For a week in January, 2010, the SGS Research and Interpretation Center (RIC) provided a retreat for seven Master of Fine Arts writing students from the University of Wyoming. The new facility, which is adjacent to the SGS LTER headquarters, currently has three 5-bedroom houses with spectacular views of the Colorado shortgrass steppe.
The writers found the solitude and vast landscape provided an ideal respite from the hustle and bustle of their normal lives. Student participant Evie Hemphill’s story about her experience at the Center, along with photos by Julie Church, can be seen at the SGS LTER web site, http://sgslter.colostate.edu/story.aspx?id=52.
In addition to housing, the SGS RIC has a classroom/meeting/workshop building. All are surrounded by generous porches for watching the light change and the sun set across the shortgrass steppe. The large classroom seats 100 and be split into two if needed, while two smaller rooms can accommodate groups of 10 or 20. The meeting facility and the houses are open for use by classes, workshops, and retreats. Local GK-12 groups have used the classroom building as a base for some of their Schoolyard LTER activities.
Future plans call for construction of a laboratory to support SGS LTER investigations as well as research by visiting scientists. For more information please visit or contact the SGS LTER site directly.