Connecting Kids to Nature, Friends of Youth and Nature Leads the Way by Anita Evans

Two youth from the TRY (Together for Resilient Youth) spent a day playing with fish and worms and Ridgway State Park

​Connecting kids to nature is more than just a walk in the woods! It can be a life changing experience that builds confidence resilience, and a lifelong love of the outdoors — all while inspiring stewardship of Colorado’s natural landscapes. Creating these experiences is the aim of Friends of Youth and Nature (FOYAN) and over the past few years, this nonprofit has become pretty good at it – changing young lives across Western Colorado by providing mentored outdoor skill-building experiences, field trips, and nature-based learning.

​If  you love Colorado's landscapes and outdoor endeavors, share your passion for it by helping FOYAN connect kids to our States' amazing places and inspiring experiences. This Colorado Gives Day, you can be part of something truly powerful — connecting a kid to the great outdoors!

Every donation fuels opportunities for exploration and growth — from fishing and hiking to water festivals and outdoor classrooms. FOYAN’s mission is to remove barriers that prevent youth from connecting with nature. By partnering with schools, community organizations, and recreation districts, the group ensures all children — especially those facing economic or social challenges — can benefit from the healing and empowering experiences of time outdoors.  In 2024 alone, FOYAN reached more than 8,800 youth and families in Montrose, Ouray, Delta, and Mesa counties with outdoor experiences.  

Through its signature Together for Resilient Youth (TRY) program, FOYAN focuses on underserved and at-risk youth. Working with local partners such as Families Plus, Haven House for the Homeless, Partners Mentoring, the Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club, CASA7JD, Hilltop, Mexican American Development Association, and Voyager Youth Services, FOYAN connects youth with mentors, outdoor educators, and hands-on nature programs. These collaborations give kids more than just an activity — they give them hope, belonging, and new perspectives on what’s possible. Time outside isn’t just fun — it’s transformative.

Research shows that even 20 minutes outdoors can lower stress, reduce anxiety, boost mood, and improve academic performance. For youth living in communities where suicide and mental health challenges are on the rise, that connection to nature can truly save lives. The outdoors offers a sense of calm and purpose that every child deserves to experience.

Your donations directly support:
• Outdoor skill programs like hiking, archery, mountain biking and fishing.
• Farm to School programs in four counties, teaching garden and food security skills.
• Watershed Education, including local water festivals, river trips and hands-on science learning.
• Gear for Kids — backpacks, ponchos, and water bottles for youth in need, plus a free community gear lending library supporting the TRY program.

Each dollar you give brings these experiences to more children who might otherwise never have the chance to step outside and explore. FOYAN’s programs are designed to foster lifelong connections to nature that promote stewardship and healthy living.

Colorado Gives Day begins November 1 and continues through December 9. Through the Colorado Gives Foundation and First Bank, every donation made through ColoradoGives.org will be boosted by a $1 million Incentive Fund.  The more FOYAN raises, the larger its share of the Incentive Fund.  Recurring (monthly) support helps sustain programs year-round, providing steady opportunities for kids to learn, play, and grow outdoors. Last year, Coloradans came together to raise more than $54 million statewide for nonprofits.

Together, we can ensure that every child has access to the powerful lessons and peace that nature provides. As one participant in a FOYAN mountain biking program exclaimed, “Finally, somebody gets me!” That moment of connection captures exactly what FOYAN strives to achieve — giving kids a sense of belonging in the outdoors and the confidence to take on life’s challenges with strength and curiosity. Your support makes those moments possible. Whether it’s helping a child plant their first seed, reel in their first fish, or hike their first trail, your generosity builds a foundation for healthier, happier, and more connected communities. Join us in building a generation of resilient, confident, and nature-connected youth.

Give where you live — and help us get more kids outside. 
Colorado Gives - Friends of Youth and Nature