Area youths will continue to benefit from outdoor education activities, thanks to a $2.25 million Great Outdoors Colorado grant was awarded this month to the Montezuma Land Conservancy and Montezuma Inspire Coalition.
It allows multiple youth programs and paid internships originally funded by a $1.8 million GOCO grant in 2017 to continue, said Travis Custer, executive director of the Montezuma Land Conservancy.
“It’s a big deal. This grant award is so important to carry on the success of these programs and create new ones,” he said. “We’ve served over 3,000 youth in Montezuma County so far, and now we expect to add a few thousand more in the upcoming years.”
The Inspire Coalition has partnered with 11 local agencies to sign up local youths for outdoor learning, activities and internships.
Students may learn ranching and agriculture practices at MLC’s Fozzie’s Farm, gardening with School to Farm, working on outdoor projects with Southwest Conservation Youth Corp, or learning about the healing power of horses at Medicine Horse Center in Mancos.
Other agencies involved in the Inspire Coalition efforts are School Community Youth Collaborative, Mancos Creative District, Dolores River Boating Advocates, High Desert DEVO and the city of Cortez.
New programs will also target social, educational and emotional support needed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Custer said.
Free guided outdoor activities are provided by San Juan Mountains Association and the Dolores River Boating Advocates, among others.
The earlier GOCO grant established an outdoor gear library in Cortez stocked with camping, boating, hiking and other recreation equipment available for youths at no cost. The earlier grant also paid for a new indoor classroom at Fozzie’s Farm.
The GOCO Inspire grants also fund 70 paid youth internships per year in agriculture, outdoor recreation, government and conservation fields.
“The creation of youth jobs through paid internships is a really important focus,” Custer said. “They gain leadership and job skills, and earn a paycheck. The internships, mentoring and job training programs all create opportunity to enter a career they may not have been aware of before, all the while working in their community.”
Moving forward the coalition expects to provide up to 88 career pathway opportunities each year.
The coalition also aims to adapt or develop programming to increase opportunities that engage the local Native American community.
According to a GOCO news release about the grant award, MIC works closely with school districts in Dolores, Mancos and Cortez, and has enhanced and developed integrated, standards-aligned outdoor programs and field trips for students.
It has also implemented after-school and summer programs, including field trips and family activities, which expand from the backyard to the backcountry as youths grow older and their skills build.
“MIC seeks to develop lifelong outdoor lovers and stewards, empowering the next generation to respect and care for themselves, their community, and the natural world around them,” the news release states.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com
