CoCoRaHS (The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network), celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2008, had an unplanned “accidental” beginning in response to the devastating 1997 Fort Collins Flood. Ten years, 24 states and 4,500+ volunteers later the network has grown nationwide as it engages citizens of all backgrounds and ages to measure precipitation right in their own backyards.

Currently operating under a NOAA Environmental Literacy Grant the network strives to provide high quality precipitation data as well as informal science education opportunities for all. CoCoRaHS has had the good fortune to have developed numerous traditional, as well as unexpected collaborations ranging from the National Weather Service to the National Phenology Network.

Our paper will take a look at the history of the network, the successful volunteer strategies used by various CoCoRaHS states and the rich network of collaborations that have evolved.