Colorado-CCB: WIldfire Journalism & Ecology at CO Firecamp

GS222: Burning Questions: Wildfire Journalism &  Ecology at Colorado Firecamp

Colorado Firecamp, Salinas, CO

Last Offered: Spring 2026

This course puts students on the front lines of one of the West's most urgent stories. They analyze how journalists cover wildfires, then become reporters yourselves for Burning Questions, a CC Journalism Institute newsletter exploring the intersection of fire, science, research, and storytelling in the West.

The centerpiece of the class is an immersive experience at Colorado Firecamp, a nonprofit training center near Salida. There, students complete certification as wildland firefighters, gaining first-hand insight into the work, danger, and decision-making that shapes fire response. They also study the surrounding ecology and develop media strategies, community outreach initiatives, and storytelling projects to support the nonprofit's mission. By the end of the block, they understand wildfires not just as news events, but as complex phenomena requiring scientific understanding, ground-level reporting, and community engagement.

Course led by Prof. Corey Hutchins