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Southern Ute Indian Tribe

Environmental Leadership and Knowledge Seminar

Jeremy Wade Shockley | Southern Ute Drum

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ELKS Contact:
Water Quality Program Manager
970-563-2805


Mission

The Environmental Leadership and Knowledge Seminar (ELKS) is dedicated to creating a pathway to environmental awareness by educating Tribal Membership youth and local Native American youth of environmental issues and processes through hands-on demonstrations and field trips. 


What is ELKS?

ELKS is a program created by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Environmental Programs Department (EPD). ELKS will educate young tribal members of the community so they will know how important the environment is and how the Tribe’s EPD is protecting the environment. Educating the youth on the importance of the environment is crucial to the longevity and sustainability of our natural resources just as Leonard C. Burch advocated for the SUIT’s water rights with the Animas-La Plata Project.

2023 ELKS

Environmental Leadership Knowledge Seminar (ELKS) Application and Medical Form

2022 ELKS

ELKS was held July 13-14, 2022 at the Environmental Programs Department in Ignacio, Colorado. This two day conference featured soda rockets, ‘glowing’ science, a field trip to electro fish, fire restoration, and so much more!

Collecting Macroinvertebrates
Electro Fishing
Coke Bottle Rockets
Studying Surface Tension
Methods of Filtration
Creating Luminscence

2019 ELKS

ELKS was held June 11 – 12, 2019 at the Environmental Programs Department in Ignacio, Colorado. This two-day conference featured nature hikes, hands-on science experiments, demonstrations and much more!

Capillary Action Science
Homemade Lava Lamps
Magic Milk
Mentos Geysers
The Amazing Water Trick
Electroshocking Demonstration and Trout Stocking with SUIT Wildlife Division

2018 ELKS

ELKS was held July 24 – 25, 2018 at the Environmental Programs Department in Ignacio, Colorado. This two-day conference featured aquatic insects, hands-on science experiments, demonstrations and much more!

Dry Ice Bubbles
Invisible Pictionary
Magnetic Goo
Elephant Toothpaste
Homemade Lava Lamps

2017 ELKS

ELKS was held June 19 – June 20, 2017 at the Environmental Programs Department in Ignacio, Colorado. This two-day conference featured rockets, glowing science, climate change issues, and a field trip for electrofishing.

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Water and Air Rockets
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Glowing Luminescence Demonstration
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Land vs. Sea Glacier Meltdown
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Field Trip to Collect Macroinvertebrates with Fish & Wildlife
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Examining Macroinvertebrates in the EPD lab
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Recycling Relay Race