Children and families in Lake County will access more outdoor recreation and nature programs with help from $1,500,000 in Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) funding.
According to an article by Herald Democrat, the funding, awarded to the Lake County Government, will support the Get Outdoors Leadville! (GOL!) coalition run by the Parks, Recreation, & Open Space (PROS) Department.
The grant is part of GOCO’s Generation Wild program, which supports coalitions of public, nonprofit, and private organizations connecting youth and families to outdoor experiences and pathways to outdoor careers.
To date, $75.5 million in GOCO investments have helped 15 Generation Wild coalitions deliver 9,550 programs reaching 360,222 participants across Colorado.
Launched in 2015, GOL! has connected thousands of youth and families to culturally-informed and enriching outdoor experiences.
Led by Lake County Government’s Get Outdoors Leadville! and Cloud City Conservation Center, the coalition includes partners such as Lake County School District, Lake County Parks, Recreation, and Open Space, USDA Forest Service, SOS Outreach, Full Circle of Lake County, and Project Dream after-school programs.
Programs connect residents with nature and help them develop a feeling of belonging in the outdoors.
Summer camps teach skills like fishing, swimming, mountain biking, climbing, and backpacking, while also incorporating environmental education, wilderness safety, and local history.
Families are encouraged to join their children in outdoor activities, including family programs, festivals, and events.
Through partnership with Cloud City Conservation District and Lake County School District, the county’s students receive nature-based learning throughout the year.
The coalition also connects teens to outdoor careers through paid positions at a summer camp, leadership programs, and internships with local organizations.
To serve Lake County’s significant Hispanic and/or Latino population, GOL! offers culturally relevant, Spanish-language first, and bilingual (English and Spanish) programs.
The coalition also offers sliding scale tuition for camps, transportation, meals, childcare, and other services to make program participation easier.
The coalition also operates a community gear library at Colorado Mountain College–Timberline Campus, offering rental equipment to Lake County residents, especially members of historically underserved groups.
Memberships are on a sliding scale to accommodate financial needs. The library offers gear for activities year-round—from base layers and boots to tents and sleeping bags—in addition to hosting workshops in activities like Nordic skiing, camping, and cycling.
This round of GOCO funding will support the coalition’s integration into the County Government.
The move aims to strengthen organizational sustainability and expand access to its programs and services while prioritizing community input through Promotores (trusted community connectors) and youth.
These efforts will involve continuous grassroots outreach to ensure community needs are met and addressed. In addition, the grant will support staffing, youth scholarships, gear repair, and a Spanish-language Wilderness First Aid training program.
“We are so excited to continue to build upon GOL!’s 10 years of amazing work across our community,” said Emily Olsen, executive director at Cloud City Conservation Center.
“GOL! has made a tangible difference for youth and their families when it comes to accessing and building a relationship with the outdoors while also strengthening community resiliency. This collaborative work across our community would not be possible without GOL! and support from GOCO,” Emily added.
This investment underscores the growing importance of accessible outdoor programs, which not only strengthen local communities but also support the broader outdoor recreation industry by fostering future generations of outdoor enthusiasts.