Colorado awards $3 million to organizations expanding youth access to the outdoors
In the past three years, the grant program has invested over $8.5 million in 141 projects across the state
Jesse Star Productions/Courtesy photo
In its third year, Colorado’s Outdoor Equity Grant program awarded $3 million to 36 organizations working to increase equity and accessibility in the outdoors.
The 2024 recipients include nonprofits, schools and museums across the state supporting a wide variety of education, conservation and job training initiatives and opportunities within the outdoor recreation industry. The awards range from $7,000 to $100,000.
Around one-third of the awardees are based on the Western Slope. In the northwest, this included the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in Steamboat Springs, Get Outdoors Leadville!, Cook Inclusive in Carbondale, EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum in Grande Junction, Granby Elementary, The Cycle Effect in Eagle and more.
The state created the Outdoor Equity Grant program with a bill in 2021 as a way to open more doors for communities that have traditionally been excluded from conservation careers and the outdoors, and are intended to reach youth who are racially and ethnically diverse, low-income, disabled, LGBTQ+ or American Indian.
The program has grown exponentially. This year, the grant board received requests totaling over $21 million.
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In the past three years, the program has invested over $8.5 million in 141 projects including supporting adaptive skiing opportunities, expanding recreation to youth who are visually impaired, opening up professional development opportunities for kids in the outdoors and conservation industries, and more.
With this growth, Colorado’s governor’s office and the Department of Natural Resources hope to increase the grant opportunities in the future, requesting additional dollars from the 2025-26 budget so it can supply $4 million in future funding cycles. The funds for the program come from Colorado Lottery proceeds.
“Investing in, inspiring and preparing the next generation for meaningful careers is crucial to the future of our natural resources,” said Dan Gibbs, the department’s executive director in a news release. “Additional resources for the (Outdoor Equity Grant Program) will expand opportunities for young people to learn about the outdoors and will help in our efforts to protect the state’s land, water, and wildlife for generations to come.”
Applications for the next cycle of grants will open in the spring through the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.
