Outdoor Unidos - FAQ

Outdoor Unidos - Frequently Asked Questions 

General Program Information 

• What is Outdoor Unidos? 

Outdoor Unidos is the exciting new program jointly implemented by ViVe Wellness (VIVE) and the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) as part of the larger initiative. This initiative is made possible through The Denver Foundation's Belonging Colorado Community Implementation Grant, with evaluation support from CHI (Colorado Health Institute).

• What does "Unidos" mean? 

"Unidos" means "united" in Spanish. The name captures the heart of our mission - bringing people together through the power of nature and shared adventures. 

• What is the overall goal of the program? 

The heart of the program is bridge differences between communities that may not have the same background, fostering connection and a sense of belonging within the outdoor recreation world. As a family oriented program, it gives opportunities to anyone new to mountaineering to try new outdoor activities while building meaningful relationships across cultures. What's more, CMC members and established community members get the chance to learn from different cultural perspectives, enriching their own outdoor experiences by gaining valuable insights from a different perspective.     

• What is ViVe Wellness? 

ViVe Wellness is a community-based organization that fosters social justice and health equity through culturally relevant wellness programs. They primarily serve Latino migrants and other marginalized communities in Denver and surrounding areas. 

In the Outdoor Unidos program, ViVe brings expertise in culturally responsive programming and strong community connections, complementing CMC's outdoor knowledge. Their understanding of systemic barriers to outdoor recreation helps make this partnership particularly effective at creating inclusive experiences for diverse participants. 

Program Details 

• Who can participate? 

The program is open to people of all backgrounds but encourage to families new to mountaineering. Ages 7+

• How are participants selected?  

Our ideal participants are new to mountaineering, a family who would like to engage in multicultural events with a variety of outdoor activities.

• Is there a cost to participate? 

Thanks to our generous grant funding, there is no cost to participants. 

CMC Member Involvement 

• What role does CMC play in this program? 

CMC provides leadership, outdoor expertise, and resources to support the program. As an organization with deep roots in Colorado’s outdoor community, we are helping to ensure that participants receive high-quality training and access to safe, well-organized recreational activities.   

And of course, CMC members are encouraged to join in, gaining the opportunity to experience different cultures, engage in new activities, and explore a diverse curriculum! 

•  How does this program benefit CMC members? 

CMC members will have the opportunity to: 

1. Learn from different cultural perspectives, while being where we love, outdoors! 
2. Build meaningful connections with new community members. 
3. Bring your whole family to each event and share quality time with them. 
4. Thanks to ViVe’s partnership, CMC members will have access to new outdoor activities like kayaking, paddleboarding and anything related to water sports.

• How can I get involved as a CMC member? 

Join the Outdoors Unidos Program as a participant, this program is for you.

• Do I need to be a CMC member to participate? 

You don't need membership to join us. The grant covers ALL Outdoor Unidos participants' memberships! And if you're already a CMC member, we'll reward your participation with a FREE one-year membership renewal when you join our program. 

• Why is this program free for participants when other CMC programs are not? 

This is not a discount from the CMC organization, this is a special opportunity made possible entirely by our grant funding. 

• Will I need special training to volunteer or participant? 

To participate, no special training is required.  

 To be a leader we encourage any current CMC Trip Leader to consider applying. Preference will be given to those with a passion for working with different communities, cultural competency and bi-lingual (Spanish) speakers. They will receive training in cultural relevance, and specific skills from the Bridging Differences Playbook that the program is implementing. 

•  Participation & Activities

What kinds of activities and classes will be offered? 

Participants will engage in a variety of seasonal outdoor activities including: 

1. Water Sports 
2. Hiking & Ed 
3. Climbing 
4. Camping

Additional Information 

• Whom can I contact for more information? 

You can reach out to the CMC or ViVe Membership Department! 

ViVe Wellness (720) 440-1235 

CMC (303)-279-3080 

Or email me directly at raquelcabeza@cmc.org

• How can I stay updated on program activities? 

When you join our Outdoor Unidos community, you'll receive regular email updates about upcoming activities and events. For the latest news, follow us on social media platforms where we post frequent updates. ViVe's Facebook page will also be up to date with all activities.