An Evening to Celebrate Partnerships. Learn about existing partnerships in various phases—from a call-to-action to form new partnerships around recreation and conservation, to lessons learned from a partnership that recently received $1.8 million in funding to get youth outdoors.

A recently released study from the Outdoor Industry Association of Colorado reports that residents of Colorado's 3rd Congressional district (that's us) spend nearly $2.19 billion on recreation each year and that out-of-state visitors to Colorado spend approximately $12.8 billion. And, the projected trend points upward. A significant part of local economies, the outdoor recreation industry also has a profound impact on local ecosystems, which is why partnerships between recreation and conservation are more important now than ever before.

To that end, Connecting for Conservation will launch our evening in celebration of partnerships with a call for new ones around this critical issue. Kristin Carpenter-Ogden of Verde Brand Communications will talk about the influx and opportunities recreation and the outdoor industry can provide for our communities, and Garrett Hanks of Trout Unlimited will share some lessons and ideas for ways recreation can fund and support conservation.

From there, Jim Dyer will talk about “foodsheds” and the important connection between our local food systems and our local ecosystem, and leaders from the new Montezuma Inspire Coalition will present their process, successes, and plans to get kids back outside.

This evening session is the free and open-to-the-public portion of a two-day partnership workshop. Agencies, nonprofits, local businesses, landowners and decision makers will come together to improve existing partnerships and launch new ones for the future of conservation in the Four Corners.

Questions and open discussion will follow the presentations.

For more information contact Laurel Sebastian, laurel@mountainstudies.org, 970-387-5161.