NEWS
August Plein Air Gathering
Do you love the inspiration of painting out in nature, or have you been wanting to take your art outside? This gathering is for you. Join fellow artists for a relaxed morning of plein air painting at beautiful Douglas Land Conservancy conserved properties. Our first...
What If Spruce Mountain Had Become a Resort?
By Larisa Kogan Forty years ago, Spruce Mountain could have become something entirely different. Developers proposed transforming more than 2,000 acres into a destination resort with golf courses, restaurants, fitness facilities, residential neighborhoods, commercial...
National Make-A-Will Month
What if Spruce Mountain had become a resort? Forty years ago, that was the plan. Instead, thanks to the vision of our conservation-minded community, this area is conserved today. Families now hike scenic trails, wildlife thrives, and one of Douglas County's most...
Lost Canyon Ranch Opens to the Public
After years of collaboration, planning, and conservation efforts, Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space is now open to the public, providing residents and visitors with a rare opportunity to experience one of the most ecologically significant landscapes in the Castle Rock...
July Watercolor Class: Buds & Bees
In July, our monthly watercolor class is headed to Hidden Mesa for a class on the Buds and the Bees! Take a brief walk with the group for inspiration, then come back to the picnic tables and create a piece of art. Whether you're brand-new to watercolor or an...
July Plein Air Gathering
Do you love the inspiration of painting out in nature, or have you been wanting to take your art outside? This gathering is for you. Join fellow artists for a relaxed morning of plein air painting at beautiful Douglas Land Conservancy conserved properties. Our first...
iSpy Agent Douglas July!
Hey there, explorer! Did you find Agent Douglas in June at the PACE Center? This season, Agent Douglas isn’t just your guide… he’s hiding around the County, and it’s your job to track him down. He's checking out another fun place in July- find him for a special prize...
DLC Mountain Bike Ride- Sandstone Ranch
Join us for a guided summer mountain bike ride at Sandstone Ranch and experience the landscape on two wheels! This intermediate-plus ride will cover 12-16 miles, with route tailored to the group’s skill level. We’ll start at the public trailhead and ride to the Palm...
New! Root & Rise: Summer Yoga Flow
Want to take your yoga flow outdoors? Join DLC and yoga instructor Courtney for a beginner-friendly class at DuPont Park! We'll start while it's still cool and find a deeper connection to the land and our inner self. Bring your own mat and water. Register here! Where:...
Raptors Over the Rock
The family-favorite summer series Animals Around the Rock is back, kicking off with Raptors Over the Rock! Join DLC, the Town of Castle Rock, and Nature's Educators to learn all about the fiercest predators in the sky, nature's clean-up crew, and more at this outdoor...
National Grasslands Week
By Rich Bangs This week is National Grasslands Week, celebrating large open spaces covered with vast stretches of waving grasses and are home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Grasslands are found on all continents except Antarctica. The most extensive natural...
DLC x Honnibrook Craft Meadery Honni-Hike
Do you love pollinators? Honey? Exploring beautiful open spaces? Then get ready to indulge in a unique sampling of the many varieties of honey while learning how mead and pollinator conservation go hand-in-hand! DLC and Honnibrook Craft Meadery will be joining...
Girl Scouts Stewardship Workday with DLC and Douglas County
DLC and Douglas County recently hosted Girl Scouts from Castle Rock at Lincoln Mountain Open Space for a stewardship workday! These hard workers cut enough mullein seed heads to fill 13 large yard waste bags! 😲 We also re-seeded the mitigated areas with a Douglas...
World Environment Day 2026
By Leslie Lee Join the Douglas Land Conservancy in supporting World Environment Day. This year’s theme, “Climate Action,” emphasizes urgent, positive, and rapid action against climate change. The 2026 campaign addresses critical signals of climate change, such as...
Exciting news for conservation in Colorado!
HB26-1230 was signed into law on June 1 to extend the conservation easement tax credit for five more years. This new law extends the current sunset date from December 31, 2031 to December 31, 2036, and unlocks $50 million annually in tax credits from 2032-2036. What...
Colorado Open Lands Conserved Colorado Guide
Check out the updated Conserved Colorado Guide by Colorado Open Lands! Conserved Colorado is a directory of products and experiences produced or offered on protected land across the state of Colorado. Explore and connect with businesses using this interactive and...
International Day of Biodiversity
By Leslie Lee Please join DLC in celebrating the International Day of Biodiversity, observed on May 22nd. This year's theme, “Harmony with nature and sustainable development for 2026,” calls upon the global community to re-evaluate our relationship with the natural...
Colorado Columbine Challenge
Have you heard of the "Colorado Columbine Challenge?" It's a 2026 community science initiative to document the distribution of the state flower to mark Colorado's 150th anniversary (Sesquicentennial) and the 50th Anniversary of the Colorado Native Plant Society. It...
Welcoming Tori to the DLC team
DLC is thrilled to share another new arrival, our Stewardship Fellow Tori Ramirez!
Plant Biology 101 Lecture- Virtual
Join us for an introduction to plants and gather some tips for recognizing and categorizing vascular plants. Many of the local flowering plants will be included. This presentation uses easy-to-recognize features like color and number of petals and is appropriate for...
Plein Air 101
Ready to take your art outside? We’re piloting a new addition to our monthly watercolor series, beginning with Plein Air 101 at Sandstone Ranch. Perfect for those who have some painting experience at home and are curious about working outdoors, but aren’t sure where...