Looking Back at 2022

Thanks to dedicated CCA staff, partner organizations, volunteers, donors, and community members, our 2022 programs were a huge success; CCA continued to connect, educate, and engage kids and adults on the landscapes of our National Conservation Areas. From volunteer river clean-ups to hands-on field trips for students, we’re proud of the community impact we made in 2022 and want to share our favorite memories with you!

Our Impact in Numbers

Stewardship Programs

  • 104 volunteers contributed 1,355 hours (and counting!) of work in our National Conservation Areas

  • 25 volunteers monitored and cleaned our trail systems every month

  • CCA hosted 13 stewardship events ranging from habitat restoration to educational outings

  • 285 recreationalists received Leave No Trace education through our trailhead outreach efforts

Education Programs

  • 1,305 students engaged and educated through outdoor field trips and educational offerings

  • 314 kids rafted our local rivers over the course of 18 day-long or multi-day trips

  • CCA hosted 31 days of land-based field trips including signature events and new programs

  • 623 community members participated in hikes, lectures, and educational outings

But we’re more than just numbers!

Here are our favoraite stories from our 2022 programs.

Stories from the Landscapes

From our River Program Manager, Lisa

It is hard to pick just one memory from my first year with CCA.  I’m grateful that my job allows me to share these incredible river corridors with youth and adults from a myriad of backgrounds. As I look back on this season, I recall fondly the numerous trips sitting in a circle under the Catalpa tree at Catalpa camp reflecting on the trips from previous seasons who have left mementos behind and having such open and honest group conversations with so many people in a beautiful, shady, special space.  I have loved the peals of laughter from splashing children, the excited gestures when we spy big horn sheep, eagles, or other wildlife, and the “Oh! I’ve learned about this in school” face when they realize the Ute petroglyphs are related to the same Ute tribe they studied in history class.  I enjoyed our bilingual pilot program this year, the chance to continue growing my Spanish skills on the river, and look forward to what 2023 has to offer.  

From our Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator, Morgan

In Spring 2022, I was able to lead the final two installments of the three-part fence removal project in McInnis Canyons NCA with volunteers from CCA, BLM, REI, and Back Country Hunters & Anglers. We made quite a trek into the wilderness area, up a large hill, to get to the remaining fence with our heavy tools; all of the volunteers were eager to get to work, despite the summer heat. We created a great assembly line amongst the 15 or so people—with some cutting the barbed wire, others rolling it into bails, and the rest helping carry it down a slope in an assembly line so we could pack it out efficiently. This project was special not only because it was my first event in my new role as the Volunteer & Outreach coordinator, but because of all the hard work from so many individuals from various other organizations who came together to help steward our public land and make a difference for the health of the wildlife in this special place.

From our Program Coordinaor, Annie

After delivering the intro speech one day at Cottonwood Days, a student came up to me and asked if I recognized him - his face looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. He reminded me he came to a camping 101 event we hosted in Montrose, where kids learned how to apply LNT principles by completing a team challenge course. He remembered all the 7 principles from that event and was excited to see CCA again on a field trip! Repeat encounters like these are so rewarding as an educator because I get to see the lasting impacts of our programs.

From our Education Director, Leslie

One of my favorite memories from 2022 was a river trip with Montrose Rotary Interact students for so many reasons! We camped at Honey Rock Landing orchard where we were treated to giant fresh peaches. We hosted 8 high school students who were more fish than human - it was extremely toasty weather! Our future is in great hands with their leadership, by the way! Andrea, CCA’s Artist-in-Residence, was along on this trip and I loved spending time getting to know her. She led an evening art project that connected individuality to our landscape beautifully. Above all, my most favorite moments are spent at a hotel, in a boat, in an office, in a tent, or in a van with Lisa, CCA’s River Program Manager. Never a dull moment, never a joke left unsaid. If you ever need a bag of dried beans while at a conference, Lisa's yer gal. Here's to an exceptional 2023!

To everyone who was involved with our 2022 programs, THANK YOU! Your support was invaluable. To support our goals in 2023, please consider making a year-end gift.

INCREASE YOUR IMPACT AND GIVE ON COLORADO GIVES DAY, A STATEWIDE DAY OF GIVING ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH!

Visit coloradogives.org and schedule your donation for Colorado Gives Day! By donating on Colorado Gives Day, you can maximize the impact of your donation thanks to the Community First Foundation’s Incentive Fund.

GIVE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE YEAR-END GIFT TO CCA BY MAILING US A CHECK AT:

543 Main St #4

Grand Junction, CO 81501

Sara BrookerComment