Jay Lehr speaks on climate change

Dr. Jay Lehr, who holds a doctorate degree in environmental science, will be coming to Colorado State University Oct. 10 to discuss his controversial views on climate change. Lehr is well known for his belief that global warming is a myth and that climate change is normal and not caused by humans.

Some background on Lehr: he holds a degree in geological engineering from Princeton, he became one of the nation's first to earn a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Arizona, he is the senior fellow and science director of the Heartland Institute, which is known for promoting the message that climate change is not man-made, he has written 19 books and is a well-known speaker.

After Lehr speaks on Wednesday, a panel of professors will respond, presenting several different outlooks and perspectives on climate change.

I think this could be an extremely interesting discussion, seeing as though Colorado State is well known for being a green university, committed to lowering its carbon footprint. Also due to this fact, the proceeding panel of professors will add an alternate perspective; I would be interested to see how Lehr responds. Though I am definitely not a proponent of Lehr's theories, I think this lecture would be interesting due to the fact that an audience member would be able to see in full display all of the different perspectives on this controversial subject.

The lecture will be held in the Lory Student Center Theatre, starting at 7 pm. The event is open and free to the public.

CSU Snowriders

If you are a Colorado State University student and you love to ski or snowboard, I would definitely recommend you check out this club: Snowriders.

One of the largest clubs on campus, with over 300 members, Snowriders is focused on providing CSU skiers and snowboarders transportation to and from the major ski resorts, including Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, Heavenly, Copper, Winter Park and Steamboat.

"Snowriders is all majors, all levels of riders, just people that want to have a good time," Snowriders president Spencer Kaye said. "We are definitely trying to bring the skiing and snowboarding community of CSU together as much as we can."

The club hosts day trips, overnight trips, a trip to Jackson Hole Ski Resort, a spring break house and other events. For the day trips, the club meets in the West Fall parking lot on Saturdays, taking two busses up to the mountains.

You do not have to be a club member to participate in club events or trips, however members do enjoy certain benefits. Membership into the club costs $30, which includes a t-shirt and a discount card for gear, trips and events. With a long list of sponsors, Snowrider members enjoy discounts at several retailers, including Christy Sports, Outpost Sunsport, Icelantic Boards and POW Apparel. Also, for day trips, Snowrider members pay $15 each trip, whereas nonmembers pay $20.

If you are interested in joining or learning more about Snowriders, you can visit their office hours in the Student Organization Suite in the Lory Student Center or visit their website.

Another great ski film...

Teton Gravity Research will be back in Fort Collins, this time with its premiere of snowboarder Jeremy Jones' "Further," the second installment in this three part trilogy.

In this film, TGR athlete Jeremy Jones pushes himself and his crew to the extreme, exploring deep within the backcountry to find new territory. Filmed over two years, Jones and his crew travel around the world, from Japan to the Arctic Circle, riding previously untouched lines.

"Deeper," the first film in the trilogy amazed audiences when it came out in September 2010. "Deeper" premiers brought in 82,000 fans over 200 showings. The film won numerous awards, including the ESPN Editors Pick Award.

Knowing TGR's film history, having seen both "One for the Road" and "The Dream Factory," I am sure "Further" will not fail to impress. So if you are craving another ski film or just want something to get you excited for the upcoming ski season, this is one to go to.

The film will be playing at the Colorado State Lory Student Center Oct. 13, with doors opening at 7 pm and the show starting at 8 pm. Tickets can be purchased for $12 on the TGR website.

TGR ski film at the Aggie Theater

It's that time of year where you are excited for the cooler weather, but not quite ready to see summer go. So to get you back into that winter-weather mood and get amped up for the next ski season, check out Teton Gravity Research's showing of their newest ski film "The Dream Factory" this Wednesday at the Aggie Theater.

In the film, TGR athletes explore the great Alaskan landscape during a year of record snowfall, showing amazing skill and fearlessness as they ski extreme terrain.

Tickets can be purchased online at the Aggie Theater website for $16 each. The best part? For $16 you not only get to see the film, but each ticket holder also receives a free lift ticket to Monarch Mountain.

I went to the TGR's showing of "One for the Road" last year at the Aggie and was extremely impressed. The footage in itself is amazing — cinematography at its best. And then on top of that is the astounding athletic skill displayed by all of the skiers featured. Lastly, TGR finishes it all off with a great soundtrack. These ski films are the whole package.

You are sure to leave the theater begging for snow, stoked for the upcoming ski season.

CSU High Park Fire symposium today!

It's not too late! If you want to get more information about the High Park fire or how to get involved in restoration, you can attend the High Park Fire: From Science to Action and Recovery symposium held today at Colorado State University. Hosted by CSU's Warner College of Natural Resources, the symposium started at 9 this morning and will continue throughout the day until 9:30 tonight. Held in the Lory Student Center Theater, the event is free and open to the general public. The all-day event includes presentations and speakers on impacts of the fire, perspectives on the fire and action and recovery efforts. The symposium will feature guest speakers Jim Hubbard, who is the U.S. Forest Service Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry, Dan Jiron, who is Regional Forester of the Rocky Mountain Region, and Bill Hahnenberg, who is the Incident Commander for the Rocky Mountain Type 1 Team, among many others. It is a great opportunity to learn more and get involved, so check out the symposium agenda. 

Sustainable Living Fair next weekend

Get excited: next weekend is the annual Sustainable Living Fair. In its thirteenth year, the fair hosts workshops, exhibits, keynote speakers and vendors aiming to educate the community about everything sustainability related.

Fair attendees are able to walk around the fair, visiting different booths, engaging in interactive events and learning how to be more sustainable in their own lives and also on a larger scale. All the while, live music plays in the background and delicious food beckons to you at every turn.

This year’s keynote speakers include Alexandra Cousteau, a National Geographic filmmaker, Seleyn DeYarus, CEO of America’s Best Organics, Rachel Kaplan, author of “Urban Homesteading,” and Wendy Pabich, founder of Water Futures.

The fair is held at Fort Collins’ Legacy Park and the fair provides a visitor shuttle. The fair opens at 10 am on both Saturday, Sept. 15 and Sunday, Sept. 16. Admission is $8, with free admission for youth under 12. Tickets can be purchased at the fair entrance.

I volunteered with the fair last year, selling tickets. It is a great opportunity to learn more about how to make your livelihood more sustainable, as well as the great community organizations that are working hard to pave the way for a sustainable future. 

Volunteer: Wildlands Restoration Volunteers

If you live in Colorado and want to get active in environmental restoration efforts check out Wildlands Restoration Volunteers. The group organizes about 60 ecological restoration projects each year all around the state, according to WRV.

The work the non-profit completes is volunteer-based and they are continually looking for new people to either lead projects or assist in projects. If you just wish to volunteer, no experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn.

I volunteered with the group last fall on a project in Campbell Valley, helping seeding an area of land. I really enjoyed working with WRV; the staff is very friendly and all of the volunteers work hard to produce impressive results.

If you are interested in volunteering you can check out their project schedule and sign up. It is a great opportunity if you are looking to get involved in improving the Fort Collins area landscape.