Here in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys, we’re lucky to be surrounded by such an abundance of outdoor spaces, from vast wilderness areas to downtown pocket parks. For many of us, spending time outdoors is a central part of our lives and our identity—both at a personal level and for the communities we call home.

Initially funded as a three-year pilot program through a generous grant from the Jonathan D & Mark C. Lewis Foundation, Youth in Nature will become a primarily donor-funded initiative within the next three years, reducing dependence on grants, minimizing administrative costs and ensuring the program’s long-term success.