See Spur for yourself
CSU Spur is always free and there’s tons to see! Visit 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every 2nd Saturday for dog and cat surgeries, rooftop greenhouses, interactive exhibits, special demonstrations, virtual reality, art installations, a cup of coffee in the sunshine, selfie opportunities, and more!
We’ll see you soon!
Take a field trip to Spur
CSU Spur’s educational programs inspire youth to tackle real-world problems through hands-on, experiential learning and connect children to scientists, researchers, veterinary experts, and faculty through live demonstrations, hands-on experiments, and interactive experiences. CSU Spur is free and open to all educational groups — school groups, after-school programs, summer camps, and more.
We look forward to hosting your group at CSU Spur!
Start your next chapter at Spur
Begin your college journey as a Colorado State University student at Spur via CSU Spur Start. Incoming students can complete their entire first year in person at CSU Spur before finishing their degree in Fort Collins. Unlock small classes, unique co-curricular opportunities, and personalized support while accessing all the resources and opportunities available at CSU.
A destination for all curious people
For PreK-16
For PreK-16
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For adult learners
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For families
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For faculty
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For scientists
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For event planners
Learn moreHonoring CSU’s agricultural roots
CSU Spur is in Denver, but its reach and impact are statewide. As a free public offering of a university system, CSU Spur strives to connect urban and rural communities by bringing awareness and appreciation of the food system, water, and health to a broad audience, engaging the next generation in various careers, and creating innovation to serve rural communities.
CSU Spur is a part of the evolution of education and focuses on investing in the development of the next generation. Through its urban location, CSU Spur creates connections and appreciation for rural communities in Colorado and will continue to work to honor CSU’s rural and agricultural roots.
Get social with us
KAREN SCHLATTER
Director, Colorado Water Center
Karen Schlatter was appointed director of the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University in 2025, after joining the Center as associate director in 2023. Schlatter brings academic, nonprofit, and public sector experience in managing complex water challenges with a deep commitment to building partnerships and the ability to engage in conversations across Colorado’s water community. She joined CSU from the University of Florida Water Institute where her work included facilitating multi-stakeholder/academic teams to achieve shared goals around water management through collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Prior to her role at UF, she served as associate director of the Colorado River Delta Program at the Sonoran Institute, where she focused on building cross-sector and international partnerships to support large-scale ecological restoration, effective binational water management, and community engagement in the Colorado River Delta region. Schlatter earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from McGill University and a Master of Science in environmental studies from the University of Colorado Boulder. She served as an agricultural extension volunteer in the Peace Corps in Paraguay.
TOM VILSACK
Chief Executive Officer, World Food Prize Foundation
Effective March 1, 2025, Thomas J. Vilsack, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, will become the first Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack will focus on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service.
In 1998, he became the first Democrat to be elected as the Governor of Iowa in more than 30 years. During his two terms as Governor, he created an $800 million, 10-year economic development incentive program—the Iowa Values Fund. His administration worked with schools, medical providers, businesses, faith-based organizations and other entities to expand healthcare coverage to more than 90,000 previously uninsured children.
He became the 30th and 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture, from 2008-2017 and 2021-2025, respectively. Only five people in U.S. history have served in the Cabinet longer, and during his tenures, the United States Department of Agriculture set records for U.S. agricultural exports and provided food assistance to millions of Americans. He helped expand food and nutrition access through summer feeding programs for children and additional support for fruit and vegetable purchases through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. As Secretary, he worked to develop new and superior markets for small and mid-sized farms, allowing those operations to remain viable and in turn, strengthening and growing rural communities.
Governor Vilsack has long been connected to the World Food Prize Foundation, having served on both the Council of Advisors and the Board of Directors. His insights and acumen were vital in shaping our mission and initiatives. His leadership and experience will be instrumental in expanding the Foundation’s international reach and continuing the mission of elevating innovations and inspiring action to sustainably increase the quality, quantity and availability of food for all.
It’s our anniversary!
It’s our anniversary! CSU Spur has been fully open to the public, sharing hands-on, family-friendly activities around food, water, and health for two years. Join us on Saturday, Jan. 11, for 2nd Saturday activities, including desserts, a mariachi performance, face painters, horses on treadmills, veterinarians in surgery, scientists in labs, and more. The celebration is from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and CSU Spur will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; no registration required, all public activities are free.
2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is presented by Canvas Credit Union.
We’ll see you Saturday!
2nd Saturday at CSU Spur is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday (May 9), and this month, the theme is Spur in Bloom. Join us for flower-themed arts and crafts, horse demonstrations, interactive activities focused on topics like sustainability and gardening, the return of the Market at the Center, and more!