Colorado State University Extension’s Dolores County office is rolling out local programming and resources for youth, home gardeners, and natural resource enthusiasts in 2026 and beyond. The office has launched a refreshed website to centralize program details and contact information for residents and producers. Office hours are posted Monday through Thursday, and Mon–Thu 7:30–4:30 is the published schedule; appointments are recommended because staff are not always in the office.
Staff encourage residents to use the website or contact the office for specific questions about enrollment, volunteer opportunities, and program sign-up. The office notes that walk-in availability varies by day and that scheduled appointments help ensure access to Extension educators. The page also includes an invitation to reach out directly for help with agriculture, horticulture, or natural resources inquiries.
Dolores County Extension highlights its local 4-H program as a primary youth-development offering, pointing to the national scope of 4-H while focusing on county activities and clubs. 4-H is framed on the site as a vehicle for leadership and skill-building for young people; local clubs and monthly meetings serve as the backbone of in-person programming in the county.
Community Programs
The Extension lists community education tracks aimed at home gardeners and naturalists, including the Colorado Master Gardener Program, which pairs university horticulture expertise with trained volunteers who provide local outreach. The Native Plant Master program is described as a classroom-and-field curriculum offering wildflower hikes, field botany lessons, and native grass identification tailored to local landscapes. The site also promotes an online Landscape for Life curriculum developed with the U.S. Botanic Garden; the program offers university-level training in sustainable landscape design for homeowners and small-acreage managers and is presented as a continuing-education option for residents seeking practical, science-based guidance. Landscape for Life
Meetings and Events
The Extension posts a calendar of in-person 4-H monthly meetings at the Dolores County Courthouse, including scheduled dates in May, June, and July 2026; the May meeting is listed as May 11, 2026. Readers are directed to the Extension events page to view the full schedule and to confirm times and locations before attending. Event listings also include local trainings and volunteer opportunities tied to the Master Gardener and Native Plant Master programs.
The Dolores County Extension page repeats that appointments are recommended for visitors because staff are not always on-site, and it provides a contact prompt for specific program questions or to arrange an office visit. The office’s posted hours remain Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and local residents are advised to consult the Extension website for event updates and registration details.
Image credit: extension.colostate.edu
