Saying Farewell to Rob Gay, Land Programs Director
After nearly 5 years of service to the CCA community, Land Programs Director, Rob Gay, will be leaving the CCA Team. While we are sad to see him go, we are thrilled to send him off on his next big adventure at the Idaho Museum of Natural History.
Join us at Monumental Brewing COmpany on Wednesday, July 21st to celebrate Rob’s Accomplishments and to say your farewells (for Now!). We’ll be gathering on the outdoor patio from ~6-8 PM for the final send-off.
A letter to the community, from Rob Gay:
Where to begin? When I joined Colorado Canyons Association four and a half years ago, I had no idea what impact CCA would have on me. In the time I have been with CCA I have seen it transform from an organization doing good work with kids on the land into a powerhouse of education and outreach about our public lands across the Western Slope, and it has both been personally and professionally fulfilling to take part in this growth. The acquisition of Catalpa and becoming a licesnsed outfitter on both the land and rivers has opened up new pathways for people to interact with the lands, and for us to teach them about National Conservation Areas in a wholistic, hands-on way that wasn’t accessible before. The growth of our land programs and partnerships with both public and private partners has greatly enriched the programming that we have been able to offer to students, while also being able to reach more students than ever before. Our growth in Delta and Montrose counties in particular, with Delta County’s Nature Connection, the Ute Indian Museum, and the burgeoning partnership with Montrose School District’s new Outdoor Learning Center, all fill me with joy, anticipation, and confidence. Our partnerships with the Bureau of Land Management’s two field offices in the region have never been stronger, and with staff growth to support our ongoing programs these relationships will only deepen.
I am sad, therefore, that I won’t be around to see this next step in CCA’s evolution. I have recently taken a position with the Idaho Museum of Natural History in Pocatello, on the campus of Idaho State University. I am thrilled to be stepping into the role of Education Coordinator there, where I will be working with world-class natural history collections, and outstanding faculty, staff, and students, to bring the natural history of Idaho to over 10,000 K-12 students a year. The partnerships and friendships I have made here with CCA will be a vital part in informing how programs will be structured and partnerships managed in my new role. In addition, I know that many of the connections I have made over the last half decade doing education work in the Grand Valley will continue across state lines as we continue to collaborate.
I hope that you can join me in a farewell toast at Monumental Brewing Company in Grand Junction on Wednesday the 21st. I would love to share a drink (beer or non-alcoholic!) with all of you one last time before I start this next step in my journey. With all the friends and connections I’ve made here, I expect to visit the Western Slope frequently in the coming years so this isn’t goodbye, just “farewell for now.” Thank you for all the support you have all provided along the way, and I can’t wait to see what the next step in CCA’s growth looks like
Cheers,
Rob