Housing & Transportation

About the Groundwork Education Center

Location

The Groundwork Center is located a 20-minute walk from downtown Paonia, Colorado, a small town where the snow capped Rocky Mountains meet the red rock canyons and deserts of the Colorado Plateau. The farm is right on the banks of the North Fork of the Gunnison River, and water from the river is what irrigates our gardens and orchards.

On weekends, fellows often hike alpine passes and peaks of the West Elk mountains (45 minute drive), explore the canyon country of Moab (3 hour drive), kayak on the river (in our backyard), or visit the other natural areas surrounding us.

Weather

Summers and fall in Paonia generally have lovely weather. The climate is high desert, meaning cool nights and warm to hot days with low humidity. Even on hot summer days, temperatures stay cool in the shade, and the air begins to cool down right at sunset. Rain storms are typically summer thunderstorms, with intense rain for less than an hour, then drying up quickly when the sun comes out. Weather in Colorado is notorious for changing quickly, and the last snowstorm of the year typically occurs in early May.

Housing options 

Tent site (with indoor showers, bathrooms, & common spaces)

Summer only: $300 total

Summer and fall: $500 total

If this is a financial hardship, please let us know, and we can work with you. Housing is kept separate largely for insurance purposes.

In summertime, sleeping in a tent is comfortable, with Colorado’s cool evenings and minimal rain. Showers, toilets, and indoor common spaces are located in our main community building, a one-minute walk from the tent sites.

We recommend a backpacking-style tent that will be able to withstand some wind. Typically, a 2-person or 3-person model works best as a balance of weather resistance and storage space. Most people like to use a 3-season (20-25°F rating) sleeping bag in May, and something a bit lighter during the hotter months of July and August. Nighttime temperatures in the summer are quite pleasant.

Equipment Rental (for the summer)

You can bring your own camping supplies, or rent them from Groundwork. Prices for the entire fellowship are:

• Tents: $75
• Sleeping bags: $50
• Sleeping pads: $10

Cabins and rooms (Fall only)

Groundwork rents our buildings from the Lamborn Foundation and the Old River Road Trading Post. The foundation owns several one-room cabins and as well as a shared house (3 bedrooms) that you and some of the fellows may choose to rent as the weather cools down in September and October. During the summer, the 3-bedroom house will serve as one of two community spaces for the cohort. Rent is typically $350/month for an indoor room.

Transportation to/from Paonia: 

We ask that you arrange your own transportation to Paonia as we do not provide transport to and from the farm.We encourage participants to arrive by car (and bring a bicycle as well if possible!). This is in part due to Covid precautions, as well as the somewhat “remoteness” of Paonia. We will help you coordinate with other fellows if you do not have your own vehicle. And if you prefer to fly, the closest airport is Grand Junction Regional Airport (about 1.5 hours  from the farm) or Denver International Airport (about 4.5 hours). There are a few bus and train options, but the last leg of the trip there is no public transportation available. We are more than happy to help coordinate with you as you begin to make plans for arrival to the Groundwork Center.