Contact Us

Join us!
We need your help! Interested in being a board member, volunteer, or donor?
Contact us—we look forward to having you be a part of FOYAN!
FRIENDS OF YOUTH AND NATURE
P.O. Box 634
Hotchkiss, CO 81419
friendsofyouthandnature@gmail.com
Meet our Board!
Anita Evans
Chair
asevans54@gmail.com          (970) 901-1459
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Anita is a retired educator and has a strong passion for science and environmental education. She is the co-founder of FOYAN and the founder of The Nature Connection (TNC) environmental education center in Delta County.  She is a Colorado Certified Environmental Educator, CSU Master Gardener, and a NAI certified nature interpreter.  She and her husband raised their two children in Western Colorado in the canyons, mountains, and their backyard gardens.
Anne Janik
Public Information/Board Member
ajanik@gmx.com       (970) 210-1791
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Anne retired from the United States Forest Service as a Public Relations officer. She was responsible for bringing two federal programs  "More Kids in the Woods" and "Every Kid in a Park" to the Western Slope reaching out to 4th and 6th grade students to learn about winter ecology and our public lands (The GMUG National Forest).  Anne now spends her time exploring the many hidden gems of our public lands.

Valeria Herrera
Community Outreach / Board Member
Valeriaherrera957@gmail.com          970-260-4232
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Valeria is a student at Colorado Mesa University's Outdoor Pursuits Pathway. She loves all things that have to do with the outdoors and is passionate about connecting Hispanic youth and families to involvement in outdoor activities. She is an administrative assistant at the Riverside Education Center (REC) and is an instructor for Boneshaker Mountain Bike Adventures. Valeria is FOYAN’s liaison for Hispanic youth outreach across  Mesa, Delta, Montrose, and Ouray Counties.
Kirstin Copeland
Community Outreach / Board Member
970-209-9307
kirstincopeland5822@gmail.com         
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Kirstin grew up on farms in Colorado and Kansas exploring outdoors year-round. She translated her passion for the outdoors to a degree in Environmental Conservation, and further into a career as a Park Ranger and Manager in Colorado Parks and Wildlife.  Kirstin has been involved with environmental education, public safety, and mental health for many years including being a part of Together for Resilient Youth (TRY) from inception and looks forward to contributing to the missions for both TRY and FOYAN. Kirstin is FOYAN’s liaison for youth outreach in Montrose and Ouray Counties.
Carrie Krickbaum
Education Specialist/ Board Member
carrie.krickbaum@gmail.com     (970) 209-3703
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Carrie has worked as a special educator, wildlife technician, forester and most importantly, as a wife and mother of two. She is a retired environmental educator and naturalist for Ridgway State Park  providing programming for kids and adults in the Ridgway, Ouray, and Montrose areas since 2016. She loves hiking with her dogs, camping with her family, volunteering with wildlife and substitute teaching.
Abram Herman 
Vice-Chair
abram.herman@gmail.com       970-402-4292
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As an avid climber, skier, mountain biker, and lover of the outdoors, Abram knows how to play hard on the Western Slope. After growing up on the Front Range and then migrating across the mountains to enjoy the lifestyle and beautiful setting of the Grand Valley, he is now a small business owner and a happy, civic-minded resident of Grand Junction. He serves on many local boards, including the Grand Junction City Council.

Lisa Hollembeak
Treasurer/ Board Member
lisahollembeak@gmail.com       970-361-7196
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While growing up on a ranch in Dixon, Wyoming, Lisa learned the importance of enjoying the outdoors and preserving the landscape. She and her husband Eric, have three active children who enjoy camping, fishing, hunting and hiking. As you can see, Lisa is an enthusiastic angler, who somehow finds the time to work as an IT  support analyst for United Business Bank in Hotchkiss, Colorado.