Florida. Growing up in New England, I became passionate about how community pride and identity is innately interwoven with our environment. For me, this was most clear within our local food systems, particularly as it relates to fisheries. This has spurred a deep interest in conservation, hatcheries, community fishing, and aquaculture. After working with conservation organizations in Florida to protect the largest collection of freshwater springs in the world, I’m excited to shift focus to the community dimensions of our country’s important western watersheds. In my free time, I enjoy playing guitar, freediving, paddling, knitting, and cycling.
Partner: GARNA
Role: Public Lands &
Youth Education Coordinator
I was born and raised in Eastern Pennsylvania but left at age 19 to live and study in New Zealand. My six years living there deepened my love for nature and the outdoors and inspired me to go back to school. Now I’m pursuing a Masters of Environmental Management at Western Colorado University, and I’m excited to be making a career pivot in a direction that aligns with my interests and values. I’m currently living in Salida with my husband Payson. When I’m not studying or working you can find me hiking a 14er or laying in a hammock by the river with a good book.
Partner: GARNA & Blue Elements
Role: Youth Outdoor Environmental Educator & River Watch Coordinator
Hello! My name is Sophia Morales, and I serve as the Blue Elements and GARNA AmeriCorps Youth Outdoor Environmental Educator and River Watch Project Coordinator. I grew up in Maryland, and found my passion and connection to nature from a young age while riding horses and camping with my family on the eastern shore. I attended CSU in Fort Collins, where I majored in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, with a Sustainable Water Interdisciplinary minor. I quickly realized that I had an interest in water resource conservation and scarcity issues, and in fostering greater awareness of the human impact on water through community-based outreach and education. I am thrilled to be serving in Salida, CO and Lake County where the mountains meet the rivers, and where positive environmental change can make a huge difference.
Role: Executive Director
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Role: Executive Director
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Role: Executive Director
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Role: Executive Director
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