CCA's Spring Programs
Although it might look a little different than our typical spring season here at CCA, we have a busy schedule ahead of us! From virtual education programming to stewardship events, we are looking forward to connecting kids and adults to their public lands this spring.
River Programs
Snow is melting and water is starting to flow, meaning our river season is underway! Spring is a busy time for preparation for CCA’s River Team. March and April are filled with trainings and certifications for the river guides, including Wilderness First Responder courses, Swift Water Rescue certifications, and more. Safety always comes first and these certifications are crucial to leading successful trips.
The River Team will also be preparing CCA’s Catalpa Camp for a busy year. Along with setting up our tents, we will be working on fire mitigation, invasive species removal, and trail building projects on the property. This can’t be done without a sturdy set of tools, though; please donate to help us purchase tools and equipment for Catalpa! We look forward to making improvements and sharing them with the hundreds of kids and adults that visit the property each year.
Once certifications are up-to-date and the Catalpa property is ready to go, the rafting can begin! The River Team has 52 trips planned for this year, more than ever before. Working with our school districts and partner organizations, we are excited to get hundreds of students down the river this year. If you’re interested in joining us for a rafting trip, check out the events we offer for adult participants to join us for an adventure of a lifetime!
Land Programs
CCA is continuing to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and come up with innovative ideas to keep our students learning! In a typical spring, we would be organizing large group field trips on the land of our National Conservation Areas (NCAs) - Nature Knowledge Days and Escalante Field Experience, just to name a few. These field trips get thousands of students out on their public lands each year and we certainly don’t want kids to miss out on the important component of outdoor education. Luckily, our Land Team has thought creatively on how to continue to offer STEAM-based curriculum to students.
We are continuing to film videos in our NCAs on topics such as geology, plants, history, and more. These videos are accessible to all and encourage folks to explore the NCAs on their own time - make sure to check them out! Our Land Team will also be visiting the classrooms of hundreds of students, “Live from the Field” this spring; CCA staff will stream the NCAs directly into the students’ classrooms to educate them on the natural and historical wonders of our NCAs. If you would like to get your classroom involved, please email rob@canyonsassociation.org for more information. Make sure to take a look at all of the educational online resources we offer!
Community events
With the weather warming up on the Western Slope, there are many opportunities to get outside to enjoy your public lands. Our NCAs offer world-class rafting, biking, jeeping, and so much more. You can learn more about all of the recreational opportunities our NCAs have to offer here. If you’d rather let us do the planning, now is your chance to join one of CCA’s expert-led trips. Hike through geologic time or raft the Colorado River with local guides for a fun, educational trip.
We kicked off our first volunteer event of the year in Gunnison Gorge NCA! CCA volunteers helped the BLM plant and cage 62 cottonwood trees along the river corridor - a hugely successful day! If you’re looking to volunteer for our future events, we have several opportunities for involvement. With an increase in visitation and use of our NCA’s during spring, also comes the increase of trash and damage to the landscape. Join us for one of our trash clean-ups and help provide a better experience for other users, a healthy habitat for wildlife, and a more scenic landscape!