More Kids Outside in 2026 by Anne Janik

Photo Captions: (Top Left) As part of FOYAN's many outings with youth, there is often a stewardship component. On this Public Lands Day, fourth graders from Delta County are building bluebird nesting boxes for their schoolyard. (Top Right)  After learning the basics, Montrose County youth give their skills and balance a try on the trails at Ridgway State Park.  (Bottom Left) Youth and families in the Together for Resilient Youth (TRY) program try out snowshoeing on the Grand Mesa. (Bottom Right) With a little guidance from experienced anglers, youth get a chance to ice fish at Ward Lake on the Grand Mesa National Forest.

More kids outside! That’s the prescription for physically and mentally healthy youth in our communities. Time outside—even as little as 20 minutes—can help re-set attitudes, priorities and general well-being. Outdoor experiences also help young people develop confidence, resilience, leadership, teamwork and environmental stewardship—skills that last a lifetime. 
Communities on the Western Slope get it! Because of our location so close to acres of public lands, our community members’ lives incorporate the inspiration of our breathtaking landscapes, the challenges of outdoor endeavors, and an appreciation of our nearby natural resources. Friends of Youth and Nature (FOYAN) works to provide opportunities for our youth and pass on this rewarding gift of the outdoors through the incredible generosity and support of our grantors, local businesses, service clubs, partner organizations, and individuals who donate to support this mission of getting Western Slope kids outside. 
FOYAN received over $23,000 during the end of the year campaign from private donors directly to FOYAN or through Colorado Gives Day (providing additional incentive awards through that fund).  FOYAN was able to leverage these contributions plus sponsorships from our community fundraisers, businesses and service groups to receive many grant awards in 2025.
Community Foundations: the Western Colorado Community Foundation (WCCF) has been a vital source of support for FOYAN. Through WCCF’s umbrella organizations, FOYAN received critical funding from several community partners. The West Elk Community Fund contributed $5,000 to support outdoor camp scholarships for youth in the North Fork Valley. The WCCF Delta Community Fund awarded $480 for rafting scholarships for students from Delta High School. The Ouray County Fund provided $1,500 to help Ouray youth connect with nature, and the Montrose Community Fund contributed $2,000 toward the purchase of essential gear for Together for Resilient Youth (TRY) outings.

Watershed Education Funding: FOYAN provides opportunities for students to learn about our water resources and watersheds through sponsorships by WCCF (Kim and Joe Gionnone Fund-$6,000, Dave and Mary Wood Fund-$2,500), and Forever Our Rivers ($6,000). The Gunnison Basin Roundtable contributed $1,500 for youth to learn specifically about the Gunnison and Colorado River watersheds.  
 
Youth Hunting and Angling: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Partners in the Outdoors has awarded FOYAN a grant focused on hunting and angling classes for the TRY coalition ($5,185). 

Community Service Clubs support opportunities for more local youth to connect with nature and the outdoors:  The following local youth service clubs, organizations and counties stepped up support for FOYAN in 2025:  The Junior Service League of Grand Junction ($4,700), Grand Junction Horizon Sunrise Rotary ($2,000), Grand Junction Kiwanis ($2,000), and the Delta County Commissioners ($2,500).

Business support for FOYAN: Several businesses and groups hosted fundraisers for FOYAN in 2025.  Roots Gastrohub and Pablo's Pizza in Grand Junction provided community nights where proceeds support FOYAN youth activities in Mesa County. The Kid's Pasta Project in Hotchkiss, provided a community dinner where local youth serve the community through the preparation/serving of freshly made dinners. Proceeds were donated to FOYAN for the North Fork Valley youth. FOYAN collaborated with various partners to host the "Bring on the Summer" kid fest fundraiser in Montrose generating over $12,000 in its second year for youth outings in this county.

Transporting Youth: Transportation has been a barrier for bringing Western Slope youth to outdoor events. The following funding contributions have allowed FOYAN to acquire a shared van for the TRY coalition events: The WCCF general fund ($10,000), the Boettcher Foundation Catalyst Grant ($7,500), the Enterprise Mobility Grant ($970.30), and a private donor ($10,000).

Improvements to FOYAN's Staff support and non-profit structure: FOYAN's outreach in the four countries has grown substantially since 2018. To be more effective as a nonprofit, we are striving to expand into a professionalized, staffed model to improve and expand organizational reach. The Mighty Arrow Foundation ($10,000), the San Juan Council from El Pomar ($20,000), the Colorado Health Foundation ($30,000), Intermountain Health ($5,000), and the Anschutz Family Foundation ($8,500) all contributed to general operations for staff support.

All this support has enabled our success! As a result of the drastic growth in community support for FOYAN’s mission, in 2025, FOYAN was able to facilitate outdoor and nature learning experiences for over 12,000 youth and families in Mesa, Delta, Montrose, and Ouray Counties, up from 8,800 in 2024. Over $44,000 was distributed to schools for field trip transportation assistance to Eureka Science center, river festivals, natural resource days, outdoor learning labs (OWL), and snow science/cross-country skiing opportunities on the Grand Mesa National Forest. FOYAN also provided scholarships for youth to attend summer camps locally at the Nature Connection in Hotchkiss and Delta, as well as a weeklong overnight camp at Santa Maria YMCA near Grant, Colorado for 13 Delta County teens.

Time outdoors for kids is vital—it promotes physical health, mental well-being, self-esteem, friendships and a sense of belonging, all essential ingredients for strong, thriving kids and communities. It also encourages open discussions about our planet and all it has to offer us if we care for it. FOYAN works to instill a sense of ownership, appreciation, and respect for public lands and resources in these young people so that one day they will be good stewards of our open spaces, habitats for wildlife, clean air and water, and places to seek physical challenges, exciting fun, or solitude. Thank you to our communities for recognizing this great gift we all enjoy on the Western Slope of Colorado and for supporting efforts to pass it on to our next generation.