Students from CU-Boulder INVST Community Leadership Program recently participated in a 4-week Summer Service-Learning experience to gain a greater understanding of energy extraction, environmental sustainability, and renewable energy. The students explored areas of the Rocky Mountain wilderness, learned about the impacts of oil and gas drilling on Colorado’s Western Slope, and gaineda deeper understanding about innovative solutions through sustainable technologies.They also traveled to the Diné Nation in Arizona to learn about the impacts of coal mining on indigenous places and people. The program provided the students with a hands-on opportunity to learn about environment, society, and the direct impact of sustainable technology as well as its potential.

The experience concluded with a meeting on August 12, 2010 at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver with state officials, including Representative Claire Levy, Representative Frank McNulty, Representative Carole Murray, Representative Paul Weissman, and Jyff Lyng of the Governor’s Energy Office. The students engaged the group in dialogue surrounding energy issues facing the state and drew upon their recent experiences and the information they gathered along their trip.

 The INVST Community Leadership Program combines academics with activism, preparing CU-Boulder students for careers serving humanity and the environment. Summer Service-Learning Experiences are among the most significant aspects of the INVST program, giving students the chance to learn first-hand about environmental and social change.To learn more please visit www.colorado.edu/communitystudies.