Graduate student wearing a cowboy hat standing on Verzuh Ranch wetlands with cattle behind him
Environment & Sustainability

Verzuh Ranch

Hands-On Conservation and Fieldwork

As part of Western’s Environmental Science program, you’ll gain hands-on experience at Verzuh Ranch in Crested Butte, a living laboratory for sustainability and land management. From wildlife conservation and ecological restoration to soil health and habitat studies, you’ll apply classroom learning directly in the field. Working with faculty and local experts, you’ll contribute to real-world research that promotes biodiversity and sustainable land use while building practical skills for your future career.

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A volunteer collects willow reeds along the streambank of the Slate River on Verzuh Ranch.

Research & Conservation at Verzuh Ranch

Verzuh Ranch in Crested Butte serves as a living laboratory where Environmental Science students put their learning into practice. Here, you’ll conduct meaningful research in land management, wildlife conservation, and ecological restoration while tackling real-world sustainability challenges. You’ll strengthen your technical expertise and scientific analysis skills through fieldwork like data collection, habitat assessments, soil health studies, ecological monitoring, and community outreach.

Collaboration is at the heart of the Verzuh experience. Working alongside faculty, local experts, and peers, you’ll learn how teamwork drives effective environmental solutions. From developing conservation field techniques to learning research methods, you will be prepared for lifelong careers in environmental consulting, restoration, and sustainability. Along the way, you’ll also build a professional network of mentors and colleagues who can open doors to future opportunities.

Pat Magee instructs a student holding a post at Verzuh Ranch. Whetstone Mountain can be seen in the background.

Work on Real-World Environmental Projects

At Verzuh Ranch, you’ll take part in meaningful projects that address today’s environmental challenges. From land management and ecological restoration to wildlife conservation and soil health studies, your research contributes directly to sustainability initiatives in the Gunnison Valley and beyond. These experiences allow you to apply classroom knowledge in the field, while making a tangible impact on local ecosystems.

Professor Micah Russell shows a student how to fly the drone

Develop Collaborative Skills

Environmental solutions are built on teamwork, and Verzuh Ranch is where you’ll learn to collaborate effectively. Working alongside faculty mentors, local experts, and fellow students, you’ll take part in projects such as habitat assessments, riparian restoration, and sustainable land use planning. Through these experiences, you’ll strengthen communication and leadership skills while learning how interdisciplinary collaboration shapes real-world conservation outcomes.

A student holds a bundle of willows as another student wraps cord around it.

Gain Fieldwork Experience

Hands-on research defines the Verzuh Ranch experience. You’ll collect and analyze ecological data, monitor habitats and wildlife, and engage in community outreach efforts that connect science with people. Whether studying soil health or assessing biodiversity, you’ll practice the techniques environmental professionals use daily while also building the confidence and technical skills needed for advanced study or immediate entry into the field.

Students walking in a group through Verzuh Ranch

Enhance Your Career Readiness

The work you do at Verzuh Ranch directly translates to future opportunities in conservation, consulting, and sustainability. From mastering field techniques to designing and conducting ecological studies, you’ll develop a portfolio of experiences that demonstrates your expertise to graduate schools and employers. These skills—paired with your ability to solve problems and work collaboratively—prepare you to step confidently into the environmental workforce.

A student snips a willow branch on the bank of the Slate River.

Build a Professional Network

At Verzuh Ranch, you’ll connect with the people who shape conservation in the region. By working side by side with faculty, researchers, and industry professionals, you’ll gain mentorship, guidance, and valuable career connections. These relationships not only enhance your learning but also open doors to internships, research opportunities, and long-term career paths in environmental science.

See Western's students in the news.

  • Verzuh Ranch: Where Conservation Meets Education

    Verzuh Ranch: Where Conservation Meets Education

    Looking around the forty acres of prime wetland habitat Wynn and Ryan Martens recently donated to Western Colorado University, you can almost feel the pressure…
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Explore, Conserve, and Discover at Verzuh Ranch

As a living laboratory within Western’s Environmental Science program, Verzuh Ranch grants students the opportunity to apply classroom learning to hands-on conservation and sustainability projects. From restoring habitats to conducting ecological research, these experiences build technical skills, foster collaboration, and prepare you for real-world environmental challenges.

Here are just a few of the opportunities students have explored at Verzuh Ranch:

  • Conducting research in land management, wildlife conservation, and ecological restoration

  • Collecting data and monitoring habitats to assess biodiversity and ecosystem health

  • Studying soil health and water systems to inform sustainable land use practices

  • Engaging in community outreach and conservation education projects

  • Collaborating with faculty, local experts, and peers on interdisciplinary research initiatives

Verzuh Ranch property at the base of Mt. Crested Butte

Put Conservation into Action

At Verzuh Ranch, students gain hands-on experience in conservation and sustainability that makes a real impact. See how you can get involved in research, fieldwork, and community projects when you visit Western.

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