If you moved to Colorado and now call it your home, do you remember why? Or, why you stay in Colorado if you were born here? Families often choose Colorado to enjoy the many outdoor activities available, whether it’s skiing or hiking, or simply enjoying beautiful mountain vistas. But, even with the incredible natural amenities that exist, some Colorado youth and their families face barriers to accessing nature-based recreation.
In response, the State of Colorado passed House Bill 21-1318 establishing the Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program Fund earlier this year. As part of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the program will support outdoor organizations that create opportunities to connect underserved Coloradoans to the natural environment – through both educational and recreational activities. It’s something Keystone Science School has been doing since 1976. Now, though, KSS can seek additional support through this grant program to build accessibility for those facing obstacles.
Imagine our delight when we learned that our Human Resources and Equity Director, Edwin Coleman, was appointed to one of nine inaugural Outdoor Equity Grant Program Board positions! The board will oversee governance for the program as well as review and award grants. A recent article in the Summit Daily News highlighted Edwin’s experiences as key to his role in the board. “It’s an incredible opportunity to be able to represent Keystone Science School and Summit County at a state-level working on equity issues in the outdoors.” The team at KSS is excited to support Edwin in this new role as we look forward to expanding our equity and inclusion work across the state.
